Translation problem
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Translation problem
hi, there! I am a new member to this forum and I admit I find it very enlightening! Please, can anybody tell me how we say "GREECE" and "GREEK" in nihongo? Thank you in advance!
girishajin2046
RE: Translation problem
Hey,
Greece = Girisha
Greek (person) = Girishajin
I'm not sure how you you would refer to the Greek language.
Greece = Girisha
Greek (person) = Girishajin
I'm not sure how you you would refer to the Greek language.
Last edited by Daichi on Tue 08.30.2005 9:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Harisenbon
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RE: Translation problem
Daichi,
I betcha a nice shiny yen that it's ギリシャ語 Girishago.
I betcha a nice shiny yen that it's ギリシャ語 Girishago.

RE: Translation problem
This is what I would have expected, but I know there are exceptions to the rule about adding -go to the name of the country. Eigo, for example.Harisenbon wrote:
Daichi,
I betcha a nice shiny yen that it's ギリシャ語 Girishago.
- Harisenbon
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RE: Translation problem
Daichi,
ah, but 英語 is from イギリス、 who's formal name is 英国, so it does make sense. =)
ah, but 英語 is from イギリス、 who's formal name is 英国, so it does make sense. =)
RE: Translation problem
Thanks, I didn't realise there was a formal name!ah, but 英語 is from イギリス、 who's formal name is 英国, so it does make sense. =)
- AJBryant
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RE: Translation problem
Interesting story how that happened.ah, but 英語 is from イギリス、
The original Japanese pronunciation, derived from the Portuguese, was rendered as Egirisu and written -- of course -- in homophonic kanji: 英吉利. The pronunciation somehow mutated from エギリス to イギリス, but the 英 kanji was kept. Thus we have 英国. For the record, both are taken to refer to the UK as a whole rather than just England -- if England alone is meant, it is イングランド, and スコットランド for Scotland and so on.
Tony
RE: Translation problem
AJBryant wrote:Interesting story how that happened.ah, but 英語 is from イギリス、
The original Japanese pronunciation, derived from the Portuguese, was rendered as Egirisu and written -- of course -- in homophonic kanji: 英吉利. The pronunciation somehow mutated from エギリス to イギリス, but the 英 kanji was kept. Thus we have 英国. For the record, both are taken to refer to the UK as a whole rather than just England -- if England alone is meant, it is イングランド, and スコットランド for Scotland and so on.
Tony
say, isn't our word "japan" from the portuguese word from the chinese word for japan? i wish i could remember the specifics, but you have to admit, it's a long way from "nihon" or "nippon" to "japan."
♪夢も見たくない 幸せなんか要らない
恋もしたくない お金なんか要らない
ぼくに必要な眠りを眠らせておくれ♪
恋もしたくない お金なんか要らない
ぼくに必要な眠りを眠らせておくれ♪
- AJBryant
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RE: Translation problem
Kinda. Via Italian, actually.say, isn't our word "japan" from the portuguese word from the chinese word for japan? i wish i could remember the specifics, but you have to admit, it's a long way from "nihon" or "nippon" to "japan.
In Pinyin, "Japan" is rendered "Riben" (and, perversely, pronounced /erb'n/, but the "ri" is more of a vibrated z/j/r combination. The historical Chinese pronunciation that would have been heard by the Great Fibber Marco Polo is more or less preserved in the Cantonese /Jihpeng/, rendered then into Italian as Cipangu (pron. /chipangu/) and SOMEHOW mutating into an English Zipang or Zipangu.
It gives me a headache. I prefer "The Land of Wa."

Tony