擬音語・擬態語がおもしろい

Japanese SoundSymbolic Expressions
Joshua Cole
JPN494/598
Spring 2007
Objectives
 In this presentation I will:
 Define sound symbolism and give examples of
different types of sound symbolism
 Give examples of some common patterns Japanese
sound-symbolic expressions follow and show how
they evolved over time
 Give examples of historical uses/usage trends in
Japanese literature
 Discuss the lifespan of Japanese sound-symbolic
expressions
What is Sound
Symbolism?
 Words that sound like what they mean
 Three major types in Japanese
 Phonomimes
 Phenomimes
 Psychomimes
Types of Sound
Symbolism
 Phonomimes (Onomatopoeia): “words
which imitate the sounds made by
animate or inanimate objects” (Ono v)
 擬音語（giongo）：’sound’ onomatopoeia
(inanimate)
 Examples: snap, crackle, pop
 擬声語（giseigo）：’voice’ onomatopoeia
(animate)
 Examples: whinny, meow, moo
Types of Sound
Symbolism
 Phenomimes [擬態語（gitaigo）]: “words
which express in descriptive and
symbolic terms the states or conditions of
both animate and inanimate objects, and
of change, phenomena, movement,
growth, etc. in nature” (Ono v)
 Possible examples (?): twinkle, glitter,
shimmer
Types of Sound
Symbolism
 Psychomimes [擬情語（gijôgo）]: words
which express in descriptive and
symbolic terms human emotion/feelings
or psychological states
 Possible examples (?): blah, icky, woozy
Examples of Japanese
Sound Symbolism
 Phonomime
 うっ（utt）: Expresses a gasping sound or action. A short
groaning or growling sound. [e.g., ガス臭い。思わずうっと息をと
めた。 (It smelt of gas. Without thinking, I held my breath.)]
 Phenomime
 ぷんぷん（pun-pun）: Describes a strong enveloping smell. [e.g.,
この花はぷんぷんにおう。 (This flower gives off a strong
smell.)]
 Psychomime
 のんびり（nonbiri）: To be in a calm, tranquil state, both
physically and mentally. [e.g., 若いうちのほうが、のんびりして、
気ままな暮らしをしやすい。 (Just relaxing and living freely is
easier when one is young.)]
Common Constructions
 Root
 One-syllable root A
 Two-syllable root AB
 May be followed by と（to）
 Required: forms ending in the 促音（sokuon）
 Optional: Forms ending in the 発音（hatsuon） or り
（ri）
 ABAB form usually not followed by と
 Commonly used as an adverb
 ABAB form sometimes used as an adjective
Common Constructions:
One-syllable root A
 A（ふ）
 Aッ（ぎゅっ）
 Aン（ぽん）
 A－（ちゅー）
 AA（ここ）




AッA（さっさ）
AッAッ（へっへっ）
AンAン（るんるん）
A－A－（かーかー）
Common Constructions:
Two-syllable root AB
 AB（がば）





ABッ（むかっ）
ABン（どかん）
ABリ（とろり）
AッBリ（ぴったり）
AンBリ（うんざり）
 ABAB（そろそろ）
 ABB（きりり）
Common Constructions
Historically
 Nara (8 forms)
 Heian (4 new forms)
 Introduction of 撥音（hatsuon ン） as う?
 リ over ロ／ラ
 Kamakura/Muromachi (22 new forms)
 Introduction of 促音（sokuon ッ）、長音（chô’on －）
 Edo (9 new forms)
 Meiji – Present (12 new forms)
Common Constructions:
Conclusions
 Frequent use of：
 促音（sokuon ッ）
 撥音（hatsuon ン）
 長音（chô’on －）
 ABAB most commonly used form
Historical Use of Japanese
Sound Symbolism
 万葉集（Man’yôshû) (c. 759)
 Conjecture: earliest known use?
 Example: 「この床のひしと鳴るまで」（一三・三二七〇）
 ひし→ぎしぎし、みしみし（to creak）
 古今和歌集（Kokin wakashû） (c. 920)
 Some examples of sound symbolism used as 掛詞（kakekotoba）
 Example: 「ひとりして物をおもへば秋の田の稲葉のそよという人の
なき」
 そよ（gentle swaying motion） & 其よ（＝そうですよ）
 源氏物語（Genji monogatari） (1021)
 Novel use of sound-symbolic expressions in descriptions of particular
characters in the story
 Example: 「あざあざ」（色彩が鮮明で目の覚めるような派手やかさ）is
used only in descriptions of Lady Murasaki
Historical Usage Trends in
Literature
 Usage increases over time
 古代（Kodai）
 源氏物語（Genji monogatari）： 33 instances
 今昔物語集（Konjyaku monogatarishû）： 55 instances
 中世（Chûsei）
 Selected 軍記物語（Gunki monogatari）： 112 instances
 近代（Kindai）
 我輩は猫である（Wagahai wa neko de aru）： 261 instances
 1/10 length of Genji79x more dense
 細雪（Sasameyuki）： 305 instances
 1/3 length of Genji27x more dense
 Conjecture: Japanese sound symbolic expressions always used in
speech, usage in literature increased as differences between
written Japanese became more like spoken Japanese（言文一致）
Lifespan of Japanese SoundSymbolic Expressions
 Question: Are Japanese sound-symbolic
expressions only in vogue for a short
time, or do they have some staying
power?
 Short answer: It depends
Examining the 今昔物語集
（Konjyaku monogatarishû）
 53% of the sound-symbolic expressions in this work have survived
to the present day (i.e., their meanings have not changed)
 Total rises to 58% when you take into account the addition of 促音
& 長音 to the Japanese language and alter the expressions
accordingly
 促音：「散と」→「さっと」 (extremely quick, adroit movement)
 長音：「ギ」→「ギー」 (low creaking)
 Even among the 42% of expressions no longer used, with minor
alterations some correspond to modern-day forms
 ABABBABA: 「ツブツブ」→「ブツブツ」 (cutting into a thick object)
 voicelessvoiced: 「ツブリ」→「ヅブリ」→「ズブリ」 (splashing, sinking into
water)
Changes in Expression
Usage over 30 Years
 Increase in number of electronic sounds
 Goes hand in hand with proliferation of
electronic devices (personal computers, cell
phones, microwave ovens, etc.)
 Decrease in “natural” sounds
 Wooden sliding doorsmetal sliding doors
 Glass bottlesPlastic bottles
Changes in Expression
Usage over 30 Years
 Less emphasis on expressions denoting
slow, relaxed actions
 More emphasis on expressions denoting
quick, dynamic actions
 Conjecture: reflective of a more fastpaced society?
Emphasis on Quick,
Dynamic Actions: Example
Lifespan of Japanese SoundSymbolic Expressions:
Conclusions
 “Short term”: fairly dynamic
 Words used reflect the
environment/conditions of the time
 “Long term”: surprisingly static
 Once introduced meanings of surviving
words don’t change much over time
Resources
 大坪併治，「象徴語彙の歴史」，森岡健二編者，
『講座日本語学・４―語彙史』，東京：明治書院，
１９８２，２２８－２５０．
 尾野秀一編著，『日英擬音・擬態語活用辞典』，東
京：北星堂書店，１９８４．
 鈴木雅子，「むかしの擬音語・擬態語」，『言語生
活』，第１７１号，１２／１９６５，６０－６５．
 山口仲美，『犬は「びよ」と鳴いていた―日本語は
擬音語・擬態語が面白い』，東京：光文社，２００２．
 Wikipedia article on “Sound Symbolism”,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_symbolism

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