ABSTRACT This article examines how ideologies of English are constructed and reproduced through the use of English by various television characters. It analyzes the form, content, and context in an NHK morning drama Massan, focusing on the construction of incompetence. Similar to previous studies, the contrast between characters based on their English skills are represented through various semiotic processes. However, unlike other studies where the individuals lacking English competence are represented as stupid and objects of ridicule, one of the main supporting characters of Massan uses ‘bad English’ but has a strong, positive role in the drama. The mismatch between the character’s speech and her character in the drama seems to blur the negative aspect of incompetence in English, and possibly mollifies the viewers’ own English inferiority complex. The juxtaposition of a strong supporting character with a lack of English creates a space for this alternative positive interpretation. However, such positive representation does not negate the power of English itself; rather, it appears to heighten the division among Japanese people based on their English skills.

中文翻译：

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北枕倒霉：日剧《马山》中英语意识形态的建构

摘要 本文探讨了如何通过各种电视人物使用英语来构建和复制英语的意识形态。分析NHK早间剧《马山》的形式、内容、语境，聚焦无能的建构。与以往的研究类似，基于英语技能的字符之间的对比通过各种符号过程来表示。然而，与其他将缺乏英语能力的个人视为愚蠢和嘲笑对象的研究不同，马桑的主要配角之一使用了“糟糕的英语”，但在戏剧中却扮演着强大的积极角色。角色的言语与剧中角色的不匹配似乎模糊了英语无能的消极方面，并可能安抚观众自己的英语自卑情结。一个强有力的支持角色与缺乏英语的并置为这种另类的正面解释创造了空间。然而，这种正面表述并不能否定英语本身的力量；相反，它似乎加剧了基于英语技能的日本人之间的分歧。