Use of というような in this sentence


> くまはたいそう感慨深げに「縁」 **という** ような種類の言葉を駆使していろいろと述べた。

I understand the use of (noun A)のような(noun B) to say noun B like noun A , and I
understand という in the sense of 'that' e.g. 彼が無事だという知らせ, or 'called' as in
本田という人. Or even as just the quote particle followed by the verb 'to say'. But
none of these interpretations seems to make sense to me.

If I want to say 'words of the 「縁」 kind', why is it not just ...縁のような種類の言葉...?
With という inserted it seems to me to read 'words like _saying_ 縁'. Which
clearly makes non sense. Which of the interpretations of という is used above and
why is it needed? Thanks.




Your observation is partially true. The most basic concept of という is "you say
_what_ ", where the point is you can't say _an object_ , but only its _name_
or _depiction_. Thus という actually gives implicit quotes to what comes before
(though the writer gives explicit quotes, too...).

Your alternative 縁のような種類の言葉 would literally mean _some kind of word e.g. 縁_ ,
in the same way as 米のような種類の作物 _some kind of crop e.g. rice_ , so it leads:

> word : 縁 = crop : rice

It clearly contradicts the fact 縁 ("affinity, tie of relationship") is not a
subcategory of 言葉 ("word") (cf. 形容詞のような種類の言葉 _some kind of word e.g.
adjective_ ).

In contrast, 縁というような種類の言葉 means:

> _some kind of word e.g. how you say 縁_  
>  → _some kind of word e.g. word represents 縁_  
>  → _some kind of word e.g. "縁"_

This time,

> word : the word "縁" = crop : rice

perfectly makes sense. In other words, という _prevents_ this sentence from being
nonsense.

Generally speaking, In nine times out of ten when you want to say "word like
A" in English, you're going to translate it to "A **という** 言葉" in Japanese.




Your observation is partially true. The most basic concept of という is "you say
_what_ ", where the point is you can't say _an object_ , but only its _name_
or _depiction_. Thus という actually gives implicit quotes to what comes before
(though the writer gives explicit quotes, too...).

Your alternative 縁のような種類の言葉 would literally mean _some kind of word e.g. 縁_ ,
in the same way as 米のような種類の作物 _some kind of crop e.g. rice_ , so it leads:

> word : 縁 = crop : rice

It clearly contradicts the fact 縁 ("affinity, tie of relationship") is not a
subcategory of 言葉 ("word") (cf. 形容詞のような種類の言葉 _some kind of word e.g.
adjective_ ).

In contrast, 縁というような種類の言葉 means:

> _some kind of word e.g. how you say 縁_  
>  → _some kind of word e.g. word represents 縁_  
>  → _some kind of word e.g. "縁"_

This time,

> word : the word "縁" = crop : rice

perfectly makes sense. In other words, という _prevents_ this sentence from being
nonsense.

Generally speaking, In nine times out of ten when you want to say "word like
A" in English, you're going to translate it to "A **という** 言葉" in Japanese.

