Katakana is a particularly mystifying component of the Japanese language. While the syllabary obviously symplifies both reading and writing of Kanji (the characters from which the syllabary is formed), Japanese already *has* a syllabary based on the aforementioned characters -- the Hiragana syllabary.
So why is Katakana used instead if Hiragana in certain instances? Many textbooks would lead you to believe that the occasions wherein Katakana would be used over Hiragana (or, for that matter, Kanji), would include onomatopoeia, emphasis, or foreign loan-words. The delineations between these categories, however, is not so simple. By examining the use of Katakana in the "Pokemon" series, we may be able to draw new conclusions about the syllabary's purpose.
For my first Katakana sample, I have selected the box for the collectible Pokemon figurine, “Pikachu.” The figurine itself sells under the moniker: ともだちピカチュウ.
“Pikachu” is the name of the character in the show “Pokemon.” According to at least one textbook that explains the origins of Katakana, this syllabary is occasionally utilized to emphasize names. In the show, Pikachu’s signature move is a discharge of electricity. During this discharge, the small electric mouse screams “Pi—Ka—Chuuuu,” which is a term that one might associate with electric discharge, thereby suggesting that the katakana writing is justified through onomatopoeia. Bulbapedia, a compendium of Pokemon, corroborates this notion, with the name translating to "Sparkle Squeak," with ピカピカ meaning "sparkle" and "チューチュー” meaning "squeak."
Pikachu, however, is not the only Pokemon that uses Katakana to spell its name in Japanese. “Dodrio,” which is a portmanteau of the words “Dodo” and “Trio,” is written as: ドードリオ. This Pokemon may have its name written in Katakana for the same reason as Pikachu, to reflect an emphasis of its name, but its transcription may have more to do with the fact that it is a combination of loan words. Even so, the fact remains that “Dodrio” is *still* the Pokemon’s name, and an emphasis of the name may be the reason that the Pokemon’s name is written in Katakana.
Perhaps the strongest rationalization for the writing of both Pikachu and Dodrio in Katakana arises from the fact that the main area of Pokemon, Kanto, is also written in Katakana in both the game and the television show. In Pokemon, Kanto is written as カントー, as opposed to its formal Kanji. Kanto, apparently, is a region of Japan (Honshu) that occupies seven prefectures. Therefore, it is *neither* onomatopoeia *nor* a loan word, since it has its natural Japanese derivation. We can therefore assume that Kanto is written in Katakana for perhaps the previously posited suggestion regarding Pikachu: That the advertisers and marketing directors chose to write the name in Katakana to either simplify or emphasize the name. One should note that the targeted demographic of the television show is "young children." As young children typically do not possess the advanced Kanji knowledge of their parents or college-aged students, the spelling of names and places in Katakana may simplify reading for the children, thereby enhancing their entertainment experience.
There are numerous reasons why textbooks define Katakana in different ways. Perhaps one reason has to do with the textbook author’s familiarity with both Japanese and the language into which she is translating. There are so many nuances in both English and Japanese, that it would be difficult to find a translation that encompasses each of these variations. Furthermore, language is always evolving. While Kanji is fixed, there are a seemingly infinite number of loan words and “new words” entering the lexicon on a nearly daily basis. The Japanese language must accommodate these new phrases, and Katakana is the means with which it can do so.
There are numerous reasons why textbooks define Katakana in different ways. Perhaps one reason has to do with the textbook author’s familiarity with both Japanese and the language into which she is translating. There are so many nuances in both English and Japanese, that it would be difficult to find a translation that encompasses each of these variations. Furthermore, language is always evolving. While Kanji is fixed, there are a seemingly infinite number of loan words and “new words” entering the lexicon on a nearly daily basis. The Japanese language must accommodate these new phrases, and Katakana is the means with which it can do so.
