e会話
「霜月」といった一目瞭然にわかるような和風月名もあれば、「神無月」のような一見しただけでは意味がわからないものもありますね。「１０月ってハロウィーンみたいな怖い行事があるから、神様がいないような雰囲気なのかな」と漠然と思っていましたが、考えてみたらそういう由来のありえなさに気が付きました。実は、有力とされている説によると、「無」は当て字で、「かんなづき」はただ「神の月」の転じた言い方らしいです（同様に「水無月」→「水の月」）。
しかし、言語学的な根拠にこだわらなければ、もう一つの面白い説があります。神が「いない」のは、神々が全国から出雲大社に集って翌年の縁結びについて会議をしているからだという謂れもあります。それに、神様が集う出雲大社がある島根県では１０月は神無月ではなく、神在月(かみありづき)と呼ばれているらしいです。
神々が出雲に集っているように、今度の水曜日、１０月６日開催の「第１８回e会話」に集ったら、新しい英単語と縁を結ぶことができます！
語学のレベルを問わずどなたでも参加しやすい環境を心がけていますので、興味のある方はぜひご参加ください！
Discordのご案内はこちらです→（ここをクリック）
＜注意事項＞
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e-Kaiwa #18: Into the Night (10/6)!
Have you ever heard of the alternative Japanese names for the months? Some make sense at a glance, like Shimotsuki (“frost month” i.e. November), but others have more opaque etymologies, like Kannazuki (literally “god none month” i.e. October). Without ever really thinking about it, I always semiconsciously held the vague notion that since Halloween is a holiday in October, the whole month is considered scary and “godless.” Upon using even a single brain cell to consider this hypothesis, however, the patent absurdity of thinking that a country where Halloween is barely celebrated would have a traditional name for mid-autumn derived from the spookiness of the holiday became immediately apparent.
It turns out that the most likely origin of the name Kannazuki is an archaic version of “kami no tsuki” or “month of gods,” related to the various festivals historically held in Japan around this time of year.
However, if you don’t get hung up on the buzzkill of “linguistic evidence,” there is a much more interesting folk etymology for the month’s name. Namely, it is said that during this time, nearly all of the various gods around Japan gather at Izumo Shrine in Shimane Prefecture to have an annual meeting about matchmaking for the next year, leaving the rest of Japan temporarily without gods. In fact, in Shimane, Kannazuki is sometimes called Kamiarizuki or “month where gods are present” for this very reason.
Whichever interpretation you prefer, while the gods are gathered at Izumo, you should gather at the next e-Kaiwa on October 6 to make your own matches with new friends and new Japanese vocabulary!
JOMO JET and GJEE will team up again to host this super simple online language exchange event. Groups of two English speakers and two Japanese speakers talk for 30 minutes in English and for 30 minutes in Japanese. Anyone can join regardless of language level, so we hope to see you there!
- Hosted by: JOMO JET & GJEE
- Date & Time: Wed., October 6th, 19:00–20:00 (sign-in from 18:30)
- Location: Online (JOMO JET Discord Server)
- Cost: Free (Prior registration is required)
- Registration Deadline: Wed., October 6th, noon
- Max. Participants: 20, Registration will close when capacity is reached. (A waitlist is available)
- How to Register: Please tell us your (1) name, (2) age, and (3) Discord ID via email (see below).
- Contact: Forrest Baker
Paradiplomacy Division
Gunma Prefectural Government
TEL: 027-897-2982
gaikouka@pref.gunma.lg.jp
For help getting started with Discord, check out our guide here!
<Important Notes>
1. Applicants under 18 years of age must have the permission of their parent or legal guardian in order to participate. Individuals under 18 years of age who register for this event are understood to have obtained the permission of their parent or legal guardian. Furthermore, students enrolled in elementary, junior high, or high school may not attend.
2. Anyone under the age of 13 cannot use Discord per their Terms of Service.
3. In order to participate in this event, a computer with a microphone and camera and capable of running Discord is required.
4. Please install Discord in advance of the event and make sure it’s updated to the latest version. (https://discord.com).
5. Please ensure that you have a stable internet connection before participating in this event.
6. Data fees, lighting, electricity, and all other expenses incurred through participation in this event are the sole responsibility of the participant.
7. The applicant understands and agrees to bear full responsibility for any problems or technical issues that may occur when installing Discord, accessing any of the game websites, or any other problem that occurs as a result of participating in this event, and furthermore consents that the event hosts shall bear no responsibility whatsoever for what occurs.
JOMO JET - 国際交流 in Gunma! 