Archaic Words, Obsolete Words : Discrepancies between Ancient Japanese Language and "kokugo"(<Special Issue>The 56th JLA Convention (2nd Day))

Shinada Yoshikazu

doi:10.20620/nihonbungaku.51.4_1

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

古語と死語 : 「古代国語」をめぐる違和と葛藤(<特集>日本文学協会第56回大会報告(第二日目))
古語と死語--「古代国語」をめぐる違和と葛藤〔含質疑応答〕
コゴトシゴコダイコクゴオメグルイワトカットウガンシツギオウトウ

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Description

In ancient times Japanese language used in Manyo-shu was not recognized as a national language now called "kokugo," but it was one that only the nobility was privileged to know and use in the tradition of Japanese poetics. In the mid-Meiji Period, however, many ancient and medieval texts were categorized into classic national literature, whose ancient and obsolete language was assimilated into the "kokugo" vocabulary. Above all, Manyo-shu was defined as the "origin" of national language, and it had become the standard to be followed in verse-making. But, interestingly enough, although it apparently imitated Manyo-shu, modern tanka poetry used neither its ancient language nor even a modern version of it. Instead, it invented quite a new vocabulary, simple, natural, energetic, but hopelessly uncommunicative. Ironocally, as the strange poetic language meant almost nothing outside literary circles, it betrayed the policy of its father, i.e., the "kokugo" system, the ultimate aim of which was to create a common language shared by all the nation.

Journal

Japanese Literature

Japanese Literature 51 (4), 1-13, 2002

Japanese Literature Association