As the Sept. 23 article "Japanese: a language in a state of flux" suggests, Japan has a long history of cultural and intellectual importation, ranging from language to literary stylistics.
For myself, a Westerner -- and ultimately cultural outsider -- living and working in Japan, this has been one of the most fascinating aspects of Japanese culture. Japan's ability to adopt foreign concepts was once out of necessity. This article suggests that the recent adaptation of gairaigo is merely a fashion statement -- an article of flair for bureaucrats and otaku to spice up their language. However, I feel the importation of gairaigo may be inevitable -- if not essential. As English is becoming more prominent in elementary schools across Japan, it would appear that the desire to speak and the ability to understand foreign words (particularly English) will increase over time. Rather than trouble oneself with implementing kanji compounds for these words, why not attempt to learn their meaning?
I am not suggesting that the beauty of the Japanese language should be forgotten or destroyed by the "torrent" of foreign words; on the contrary, it should be accepted as part of a history that has been successful in adopting foreign concepts, and in many cases, making them better.
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