Re: Idoru
| From: | M.E.S. <suomenkieli@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Friday, March 8, 2002, 12:57 |
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--- Andreas Johansson <and_yo@...> wrote:
> For the Japanophones on the list; am I correct in
> assuming that "idoru" (as
> in William Gibson's book-title) is a
> japanesification of "idol"?
Just my opinion as I guess I can be classified a
Japanophone even if not native, but I would say NO.
"Idol" is said with a long i in English, and the
Japanized form would try to maintain as much of the
original within its own acceptable framework as
possible. Therefore, as long i can be supported in
Japanese by _ai_, (whereas _i_ in Romanized Japanese
refers to the traditional Romance langs i), it would
be "aidoru".
About 99% certain, but I'd need to confirm that 1%
doubt with my personal JPN teacher :-)... Not to
mention, I have a sneaking suspicion that a kanji
version (ie, more Japaneseque word) may exist for this
meaning.
[That's a common feature, that an older native word
exists, but that the English-borrowed version now
exists and may be more common in use nowadays --- we,
Americans, are destroying 'em :-/ ]
M.E.S.
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