日本の方々　日本語　ちゃんと使ってほしいと思うですが　part 6 Sure it may have happened in other parts of the world in history, but always as a result of conquest/colonialism or necessity, not as a result of fashion, whim or image. Is a country's language free for any other country to take and absorb en masse into its own language? Are hundreds and hundreds of words from any one language ripe for the pillaging, as easy to take home as free plastic holiday souvenirs? I think definitely NOT. The japanese word-borrowers (an inaccurate word, as its unlikely any of these words will ever be 'given back') need to understand that language is a pre-eminent part of , if not inextricable from, culture. They are inseparable. Taking all these english words and stating that they are now japanese words is arrogant and culturally insensitive. Did they never think that it might be offensive to native english speakers to see long lists of english words hijacked, bootlegged and mispronounced? Would they just as nonchalantly call the didjeridoo a japanese instrument because they made one out of bamboo? or the sari a japanese garment because they tied an obi around it? They should try to imagine how they would feel if hiragana was taught and used as the 'new native script of South Sudan' or if tatami mats, kotatsu tables and futons were distributed in England as 'new Anglo Saxon furniture.' or if Sumo was held on the beach, and called ' New Hawiian sport'. It is an especially depressing trend for foreigners with a real interest in learning japanese and speaking it well. We learn new japanese vocabulary, enjoy the sound and image of it , look forward to hearing and understanding it, but we are denied this chance, and have to listen to so many english words. Our progress is blocked. English words, scattered through japanese speech, shatter the music and spoil the magic of japanese. It is frustrating and disappointing. Japanese sometimes doesn't feel like japanese anymore . It takes so much of the esthetic appeal and exotic allure out. We didn't fly half way around the world to be shortchanged like this, buy textbooks and enrol in language courses, study diligently, only to hear or be taught, for example, ' これは町のシンボルをアレーンジしたオーダーメードオリジナルラベルです。' (this is a custom made, original label, showing the town's symbol arranged on it). Or, 私はスピーチをする前にオーナーとアーティストのインスピレーションについてリーサーチをしました(before giving a speech, I did some research on the artist's inspiration, with the owner. ) Its very boring.