EIN044_What do Japanese people think of when they hear the word 'otaku?' 【Tambaboon IELTS Lab Sydney Australia】 英語 オーストラリア ニュース

I found noteworthy news on JAPAN TODAY.
Casey Baseel reported this story on APR. 27, 2014 - 06:29AM JST.

Like with any language, the meanings of certain Japanese words change over time. Take the word “otaku,” which is originally a polite way of saying “you.” It’s so polite that overusing it can make a person sound a little wishy-washy, giving the impression that he’s not really comfortable with interpersonal relationships in general. Of course, if someone isn’t spending his time interacting with other people, then what does he fill his days with? Presumably, his solitary, or at least niche, hobbies such as watching anime. And so otaku picked up a second meaning of “obsessive nerd.” That was 30 years ago though, so a recent survey sought to answer this question: What do Japanese people imagine when they hear “otaku?”

Following are the top 15 responses.

15. Pants with a lot of pockets – 4.8%14. A recent jump in stylishness – 6%13. Paper shopping bags – 13.7%12. Plaid shirts – 13.9%11. Bandanas 14.5%10. An increasing number of girls – 18.9%9. Backpacks – 23.5%8. Someone who likes video games – 37.8%7. Someone who likes manga – 38.8%6. They’re entering their golden age – 41.5%5. Akihabara / Akiba – 45.6%4. Someone with his or her own world – 46.8%3. Someone who knows a lot about one thing – 47.9%2. Someone who likes anime – 50.4%1. Someone obsessed with his or her hobby – 61.9%

Statement analysis
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1. Like with any language, 
2. the meanings of certain Japanese words change over time. 
3. Take the word “otaku,” 
4. which is originally a polite way of saying “you.” 

1. It’s so polite that overusing it can make a person sound a little wishy-washy, 
2. giving the impression 
3. that he’s not really comfortable with interpersonal relationships in general. 
4. Of course, 
5. if someone isn’t spending his time interacting with other people, 
6. then what does he fill his days with? 
7. Presumably, 
8. his solitary, or at least niche, hobbies such as watching anime. 
9. And so otaku picked up a second meaning of “obsessive nerd.” 

1. That was 30 years ago though, 
2. so a recent survey sought to answer this question: 
3. What do Japanese people imagine when they hear “otaku?”

Following are the top 15 responses.

15. – 4.8%   Pants with a lot of pockets 
14. – 6.0%   A recent jump in stylishness
13. – 13.7% Paper shopping bags
12. – 13.9% Plaid shirts
11. – 14.5% Bandanas

10. – 18.9% An increasing number of girls
09. – 23.5% Backpacks
08. – 37.8% Someone who likes video games
07. – 38.8% Someone who likes manga
06. – 41.5% They’re entering their golden age

05. – 45.6% Akihabara / Akiba
04. – 46.8% Someone with his or her own world
03. – 47.9% Someone who knows a lot about one thing
02. – 50.4% Someone who likes anime
01. – 61.9% Someone obsessed with his or her hobby


Word vocabulary - English
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wishy-washy
namby-pamby: weak in willpower, courage or vitality

interact
act together or towards others or with others

presumably
used to convey that what is asserted is very likely though not known for certain.

solitary
(of a place) secluded or isolated.

niche
a specialized but profitable corner of the market.

obsessive
of the nature of an obsession.

nerd

a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.

a single-minded expert in a particular technical field.

plaid

checkered or tartan twilled cloth, typically made of wool.

a long piece of plaid worn over the shoulder as part of Scottish Highland dress.

Akihabara
Akihabara is a district in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo, Japan. 


Word vocabulary - Japanese
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wishy-washy
wíʃiwɑ̀ʃi
【形-1】（人・態度などが）どっちつかずの、煮えきらない、優柔不断な、及び腰の、なよなよした
【形-3】（話・文体などが）弱々しい、迫力に欠けた、実のない
【分節】wish・y-wash・y

interact
【自動】互いに影響し合う、相互に作用する、互いに交流し合う、付き合う
【変化】《動》interacts | interacting | interacted、【分節】inter・act

presumably
priz[j]úːməbli
【副】推定上、推定されるように、たぶん、恐らく、思うには
【＠】プリジューマブリー、プレジューマブリー、【分節】pre・sum・a・bly

solitary
sɑ́lətèri
【名-1】世捨て人
【名-2】独房監禁◆【同】solitary confinement
【形-1】唯一の
【形-2】孤独な、一人の、独りぼっちの、一人だけの、寂しい
【形-3】めったに人の訪れない、人里離れた
【＠】サリテリ、ソリタリー、【分節】sol・i・tar・y

niche
nítʃ
【名-1】適した地位、適所、最適な仕事［分野］、適性、得意の分野、生態的地位
【名-2】すき間、隙間産業、市場のすき間、ニッチマーケット、特定分野
【＠】ニッチ、【変化】《複》niches

obsessive
əbsésiv
【名】強迫観念に取り付かれた人、偏執狂
【形】強迫観念の［による・を伴う・に取り付かれた・を引き起こす］、取り付かれた（ような）、妄想を抱いた、異常なまでの
【変化】《複》obsessives、【分節】ob・ses・sive

nerd
nə́ː[r]d
【名-1】〈俗〉ばか、間抜け、うすのろ
【名-2】〈俗〉がり勉野郎
【名-3】〈俗〉おたく、専門ばか
◆コンピュータなどの科学の知識は豊富だが世間に疎い人を指す。

plaid
plǽd
【名・形】格子縞の（の織物）
【＠】プラッド、【変化】《複》plaids


Reference
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Casey Baseel. (2014). What do Japanese people think of when they hear the word 'otaku?'.  Available: http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/what-do-japanese-people-think-of-when-they-hear-the-word-otaku
  Last accessed 27th Apr 2014

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