Borrowed Words

[-Rudel-]

For those a bit fluent or native speaking to Japanese, I would just like your thoughts on my observation below:

As I learn conversational Japanese more and more with my wife and other friends, I have been coming across a ton of borrowed words, and just end up speaking English with a Japanese pronunciation. If I need help translating words, I get the exact same thing, but in Katakana, but when I look in a dictionary, I will actually see a real Japanese translation in kanji/hiragana for what I am looking for.

Why is it that there are Japanese words for our English equivelant words, and they are not being used as much anymore? Is it really that much easier to say in Japanese?

Thanks guys!

[Mikawa Ossan]

It also depends on how well your wife and friends know English. It would be entirely possible to hold a conversation in "Katakanized English" if your partner has enough English ability. It could be that they are just being kind to you and helping you fill your gaps.

I personally noticed that college students (at least in the Kanto area) used quite a few borrowed words in their speak, at least 5 years ago they seemed to. However, in my daily life nowadays, I really don't notice very much of it at all.

[-Rudel-]

Guess I wil lhave to keep looking inthe dictionary or ask for the real translation, because when it's time to take those JPTL test, I don't want to fail...lol

I asked my wife again about the borrowed words. It's not that she is being nice to me or her English-Japanese translation is bad. It's really how she talks or types conversationally with others. (@_@)