Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sennryu poem and Homonym

(posted; Etymology page)
"Sennryu"  Japanese short, witty poems, which are similar to Haiku. The writing pattern of Sennryu is the same as Haiku, but the contents are rather something comical including satire and self-mockery and we don't have to include kigo (a word or phrase associate with a particular season) in them like Haiku reqires. 


There is a TV quiz variety-show, which the answerers have to think about the last phrases. My hubby doesn't like watching it saying that it is really hard to think about the answers. But I love this challenge of brainstorm ♪  Audiences send the Sennryu through PC and mostly homonyms are included. I especially find the usage of homonyms are really interesting.

So sorry that these are Japanese, do you think you can just enjoy seeing the framed words in different shape, ^^)));  Let me put short explanation for the top one.
   * つゆ ;  soup for the noodle and rainy season
   * あける;  open things like bottles etc. and also means rainy season is over 
     Summer came and we open the new soup for the cool-noodle(soumen)  And it           can also means rainy season is over.

I am wondering if you make pun by using homonym in English.
The other day, the news about the Olympics was explaining that there is difference for gymnastic apparatus; so the Japanese gymnasts may have hard time using them.
       器具が危惧される(kigu ga kigu sareru)  "Concern about Apparatus"
       Concern and Apparatus are homonym, "kigu" in Japanese.

I found this page about sennryu in English;
"If it is man within the world, it is haiku. If it is the world within the man, it is senryu."  - Anita Virgil

         "Great day" I say,
              my neighbor, not to be outdone, says,
                   "Best one yet"

Hehe, my conclusion is that you won't be able to smile unless you don't know the language.  Hard for me to get the pun of the English versions from the site.



19 comments:

  1. I have heard of sennryu, but didn't quite fully understand it. Thank you, my dear friend Miyako, for this thorough and very understandable explanation! This is something I can use with my students when we are studying haiku and I so appreciate the time and effort you put into it for us. If I could understand Japanese, I think I would love watching that show with you!

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  2. Ja, es is wohl schwierig solche Sprache zu übersetzen, denn auch Gedichte in einer Sprache im Ursprung lesen sich übersetzt immer ganz anders, der Sinn geht vielfach verloren...

    Lieben Gruß
    CL

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  3. Dear Miyako,
    I find a good pun to be good fun. I love word play and think I would enjoy watching the TV show with you if you were there to explain. One of the nicest things about your posts is I always feel like I've learned something new while visiting here and it is always something interesting that I've learned. Enjoy your week my bs from Japan. Love you always.

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  4. Hello Miyako!
    Your posts are very informative and extremely interesting because you always describethings that do not exist in my country! Thank you for finding a sennryu in English.
    I think your husband is right. It's too hard to play this game! ;)
    Enjoy the new week!

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  5. i can imagine as translator does not always work well! :)

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  6. Hi dear Miyako. I agree with maddyrose, because I always find that I learn something when I pop over to your blog! This was really interesting today, and you explained it very well. I particularly liked the one at the end when, not to be outdone, one man says "the best one yet."! Hee Hee!! Thank you for another great post my dear friend from the East x

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  7. Yes, Miyako, you are an excellent teacher. Your students are lucky to have you. We have lots of puns here, sometimes when we "say" a pun, we also say "no pun intended"! The Google translate thing messes up quite a bit, I can tell when I visit bloggy buddies in Europe. I laugh a lot at what words they use. Have a great week, my sweet friend. xo

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  8. Well I have learned something new again. Thank you so much.
    Now I wish I could visit you,watch the show and learn more.
    We have a saying here "you are never too old to learn" it's good you can teach this old lady new things (Hee-Hee). I think it will keep me young!
    Love & Hugs

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  9. I have never heard this before. Your blog constantly teaches me things I've never experienced before. Love it!

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  10. i always learn something new and wonderful from your posts!!
    hugs from California!!

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  11. Dearest Miyako san,

    Oh, the language is so embedded in a country's culture that it is very hard to explain its meanings. The subtleties are so important to understand as you can really 'miss' the point.
    Thanks for explaining your extraordinary rich culture to us.
    Love to you,
    Mariette

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  12. It's like have the last funny word? Although I don't understand but I think the Japanese writing is beautiful and the morning glory frame you chose so very pretty!

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  13. I have never heard of Sennryu so thank you for this I have learnt something new again, I do like coming here and learning things.....

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  14. Hahaha these senryu are very well done and funny!! I agree with your coclusion. It's very hard to explain homonyms in different language and we have to know the language to smile. But I think your explanation gave very good idea to non-Japanese speaking friends! Have a wonderful week, Miyako san!

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  15. I want to know more about Sennryu now! I can't believe there's a game show dedicated to it, you must have to thing very quickly! Thank you for enlightening us!

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  16. Hi Miyako,
    This is very interesting, probably would enjoy the show. Thank you for sharing with us. Hugs, Lu

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  17. I also think that Japanese writing is lovely to look at.
    Your post today is very informative and interesting. Thanks for sharing this with us. :))

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  18. This is wonderful and I would be enticed to try them for the challenge as well. You have such a wonderful language!
    ♥Sharon

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  19. I love your blog.......I love the Chinese lantern plants as well and love Furins..................
    I hope to locate one.............
    to add to my wind chime collection.
    Love and blessings
    Jeanne

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