The Fall of Language in the Age of English

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The dominance of English is a subject often discussed in the mass media and by scholars in the West. When Professor Mari Yoshihara approached me with the idea of rendering this book into English, I was simply thankful and did not envision the difficulty that would be involved. I flattered myself in thinking that the book might contribute to the ongoing debate by adding a theoretical and historical perspective that has not been sufficiently explored. I also hoped the book would help readers become acquainted, however tangentially, with a magical written language only a few of them are likely ever to know.

Naturally some adjustments were expected from the start. Written for the general reader in Japan, the book is overflowing with concepts, proper nouns, and historical facts that would mean little to readers unfamiliar with that country. A straightforward translation would end up appealing only to Japanese specialists, who can always read the book in the original if they so wish. I wanted to make the book open to a wider readership, realizing that once the translation came out, my ideas could reach not just readers in the English-speaking world but readers everywhere in this age of English. Professor Juliet Winters Carpenter agreed to collaborate with me in revising the book for this purpose, adding explanations here, shortening or eliminating there, and recasting the discussion as necessary for a new readership.

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