I will be joining an interesting Talk this weekend organized by Yuki-san (@made.by.yuki). The topic is [Appreciation vs Appropriation]. I learned a lot from the previous Talks with Yuki-san and Emi-san (@little_kotos_words), so I hope I can contribute to this event from the perspective of Sashiko Artisan. Link on Story Highlight or (https://ift.tt/vIeiEL4).
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There are quite many Japanese words that have transformed their meaning in the process of “translating”. [Futon], [Hibachi], [Kombucha]…in most cases, what you imagine in your mind now in English doesn’t have the same meaning in Japan. I feel [Sashiko] is joining this group. Don’t get me wrong. I accept change – so this translation… or even “transformation” is probably the Natural Flow. However, it doesn’t mean that I have to be quiet when something I feel important is being “transformed” by someone. The word [Sashiko] in English is losing its essence in this transition. This simplification happens because those who introduce(d) Sashiko in English focused on “profit (business/publication/Kits/Teaching) more than its history. Again, don’t get me wrong – “profit” is very important to preserve the culture. So, where is the line we have to respect? I have been illustrating the boundary here in this account. I hope I can do the same in an hour Talk there (as I feel an hour may not be sufficient, I prepare a Q&A session after on my own platform with the permission from the organizer. Please join the follow-up session from the Link on Story (Please prioritize the Talk with Yuki-san. What I offer is just a follow-up).
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固有名詞は文化が変わると意味や対象物が違ってきます。「フトン」や「ヒバチ」は北米では日本語で一般的に頭に浮かぶものからは違ったものになっています（詳細は今週の配信で）。逆に日本に入ってきた単語が違う意味を持つこともあるんだろうと思います（すぐに思いつかないところを鑑みると私は日本語が基盤にあるんだろうと）。
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この変化は「良い・悪い」で論じることはできません。変化の理由もあるし、変化を促した人もいるでしょう。ただ、もしこの言葉の変化に対して「ちょっと待った」と言う人がいたら、それは耳を傾けるべきだと思うのです。たかが言葉でしょ…とは言えません。言霊は存在しますし、言葉は一人歩きをします。好む好まないに関わらず、「刺し子」という言葉と共に生きた人が存在していて、変化があるとしたら、その方々の物語も乗っけたものにして欲しいんですよね。忘れられてしまうのは仕方ない。でも、「無かったことにされる」のはどうしても嫌なんです。
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#Sashiko #刺し子
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