Pronounced ‘Vee-gan’ … but ヴィーガン or ビーガン?

Vegan is pronounced ‘Vee-gan’ … vē-gən, not ve-jən or ve-jan. For Japanese, in Romanji, that would be ‘vi-gan’.

If I came to Japan from a country that had no letter ‘D’, but instead used a letter ‘K’, and I wanted to preach ‘Baka-ism’ after the great spiritual teacher called ‘The Baka’ … the Buddha to you and me … what should the Japanese think? So why “beegan” (bē-gən)?

In an interview with the founder of the Vegan Movement Donald Watson, published by Zel & Reuben Allen of Vegetarians in Paradise [VIP] (see: Live and Help Live), Donald Watson-san makes the matter perfectly clear …

VIP: There is some confusion about the pronunciation of the word Vegan. One of the dictionaries pronounces it vai-gan. Could you give us the correct pronunciation?

Donald Watson: The pronunciation is ‘VEEGAN‘ not ‘VAI-GAN‘ … ‘VEGGAN‘ … or ‘VEEJAN‘.

The stress is on the first syllable.

Unfortunately, this does not help in Japan where another controversy exists. Natively, Japan has no letter ‘V’, a serious shortcoming given so many good words and names in European languages start with it; vigor, victory, virtue, vivacious … Vivienne (Westwood), Vivaldi (The Four Seasons), Vincent (Van Gogh) … and, of course, Vegan.

So where does that leave us , ヴィーガン or ビーガン (roughly translating as ‘vegan’ or ‘bee-gan’)? Certainly it is not ヴェーガン (which as ‘vai-gan’, is the common mispronunciation in English).

Vegan or Ve-gun?

Japan has 4 actively used alphabets; Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana and Romanji (or English). Unfortunately, the first 3 three Japanese ones have no letter ‘V’. Traditionally, Japan has no ‘V’ sounds never mind ‘v-words’.

ビ is ‘B’. ヴ is a ‘U’ or ウ with a couple of dakuten (emphasis marks) added that someone at some point decided was a ‘V’. Unfortunately, this is not universally recognised, nor can most Japanese pronounce ‘V’ well. A big problem when one wishes to promote ヴィーガニズム.

Presumably, from the lack of contact with the outside world, ‘vegan’ has become ‘begin’ (bee-gin) for many. This is a problem for English speakers as ‘begin’ or ‘began’ already mean something else! So how to make sense of this Babelian Tower … and does it matter?

Yes, it does matter.

Why and what to do?

The Vegan Movement is now an unstoppable international movement. Individuals within the movement … move. Just as the concept has now crossed all national borders, so do vegans. To communicate what is “vegan”, we need a universally understandable word for a universally accepted standard *.

I find it sad to find self-centeredness and nationalism taking precedence above that international vision. And if the “Buddha” of Veganism, Donald Watson, called it Vegan … then I would like to respect that vision too … virtuous, vegan, victory.

My vision of the vegan movement is one of an international and democratic movement that rises above nationalism and sets higher standards of ethics and compassion for humanity.

When a Japanese Vegan goes to the US or UK, they should be able to clear communicate what they are and what they want … and be understood, even by non-vegans. When a non-Japanese Vegan come to Japan, they should be able to clear communicate what they are and what they want … and be understood, even by non-vegans.

We are Vegans. Not Beegins. And we are one.

Japan, the whole of Japan, has to learn a new word. It is already learning a new word and concept. Why not just get it right first time? Why not remove yet another opportunity for Westerns to ridicule Japanese mispronunciation? Why not just sound a little cooler? I am sorry to say this but ‘beegin’, to English-speaking ears, sounds like baby talk. It is sweet but it sounds like a young child who cannot form their words correctly yet. It might be ‘kawaii’ the first few times, if that is what you want to project, but not for long. It is not strong.

Yes, I can see that it could be true that ビーガン looks better than ヴィーガン … but we talk in sounds not letters. Early on in the history of the Vegan Society of Japan it was suggest to use the word in its original Romanji … 日本 VEGAN 協会 … a compromise. This found approval from leading Western vegans, such as Tony Bishop-Weston, who suggest that the word vegan, like the Sanskrit word ‘Om’, is becoming an international standard.

Whilst I dare say individuals will do what they feel, and stick with habits they already have, the Vegan Society of Japan should responsible to the original vision of Donald Watson and set the internationally recognised standard.

It is vegan. And until someone comes up with a better ‘V’ in Japanese, it is ヴィーガン.

* The word “veganism” denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practical – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.

† Baka means a stupid person in Japanese, an idiot.