Generation Gap

I am writing to congratulate you on a marvellously succinct and well-written article in the May issue. (See "The Japanese Language Meets the Internet," page 60, May 2000.)

My company (Kobe Digital Labo) provides ecommerce consultancy to a variety of companies -- typically headed by presidents over the age of 60. My younger Japanese colleagues struggle to explain an Internet-related subject without recourse to too much katakana.

I feel that unless something is done to stop the influx of katakana words, a very real gulf in understanding will develop.

Piers Shore
p.shore@kdl.co.jp