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Japanese: ことば(言葉) - ことば

The original form of the Japanese word "kotoba" is "koto (word)," and "kotoba" is a derivative of this word, which was probably first used around the 7th or 8th century. In the case of the oldest Japanese documents, the Kojiki and the Manyoshu, there are only a few examples of "kotoba," whereas "koto" is found in many compound forms, such as "yogoto (congratulatory words)," "katarigoto (storytelling)," "kotoage (raising words)," "kotowaza (proverbs)," as well as "kotohogu (celebration)" and "kotodou (questioning)."

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

〈ことば〉という日本語の原型は〈こと(言)〉であり，〈ことば〉はその派生語として，おそらく7,8世紀のころより用いはじめられたらしい。最古の日本語文献である《古事記》《万葉集》の場合，〈ことば〉は数例しかみられないのに対し，〈こと〉は〈よごと(寿詞)〉〈かたりごと(語り事)〉〈ことあげ(言挙げ)〉〈ことわざ(諺)〉，また〈ことほぐ(言祝ぐ)〉〈ことどう(言問う)〉などの複合語形で多数みいだされるからである。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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