May 28, 2021

Common Words ONLY Native Speakers Know

Did you know that there are lots of common words that only native speakers know? English is full of playful word choices, idiomatic phrases, similes, and metaphors. While all those language topics are really interesting, they’re not quite as fascinating as when iconic people become elevated to an English words. When these names and common words become something more, it’s very difficult for non-native speakers to understand their meanings.

Throughout history, some fictional characters or famous people have become so strongly associated with an idea or ideology that their name has come to embody it. a word or phrase themselves. Some for positive qualities while others for negative qualities.

*It’s similar to the idea of brand names, like Kleenex, which became so linked to the product that it became a synonym for the product itself, like tissues.

Could you give me a Kleenex? = Could you give me a tissue?

英語は他の言語と同様ですが、隠喩、慣用的な表現等、楽しい言葉のチョイスにあふれています。その中でも、アイコン的な人名の一部が、英語の言葉として定着したことは非常に興味深く感じられます。

キャラクターや人名が、アイデアやイデオロギーと強く結び付けられ、その人名のみでほめ言葉にもけなし言葉にも英語で使われるようになったものがあるのです。

有名なキャラクターや人物は歴史上たくさん存在します。

そのなかでも、一部の名前はあまりにも象徴的すぎて、言葉以上の重みを持つようになります。そしてその人名自体がある特徴をあらわすブランド名となるのです。

※Kleenexのようなブランド名がティッシュの意味で使われるようになったことと似た感覚です。

The Thin Line between Similes & Brand Name 直喩とブランド名の境目

Al Capone Mugshot from the Chicago Police Department Files

Only a select few people become so iconic that they become brand names. The speaker and/or listener might not even be familiar with the life and times of the person, but they understand what is being communicated by use of that name. Largely this is due to pop culture and how it co-ops these ideas. There are no rules to the process. Some names are used like brand names, while others aren’t.

In truth, any celebrity’s name can be used as a simile or brand name, if the proper association can be made and easily understood.

Al Capone is one of the most infamous American mafia figures of all time. There have been countless books written about him, and more than a few a movies. Robert DeNiro portrayed Capone in the 1987 film ‘The Untouchables.’ You don’t get much better known than that. Al Capone is an iconic figure, but his name has not become associated with a specific character trait, like being smart. Rather, he is associated with the idea of bringing alcohol into the US illegally in the 1920s.

For this reason, using his name in a simile works well.

The way he is able to avoid the law is like a young Capone.

Using his name as a ‘brand name’ doesn’t work as well, but still works.

Hey Capone, the cops are looking for you.

The listener really has to know something about Capone to fully understand the second sentence. They need to know that even though his was a high ranking mob boss that was responsible for the death of quite a few people, he was able to evade the law for many years. He was, however, tried and convicted of tax evasion in 1931.

In order to reach ‘brand name’ reorganization, the name must become an insult or compliment. It must communicate something to the listener(s) that is easily understood without being explicitly said.

ブランド名として選ばれる名前は希少です。話し手や聞き手はその人物の詳細を知らないかもしれませんが、その名前のもつ意味がわかるレベルになっているものがブランド名です。

ブランド名に選ばれるものとそうでないものの境目が不透明なところも興味深いです。

一例をあげましょう。

Al Caponeはアメリカのマフィアとして有名です。本でも映画でもとりあげられています。1987年の映画 ‘The Untouchables’ を見て記憶に残っている方も多いでしょう。Al Caponeはいわばアイコン的な人物です。

しかし、彼の名前は直喩として利用されることはありますが、ブランド名としては浸透していません。

直喩の言い方ですと下記のような表現となります。

The way he is able to avoid the law is like a young Capone.

法網をかいくぐる彼の方法は、若きCaponeのようだ。

ブランド名として利用されると下記のような表現になるのですが、何のこと？と思われてしまう可能性が高いです。

Hey Capone, the cops are looking for you.

おいCapone、警察がおまえを捜しているよ。

Caponeは殺人の罪をうまくのがれてきましたが、1931年に脱税のため有罪判決がくだされます。ここまでの情報を話し手が事前知識としてもっていないと意図が伝わりません。

ブランド名となるには、その名前自身がほめ言葉もしくはけなし言葉と認識され、補足の言葉なく、明確に特徴をもつ必要があり、Caponeはそこまでの地位を確立していないのです。

Common Words & The Difficulty of Pop Culture ポップカルチャーの難しさ

The Beatles & Yoko Ono at Abbey Road Studios 1969 (Apple Records)

Pop culture is very fickle. The ideas and phrases that become popular and stay relevant are almost impossible to predict.

We can take John Lennon as example. In his day, he was one of the most famous celebrities in the world. Even more than 40 years after his murder, John Lennon is still well known for his music and activism. His name, however, has not become a ‘brand name’ for these traits, or any others.

In a very ironic twist of fate, his wife Yoko Ono, has become a ‘brand name.’ From the start of their relationship in the late 60s, Yoko Ono was viewed in the press and by fans as a usurper or invader. Many saw her as a divisive person with a stand-offish personality. There even appeared to be fiction coming from inside The Beatles towards Yoko.

In his last major interview in 1980 for Playboy, John Lennon would cast accusation at the song ‘Get Back,’ claiming that Paul was making a pointed address to Yoko with the song.

“I think there’s some underlying thing about Yoko in there,” he said. “You know, ‘Get back to where you once belonged.’ Every time he sang the line, he’d look at Yoko.”

After The Beatles split, many fans directly blamed Yoko. Her name became a disparaging term for a person that is controlling and/or creates conflict.

Even if you’re not a Beatles fan, being called ‘a Yoko’ is well understood without anyone having to explain what it means.

何が人の心をつかんでブランド名まで昇格するのか、ポップカルチャーは予測不可能です。

例にJohn Lennonをあげましょう。彼の死から40年以上たちますが、彼の功績は色あせることはありません。不思議なことに、彼の名前はブランド名にはなりませんでした。にもかかわらず、彼の奥様であるYoko Onoはブランド名となりました。

交際初期から、Yoko Onoはメディアにとっても、ビートルズファンにとっても強奪者のようなイメージでとらえられていました。彼女特有の強い性格が争いの種をまねいていると、多くの人々がとらえていたのです。

1980年のPlayboyの取材の中で、John Lennonは、Paulが「Get Back」の中でYokoにねらいを定めて曲を書いたのではと述べています。 ‘Get back to where you once belonged.’（帰れ　お前がかつて居た場所に）と歌うたびにYokoを見ていたと取材のなかで話しています。

ビートルズが解散したとき、多くのファンはYokoに責任があると強く感じていました。

そして、残念ながら、彼女の名前は支配的・対立をうむ人をさして、見下すように英語の中で使われるようになります。