"Universalizing" Local Names as a First Step of Welcoming a More Global Society
One of the greatest merits of East Asian languages is that much information can be packed into short standalone phrases that are easily remembered by even the laymen without the need for detailed explanations. The ability for information to be communicated so concisely and densely means that it is possible for the phrases to be used as new concepts themselves, without the need to create alternative shorter codes that have equivalent meanings. The idea of densely packed phrases acting as linguistic codes is so common that people in this part of the world do not even think about it.
A good example of such a phenomenon is the use of dense phrases in disaster alerts here in Japan. For instance, the terms used include 避難準備警報 and 高齢者避難開始警報, which translates literally into "evacuation preparation warning information" and "elderly residents evacuation initiation warning information," respectively. While the Japanese phrases are long, the fact that they are so consistently structured means that it is easy for the intended audience to grasp the meaning. But the equivalent phrases in English are simply too long, too jumbled, and too convoluted to be suitable warning signs in times of disaster.
Nor is the process of translation is the only problem that makes East Asian language phrases much lengthier and difficult to remember and comprehend in non-East Asian equivalents. The very nature of their scripts being tightly packed into smaller spaces means that even just transliteration of the same phrases makes them more difficult to remember. Take the example of Tokyo's train lines. The name 京浜東北線 and 京王井之頭線 transliterate respectively into "Keihin-Tohoku Line" and "Keio-Inogashira Line." For people not familiar with the Japanese language, these are just jumbles of vowels and consonants.
As Japan and other East Asian countries strive to make their society at least more bilingual in writing, the use of such dense names in daily lives will pose an issue for foreigners, who will have a hard time understanding them even if they are translated or transliterated. Much greater simplification, using universal codes in numbers and Latin letters would be highly advisable. But issuing legends that tie alphanumeric codes with what they are designed to mean, it becomes more possible to communicate important yet dense information quickly in any language.
The use of such alphanumeric codes is already in existence in East Asian societies, albeit limited and in non-pivotal capacities. The subway lines of major Korean and Chinese cities, unlike those in Japan, are simply numbered sequentially from Line 1, with clear color-coding, rather than local geographical names as in the Japanese case, as markers for easy memorization. Similarly, pollution alerts in the same countries use simple color codes such as orange, red, and dark red to denote varying intensity and severity, making it easy to understand for people of all linguistic backgrounds.
But even wider adoption of such alphanumeric codes would be even more beneficial for a more diverse population unfamiliar with not only the local language but history and culture. Universalization of certain concepts necessarily requires much greater simplification, catering to the lowest common denominator so that everyone can easily get on the same page. The streets of Manhatten, with simple numbers, while unimaginative, have made lives of migrants new to English and the city itself, so much more convenient. Asian cities, with their historical names, easily confuse newcomers.
Of course, this is not to say that all local references should be removed from public spaces, only to be replaced by unsentimental alphanumeric codes. Local names and universal codes can exist side-by-side, with locals becoming familiar enough with both so that they can explain the connection of the two to those who are confused. If Tokyo's train lines are any indication, the process is finally starting here in Japan, as stations are being alphanumerically coded and slowly being introduced to the general public still perplexed by their presence in train announcements.
But given the difficulty of local names for foreigners, it is important that the coding targets subjects that are more important for people's very survival. The above-mentioned names for disaster prevention and pollution, for instance, are much more important than those of train lines and station names. First universalizing the names of information that people must understand in times of emergencies and mortal dangers illustrate the seriousness with which the local authorities and firms are going about protecting the welfare of nonlocals. That is a requisite attitude for any society welcoming of people from all over the world.
A good example of such a phenomenon is the use of dense phrases in disaster alerts here in Japan. For instance, the terms used include 避難準備警報 and 高齢者避難開始警報, which translates literally into "evacuation preparation warning information" and "elderly residents evacuation initiation warning information," respectively. While the Japanese phrases are long, the fact that they are so consistently structured means that it is easy for the intended audience to grasp the meaning. But the equivalent phrases in English are simply too long, too jumbled, and too convoluted to be suitable warning signs in times of disaster.
Nor is the process of translation is the only problem that makes East Asian language phrases much lengthier and difficult to remember and comprehend in non-East Asian equivalents. The very nature of their scripts being tightly packed into smaller spaces means that even just transliteration of the same phrases makes them more difficult to remember. Take the example of Tokyo's train lines. The name 京浜東北線 and 京王井之頭線 transliterate respectively into "Keihin-Tohoku Line" and "Keio-Inogashira Line." For people not familiar with the Japanese language, these are just jumbles of vowels and consonants.
As Japan and other East Asian countries strive to make their society at least more bilingual in writing, the use of such dense names in daily lives will pose an issue for foreigners, who will have a hard time understanding them even if they are translated or transliterated. Much greater simplification, using universal codes in numbers and Latin letters would be highly advisable. But issuing legends that tie alphanumeric codes with what they are designed to mean, it becomes more possible to communicate important yet dense information quickly in any language.
The use of such alphanumeric codes is already in existence in East Asian societies, albeit limited and in non-pivotal capacities. The subway lines of major Korean and Chinese cities, unlike those in Japan, are simply numbered sequentially from Line 1, with clear color-coding, rather than local geographical names as in the Japanese case, as markers for easy memorization. Similarly, pollution alerts in the same countries use simple color codes such as orange, red, and dark red to denote varying intensity and severity, making it easy to understand for people of all linguistic backgrounds.
But even wider adoption of such alphanumeric codes would be even more beneficial for a more diverse population unfamiliar with not only the local language but history and culture. Universalization of certain concepts necessarily requires much greater simplification, catering to the lowest common denominator so that everyone can easily get on the same page. The streets of Manhatten, with simple numbers, while unimaginative, have made lives of migrants new to English and the city itself, so much more convenient. Asian cities, with their historical names, easily confuse newcomers.
Of course, this is not to say that all local references should be removed from public spaces, only to be replaced by unsentimental alphanumeric codes. Local names and universal codes can exist side-by-side, with locals becoming familiar enough with both so that they can explain the connection of the two to those who are confused. If Tokyo's train lines are any indication, the process is finally starting here in Japan, as stations are being alphanumerically coded and slowly being introduced to the general public still perplexed by their presence in train announcements.
But given the difficulty of local names for foreigners, it is important that the coding targets subjects that are more important for people's very survival. The above-mentioned names for disaster prevention and pollution, for instance, are much more important than those of train lines and station names. First universalizing the names of information that people must understand in times of emergencies and mortal dangers illustrate the seriousness with which the local authorities and firms are going about protecting the welfare of nonlocals. That is a requisite attitude for any society welcoming of people from all over the world.
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