(News) Is It Discriminatory?

teelotes · Nov 3rd, 09, 06:58 PM

I was reading up a book on the language and society of Japan and came across the discrimination of the 部落民 (burakumin). They are a community of people whose families have traditionally engaged in jobs prejudiced by the society, and in recent decades there is a proactive movement to confront the media and society with regards to use of terms that are discriminatory against them.

Besides the social class discrimination, there are also sensitive words related to handicap, illnesses, and other taboo subjects such as death. The Japanese media has consistently self-censored their broadcasts, but with regards to everyday life conversation, are there any particular words that Japanese learners need to know and use more tactfully?

Please share your experiences especially those who have been to Japan.

tarui04 · Nov 3rd, 09, 08:45 PM

like gaijin? used in the tokyo drift movie

kitsura · Nov 3rd, 09, 08:58 PM

Lots of words which can't be uttered in the presence of the fairer sex if you know what I mean. But then I can't print them here without risk of ban.

DragonFire · Nov 3rd, 09, 09:38 PM

What you see/hear in the media is nothing. As teelotes mentioned, Japanese media practices extremely strict self censorship with relation to swear and offensive words. "Bakayarou" or "Chikushou" for instance, are some of the most common media OKed expletives. In practice they are really quite mild, unlike some words like one rhyming with fruit (which I've seen uttered only in one anime thus far).

I am in two minds about whether or not to allow posting of such expletives

While it could be an educational resource on one hand, such a resource could be abused.

I think google is a good place to start if you want to learn more Japanese expletives.

LOL.

DF

teelotes · Nov 3rd, 09, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarui04

like gaijin? used in the tokyo drift movie

Yup, something like that... words that are not direct expletives, but contain derogatory meaning. Mostly these are terms that alienate a specific group or highlight their differences. I've read in the book that in literary works, phrases containing words describing disabilities such as "deaf" (つんぼ) and "blind" (めくら) are usually not permitted. I'm not sure if I interpreted it correctly but in English it'll be something like "to turn a blind eye to" will not be allowed and a substitute phrase will need to be used. This is for literary works, at least. I'm curious if in real life conversation, are people sensitive to these terms too? Or do we need to refrain from using the terms?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitsura

Lots of words which can't be uttered in the presence of the fairer sex if you know what I mean. But then I can't print them here without risk of ban.

Hmm if there is a wiki article or a link on a knowledge base somewhere...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonFire

What you see/hear in the media is nothing. As teelotes mentioned, Japanese media practices extremely strict self censorship with relation to swear and offensive words. "Bakayarou" or "Chikushou" for instance, are some of the most common media OKed expletives. In practice they are really quite mild, unlike some words like one rhyming with fruit (which I've seen uttered only in one anime thus far).

I am in two minds about whether or not to allow posting of such expletives

While it could be an educational resource on one hand, such a resource could be abused.

I think google is a good place to start if you want to learn more Japanese expletives.

LOL.

DF

Rhyming with fruit

Since there's a higher chance one will overhear or even be the subject of an expletive than using one, there is merit in learning the expletives. It'll also help to detect and diffuse a tense or dangerous situation. About using and exploiting them... well, as you said, there's always Google.

So at least personally, I don't mind learning these expletives as long as they are not used in a sentence with "you" as the subject.

kitsura · Nov 3rd, 09, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teelotes

Hmm if there is a wiki article or a link on a knowledge base somewhere...

That wiki won't stay up long. Besides these are stuff better not known as they will corrupt your mind.

DragonFire · Nov 4th, 09, 12:23 PM

Had a quick discussion with the other mods. We will tentatively allow this post to go ahead for its educational value, if Kitsura or any others with information so desire to share their knowledge.

No one will be banned for posting here, unless the words learnt are applied practically.

Enjoy.

DF

|hp78| · Nov 4th, 09, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonFire

Had a quick discussion with the other mods. We will tentatively allow this post to go ahead for its educational value, if Kitsura or any others with information so desire to share their knowledge.

No one will be banned for posting here, unless the words learnt are applied practically.

Enjoy.

DF

Much appreciated for trying to see this through. :3

<3

oOgA · 02:24 PM

The burakumin dates back to the ancient feudal era in Japan, there was a documentary somewhere before.

they are a class of people who handles the jobs that people do not do.
e.g. corpse dealers, butchers

these people eventuallly led into a social class being discriminated and outcasted due to the nature of job and live in specific regions set by the ancient govt. that was long ago

fast forward into the present, the imaginary borderline of this region is still considered by some conservative people as off boundaries. discrimination still exist among the few.

they even have activists in the earlier years (70s) as the social pressure builds upon them.

it is imo, a dark page in Japanese history in modern Japan. some considered it taboo to speak of such discriminatory words or even bring up as a discussions.

there are similar social discrimination references too...a clear example is in India.

it will be a good thing if u guys can share more of this from a historical and social studies' point of view.

kitsura · 10:47 PM

Japan has some of the weirdest and most inconsistent censorship rules around. For eg. pubic hair is no allowed to be shown under any means. This is why the H-manga in an attempt to skirt this ruling have drawn nudes girls with no pubic hair.

But anyway the topic that I'm going to talk about is related to censorship and not H-manga. Unlike swear words which aren't regulated (if you're alert enough you can read it in mangas or hear it on movies) there are certain words that you can not see or hear in any form of media in Japan. These are words that are related to the human genitals and certain parts which may or may not have sexual connotations. Surprisingly even in AV (the legal mosaic version that is) they aren't allowed to say or write these words.

Since I do not have a definitive list of words banned by the Japanese law I will attempt to list down all those that are deemed taboo. Goes without saying that they should not to uttered anywhere near a member of the fairer sex unless you're very close or want to get slapped.

- おまんこ、おめこ (pussy)
- おちんこ、ちんぽ (dick)
- クリト、クリ、クリトリス　(clitoris)
- しきゅう (uterus)
- しきゅうけい (cervix)
- ちち、おっぱい、ぼいん　(tits)
- ちくび (nipples)
- けつ (ass)
- けつあな (asshole)
- オナニ (masturbate)
- 性感帯 [せいかんたい] (erogenous zone) not vulgar just wanted this include this for sake of education

With this list you are now well equipped to find a Japanese girlfriend for some ecchi action. This is stuff your teachers won't teach in school.

Read this article for further information on Censorship in Japan.