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This paper examined the Japanese neologisms borrowed by Taiwan newspapers to report on Taiwan’s social phenomenon which is similar to the social phenomenon previously taking place in Japan. In this paper, 7 neologisms related to social phenomenon were discussed, namely, sub-replacement fertility, homeboy, aging society, low-living elderly, society without connection, living apart together, and dining alone.
The news contents published by 12 Taiwan newspapers in a period of 66 years were retrieved and examined to find out how many times and how many years the neologisms stated above have been used by Taiwan newspapers until 2017 year-end. The neologisms were divided into two categories – regularly used neologisms and irregularly used neologisms – and examined separately.
Next, thousands of news contents published by Taiwan newspapers until 2017 year-end were retrieved to examine how Taiwan newspapers used both categories of neologisms and to trace how the neologisms were used in Taiwan. Readers could take a quick glance at Taiwan’s social pulse as they read the news contents.
According to the research results, this is how the neologisms related to Taiwan’s social phenomenon were borrowed and used by Taiwan newspapers regularly: emergence of new social phenomenon in Japan (neologisms were created accordingly) → social phenomenon transformed into social issue → similar social phenomenon taking place in Taiwan → social phenomenon becoming social issue in Taiwan, too → discussing solutions → discussing bills to solve social issues → government agencies mobilized to solve the issues.
Up until 2017 year-end, some neologisms have not been used regularly in Taiwan. Whether these neologisms will be used by Taiwan newspapers regularly depends on whether the social phenomenon turns into social issues.
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