Tom: I heard that the katakana “ ヴ ” that is “ ウ ” (u) with two dots, making it sound like (vu), will no longer be used. Is this true?
Miho: This is because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided not to use it for the names of nations.
Tom: For instance?
Miho: In the past, instead of using “ ベ ” (be) for Vietnam and Venezuela, “ ヴ ” (vu) was used to make a “ ヴェ ” (ve) sound.
Tom: How come?
Miho: You know that foreign words are converted into katakana, don’t you? In Japanese, the “v” sound does not exist, so, an “ ウ ” (u) sound was augmented into a “ ヴ ” (vu).
Tom: But, Louis Vuitton uses “ ヴ ,” doesn’t it?
Miho: That’s because the names of individuals and corporations can be written any way they want.
Tom: Ah ha, there are no restrictions.
Miho: So that’s why Japanese people can make a variety of subtle allusions.
Tom: I also understand that the nuance can be altered by using hiragana, katakana, kanji or the alphabet to express the same thing.
Miho: Generally, as they sound almost the same to Japanese people, with the alphabet, K is used to replace C and R for L, but nowadays usage has changed.
Tom: How?
Miho: For instance, with the name りか . People used to write it as R I K A, but nowadays, some people write L I C A. I think it is because many people view L and C as being more fashionable.
Tom: People often say that “words have lives of their own,” and I realize that scripts also have lives. Don’t you think so?
カタカナの
katakana no
(the) katakana
「ウ」に点々がついてる
u ni tenntenn ga tuiteiru
ウ (u) with two dots
濁音の「ヴ」が
dakuonn no vu ga
(that) is ヴ making it sound like (vu)
使われなくなった
tsukawarenaku natta
(that) is ヴ making it sound like (vu)
聞いたけど、
kiitakedo
(I) heard
ほんと?
honnto
is (this) true?
それは、
soreha,
this is because
国の名前
kuni no namae
(the) names of nations
使わないと
tsukawanai to
not to use (it)
外務省が
gaimushou ga
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
決めたってこと。
kimeta tte koto.
decided
たとえば?
tatoeba
for instance
ベネズエラは、
benezuera ha
Venezuela
代わりに
kawarini
instead of (using)
「ヴ」を使って
vu wo tukatte
ウ (vu) was used
「ヴェ」としていたんだ。
ve to shiteitannda
to make a ヴェ (ve) sound
外国から入った言葉を
gaikoku kara haitte kotoba wo
foreign words
置き換える
okikaeru
are converted
知ってるよね。
shitteruyone.
you know, don’t you ?
日本語にない
nihonngoni nai
Japanese in does not exist
「ウ」の濁音の「ヴ」を使ったの。
u no dakuonn no vu wo tukatta no.
(an) “ ウ ” (u) sound (a) 「ヴ」(vu) was augmented into
ルイ・ヴィトンは
rui vitonn ha
Louis Vuitton
「ウ」の濁音を
u no dakuonn wo
ヴ
使うよね。
tsukau yone.
uses doesn’t it ?
企業
kigyou
corporations
名前は
namae ha
(the) names
どのように
donoyuoni
any way (they want)
規制がないんだね。
ksiei ga nainndane.
there are no restrictions
そんなわけで、
sonnna wakede,
so that’s why
日本人は
nihonnjinn ha
so that’s why
いろいろと
iroiroto
a variety of
表現が
hyougenn ga
allusions
できるんだよ。
dekirunn dayo.
can make
同じものを
onaji monowo
(the) same thing
表現しても
hyougenn shitemo
to express
カタカナ、
katakana,
katakana
アルファベット
arufabetto
or the alphabet
ニュアンスを
nyuannsu wo
(the) nuance
変えられる
kaerareru
can be altered
日本人
nihonnjinn
Japanese people
音に聞こえる
oto ni kikoeru
(as they) sound
アルファベットの
arufabetto no
with the alphabet
置き換えられて
okikaetarete
is used
使われる
tsukawareru
to replace
近頃は
chikagoro ha
nowadays
使い方が
tukai kata ga
usage
変わってきたんだよ。
kawatte kitanndayo.
has changed.
どんなふうに?
donnna fuuni
how ?
たとえば、
tatoeba,
for instance
「りか」って名前。
rika tte namae.
(with the) name りか
書いていたけど、
kaite itakedo,
(people) used to write (it) but
人もいる。
hioto mo iru.
some people
LやC
eru ya shi-
L and C
おしゃれ
osyare
being fashionable
生き物」
ikimono
have lives of their own
っていう
tteiu
(people often) say (that)
文字
moji
(I realize that) scripts
生き物だね。
ikimono dane.
have lives
そう思わない?
sou omowanai
don’t you think so ?