Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine one of the most salient properties of the Japanese language in an attempt to place the interference effects from the mother tongue in a more proper perspective. First, the Japanese language is examined in terms of borrowed words-in particular those from English. Such an analysis indicates that the Japanese language possesses a very flexible surface whereas exclusiveness characterizes the structure inside. In this study, the particular double standard is called the protection mechanism of the mother tongue. Second, how the dual structure innate in the mother tongue will affect the learner is discussed. It is shown that the Japanese tend to regard the mother tongue as the language as opposed to one of languages owing to this particular structure. The other side of the coin is that the same people view foreign languages as somewhat inferior to their own. Concludingly, this paper emphasizes the importance of increased awareness of linguistic egalitarianism, which has been blurred by the interference effects from the mother tongue.
