カタカナの効用について (Effect of Katakana use)

The title of this blog is ＜やまとことばじてん, yamatokotobajiten＞. I use intentionally all Hiragana. If I use Katakana＜ヤマトコトバジテン＞ or Chinese characters ＜大和言葉辞典＞, which is common, the nuances differ even though when I pronounce these three are the same, yamatokotobajiten. So the differences are found only when you read them by using your eyes and your brain. Why I use Hiragana＜やまとことばじてん＞? This is because ＜やまとことばじてん＞, when you see it you feel more the original Japanese language through your eyes and your brain. Chinese characters are dominant in Japanese. On the contrary Katakanas are used for foreign language words except Chinese and also for some onomatopoeia, which is not regarded as a common word

I personally do not like much Katakanas, especially too much Katakanas used as this deviates from the original Japanese. But unfortunately the use of Katakanas is necessary in writing some times. Katakana is an integral part of written Japanese.

From a different point of view, Katakana has some advantages.

1) distinctively and instantly shows the word not an original Japanese word.

2) gives some effect when you use Katakana for the original Japanese which is usually written by using Hiragana or Chinese character or both combined

オバケ　おばけ　お化け
オドロキ　おどろき　驚き

3) used to show the names of animals, plants. This may be due to the diversity of the names of these.

Animals

馬、うま、ウマ　　usually 馬 or ウマ is used.

＜うま＞may remind a reader of＜うまい＞. But 馬 or ウマ does not.

牛、うし、ウシ　　usually 牛 is ウシ is used

＜うし＞may remind a reader of ＜憂 (う) し＞. But 牛 or ウシ does not.

Foreign animals and rather special ones, Katakana is used.

ライオン, カンガルー

うぐいす、ウグイス、鶯　　usually うぐいす、鶯 is used.　ウグイス may remind a reader of a foreign bird. 鶯 is a bit difficult to write but now easy by using a computer or mobile phone.

バッタ、ばった　usually バッタ is used.

コオロギ、こおろぎ、蟋蟀　usually コオロギ is used.

Plants

バラ、ばら、薔薇 　usually バラ is used.　バラ is a foreign flower.

キク、きく、菊 　usually キク or 菊 is used. ＜きく＞may remind a reader of＜聞く＞.

フジバカマ、ふじばかま、藤袴　　usually フジバカマ or ふじばかま is used. ふじばかまdoes not reminds a reader of some other things. 藤袴 is seldom used probably because you must read it fu-ji-ba-ka-ma then understand it フジバカマ , redundant。フジバカマ is fragrant and affectionate.

ヘクソカズラ、へくそかずら、屁糞葛　　usually ヘクソカズラ is used.This may be due to that ヘクソカズラ emits a bad smell and is detestable.

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