Annotation source: Seoul Metropolitan Archive
Annotation and image link: https://archives.seoul.go.kr/item/88
ANNOTATION
The Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) of the U.S. Army was established in Minnesota in 1942. The school was set up to train experts in Japanese language to assist U.S. forces in the frontlines against Japan. The majority of graduates from this school were second-generation Japanese Americans (Nisei). After graduating, they were assigned to various commanding offices of the U.S. forces on the frontline against Japan in different regions.
This document is a dictionary of Japanese words of military value, created by MISLS at Camp Savage in Minnesota in August 1943. It is a compilation of new terms or new abbreviations used by the Japanese military and an updated revision from the first edition. The staff revised it from recent Japanese periodicals and seized enemy documents. The school’s graduates in the field helped update the new edition.
This is an important document showing how the U.S. forces translated and used Japanese military terms. There are three different references for each term: English pronunciation, Chinese characters, and English translation. Page 15 of the document contains the terms for “comfort station” (ianjo) and “comfort woman” (ianfu). Here the term “comfort station” has been translated to “Army brothel” and “comfort woman” to “Licensed prostitute (of the Japanese army).” Interpreting these translations is important for a contextual understanding of American official documents related to the “comfort women” system.
As used in U.S. official documents, the terms such as ‘prostitute’ or ‘brothel’ generally meant sex workers and places for sex workers. The translation reflected in this dictionary shows that the terms “comfort women” and “comfort stations” were literally translated without context. This document also shows the fact that the U.S. forces were already well aware of the comfort station system as early as August 1943, while the war was in full swing, since these terms were included in the dictionary at the time.
Contributors
[Organization] Seoul National University, Chin-sung Chung Research Team, 2015~
[Organization] Seoul National University, Chin-sung Chung Research Team, 2015~
[Organization] National Archives and Records Administration 1934~
[Organization] City of Seoul, Women and Family Policy Affairs Office 2011~
#MISLS #dictionary #translation #value
Download file: https://international.ucla.edu/media/files/US-18-Japanese-Words-of-Military-Value-vh-ncd.pdf
LESSON PLAN
Note to teachers:
1. The discussion questions below are designed based on the original document, not the annotation. Teachers are recommended to use the primary document in teaching, instead of the annotation. However, the annotation provides useful background information for teachers when they prepare for the lesson.
2. Direct students to read the cover page and the first two words on page 15. Before showing students the document, it is necessary to let students know this is a dictionary for the Allied troops. Teachers can find related information in the annotation (first two paragraphs).
Explain the following words to your students before asking them to read the document:
- brothel: a house where men can visit prostitutes. It refers to the "comfort stations" in the document.
- M.I.S.L.S.: Military Intelligence Service Language School
- prostitute: a person, in particular a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment. It refers to the "comfort women" in the document.
- romaji: English pronunciation
- kanji: Chinese characters
Direct students to read the cover page and the first two words on top of page 15. After reading, discuss the following questions:
1. What's the title of this document? What does the title tell you?
2.What is the letter in parenthesis on top of the document? What does that tell you?
3. What are the physical characteristics of this document?
a. Is it handwritten or typed?
b. Are there any marks? If so, what are they?
c. Any other physical features do you notice?
d. Does any of these physical characteristics interest you?
4. Who prepared the document?
5. What year was the report created?
6. What was the historical context in East Asia during the time?
7. Based on the romaji, try to pronounce the two Japanese words which meant "Army brothel" and "licensed prostitute (of the Jap. Army)".
It is important for teachers to let students know that these two words were translated into English without context.
8. It is a fact that the U.S. and Allied document included the translations relating to the "comfort women" system in 1943. What does this fact tell you?
9. The Japanese government has been claiming that it bears no legal or official responsibility for the "comfort women" victims. Based on what you've just read and heard, do you think the claim is defendable? Why or why not?
10. What questions do you have for this document?
11. Where can you find the answers?
* This lesson plan was designed by Jing Williams, Associate Professor of Social Studies Education at University of South Dakota.