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「In the manga, Misogi Kumagawa talks with his words inside [quotation
marks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_typographic_symbols#Brackets_and_quotation_marks),
just like this.」

「Here's a typical example:」

![Kumagawa](https://i.gyazo.com/bf8243a4ddc2254092f737734aea6da8.png)

「Why is this? Is there a specific reason he has this notation while talking?」


CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-13T18:18:39.157
24058
2021-09-22T11:59:42.113
2017-03-10T09:42:46.270
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question
japanese-language medaka-box
Why does Kumagawa talk in Japanese quotation marks?


The reason why Kumagawa's "speaks" in brackets is a [bit of a
pun](http://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E7%90%83%E7%A3%A8%E5%B7%9D%E7%A6%8A) (see
『カギカッコ』). The context here implies literally [括弧]{かっこ}つける (kakko tsukeru),
meaning "to add brackets/parenthesis (to something, e.g., a sentence)." The
pun involves a well-known expression [格好]{かっこ}つける (kakko tsukeru), meaning "to
show off or try to look cool." Kumagawa speaks in the way he does because he
is trying to sound cool.

One thing to note about 格好 is it's a kanji with [irregular kana
usage](http://jisho.org/word/%E6%A0%BC%E5%A5%BD%E3%81%A4%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B).
おう (ou) like えい (ei) is what's called a "long vowel." The おう (ou) is
essentially a long "oo" sound. Historically [格好]{かっこう} (kakkou) is the correct
spelling, however in certain, more colloquial contexts the う is
[omitted](http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E6%A0%BC%E5%A5%BD%E3%81%A4%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B)
for purposed such as brevity.

In [chapter 88](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SwgiU.jpg) of the manga, when
Kumagawa returns to the dream classroom and ask Ajimu for his original Minus
back. Ajimu asks him to express himself sincerely, without brackets if he
wants it back.

[![第88話](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SD01v.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SD01v.jpg)

He [replies](https://i.stack.imgur.com/yerUY.jpg) w/o square brackets.

[![二重かぎかっこ](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vx5vhm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vx5vh.jpg)

It should be noted that he speaks using "double square brackets" (二重鉤括弧 『 』)
used to mark quotes within quotes. In Japanese fiction this type of square
bracket is often [used to
denote](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8B%AC%E5%BC%A7#.E4.BA.8C.E9.87.8D.E9.89.A4.E6.8B.AC.E5.BC.A7.E3.80.8E.E3.80.8F)
something heard through another device. It's implied in the case of Kumagawa
that what we are seeing is essentially subtitles. We're hearing the literal
meaning being his _cool_ words.

[![More
二重かぎかっこ](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5aVef.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/dvOVL.jpg)


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2015-08-13T23:57:41.440
24066
2015-08-14T03:25:05.707
2015-08-14T03:25:05.707
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answer


There is a common mistake by the translator in the words of Kumagawa. The
origin of the meaning of parentheses, whether in the anime or manga, has two
reasons in the Japanese language. The first reason is that the words inside
the brackets are all lies. The second reason is that the words inside the
brackets are said in a single tone of voice without any feelings, whether
anger, sadness or joy, and I think that Kumagawa uses both reasons


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2021-08-27T18:31:31.883
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2021-09-22T11:59:42.113
2021-09-22T11:59:42.113
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answer