Klarinet Archive - Posting 000787.txt from 1998/06

From: kawai@-----.jp (Takashi Kawai)
Subj: [kl] Banso
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 20:01:44 -0400

Oliver Seely wrote:

> Literally "Karaoke" means "empty bucket" according to a Japanese
> correspondent of mine but the current usage also allows the meaning
> that we all know and love.

It's correct that "Oke" means a bucket or a tub or something
like that in Japanese. However, in this case, "Oke" is an
abbriviation of "orchestra." Japanese people tend to short multiple
syllable words in two syllables abbriviations. So, "Orchestra" (Oh-
ke-su- to-ra, pronounced in 5 syllables, in Japan) is shortened to
"Oke."(O-ke, 2 syllables). Also Japanese people makes new
abbriviations connecting such shortend "words." "Karaoke", connection
of "kara"(empty, or "no mellody line") and "oke" (orchestra), is a good
example.

There are many exmples; "Family computer" (the "Nintendo") to
"Fami- Kon (Fa-mi + Ko-n)," "Super Family-computer" (the "Nintendo64")
to "Suh-Fami", "Pocket monster" to "Poke-mon (Po-ke + Mo-n)" and so on.

"Baka" means literally "a fool." However, in many cases, it means
"No kidding."

Takashi Kawai
Kobe / Japan

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