Maybe I'm using the wrong word as English is not my native language, but in learning Japanese I'm wondering how much of original Japanese language will be left in 20some years. I see that more and more word are just taken from English and Japanaized(?). For example The word grey, pink & milk are just ported to Japanese from English, although the Japanese have their own Japanese words for it. So my question is, how much more is the Japanese language going to change under influence of the west and is it a good thing? It's easier to learn that's for sure, but I personally don't like it. I like gyuunyuu better then miriku etc.... I was wondering how Sayaka and other native speakers feel about this.

Ashwinr-san, Hmm, that is an excellent question. I believe that the Japanese people (including myself) would like to see our language remain "Japanese" rather than having "Japanglish" take over. And with that in mind, I don't think the Japanese language will ever disappear. Of course, miruku, for example, may be used frequently in colloquial speech, but in written Japanese - it will always remain 牛乳 (きゅうにゅう）, gyuunyuu. Japanglish (Japanese English) has often been seen as "easy Japanese", and more over "informal Japanese" - and as you probably know, Japan is quite a formal country, so unless you're speaking to your close friends and family - you'll need to know the proper Japanese words to communicate. Hope that helps! -Sayaka :P

[quo]*Quote from * Sayaka I believe that the Japanese people (including myself) would like to see our language remain "Japanese" rather than having "Japanglish" take over. And with that in mind, I don't think the Japanese language will ever disappear. Of course, miruku, for example, may be used frequently in colloquial speech, but in written Japanese - it will always remain 牛乳 (きゅうにゅう）, gyuunyuu. -Sayaka :P[/quo] Thank god for that!

Yes indeed! :P