Cool Tat, Too Bad It's Gibberish

[heyitsmonk]

(I thought the later part of the article was more interesting, when they quote a Hong Kong - er who says that the tattoos trivialize the language)
Original Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/fashion/sundaystyles/02tattoos.html

SHAD MAGNESS

Comments

[metahara]

I wonder why people dont get words written in their primary language instead of a completely foreign and apparently somehow more-hmm important? language?

[mrbobothechimp]

Perhaps it is not that the language is more important, but rather just less transparent and thus seemingly more artistic. By translating the tattoo into a different language you are (albeit somewhat superficially) adding layers of meaning to the tattoo. This exclusion perhaps allows individuals to feel a greater ownership of the tattoo.

There's also the issue of words vs. symbols. I would speculate that the main reason for choosing kanji over another language is the more abstract appearance that kanji has to one who is used to the structures of english letters and words. It becomes primarily recognized as a picture rather than read as a word or phrase. This might increase its aesthetic value.

[metahara]

well see now, i relate to the choice even less now as
I beleive we can create our own symbols, charge them with meaning

and do as we please with them (allow the meaning to evolve)

"exotic" language tats seem like a wonky choice to me

[mrbobothechimp]

Yes, I agree. If I were to get a tattoo I would want it to be something personal with personal meaning. There is a lot of work involved, however, in creating and then validating the symbol. For someone who just wants a tattoo that has the meaning "love" it's a lot easier to just translate that into a "picture" (kanji). It seems that (as with any trend) this one is probably nearing it's end as it becomes associated with embarassing mistranslations and subsequently becomes less socially validated.

[sollersuk]

Many decades ago, before tattooing became fashionable, there was a story about a young woman who was very taken by the visual pattern made by some Chinese she had come across and incorporated the characters into a knitting pattern for a sweater.

She wore this with a great deal of pleasure until she went out with someone who was studying Chinese and sniggered every time he looked at it.

Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to get wording off the comments on the menu of a Chinese restaurants, particularly not words that read "This dish is very tasty and quite cheap"

[chanphenglew]

Well, one should think twice and think again before getting tattoo'ed, even in their own language. I had one patient who had her boyfriend's name written over her breast - needless to say, they broke up. She said she'd have to find another boyfriend by the same name.

[ladyofannwn]

reminds me of someone i once knew who had what looked to me like "big tree" on the back of their neck.

a friend who's into tattoos informed me that names, like the heart on the chest thing, are regulated to the lower end of the totem pole as far as coolness and respect. i wonder if kanji are headed that way, or if they're already there.