what does uni mean?

[careful]

(not うに, i mean uni as in university, just keep reading)
Not that this is particularly relevant to anything, but apparently i missed completely observing the trends that placed this word in common usage, i thought it was just an obscure Japanese word. But what gets my tities in a fluster is that in Japanese uni is a (shorted-form) loan word for the English word university, so if English ppl are saying uni, then it becomes a loan word of a loan word of itself. This is a linguistic metaphysical circle fu(k here, whats going on? Is uni really part of the English colloquial lexicon, or am i just seeing coincidental instances of multiple Japanese/English speakers neglecting their duty for linguistic meticulousness? Do you even care for such obscure trivial matters?

 

[eggy32]

I'm confused. You ask what uni means and then explain it's an abbreviation for university. What exactly are you trying to find out?

 

[Kud]

....What?

Can you ask me that question again in english?

 

[trog08]

wait, what? So by saying uni we're using a japanese word that was derived from and english word? Here I was thinking that it was just another case of people being too lazy to use the full word and just cutting it down to two syllables.

 

[careful]

well i know what uni means, yes, i just wanted to make the thread topic catchy. my question is written clearly in my post is it not? im just looking for confirmation on this microtheory.

 

[careful]

yeah, but ive heard uni in speech from English speakers (though all of them bilingual) too, not just an an obvious abbreviation in typing

 

[careful]

if nobody knows what the hell im talking about, then i think i have my answer already, lol.

 

[eggy32]

yeah, but ive heard uni in speech from English speakers (though all of them bilingual) too, not just an an obvious abbreviation in typing

I'm still confused. People use abbreviations in ordinary speech, not just typing. Why is hearing someone say uni confusing to you?

 

[trog08]

yeah, but ive heard uni in speech from English speakers (though all of them bilingual) too, not just an an obvious abbreviation in typing

I never knew it was used by the Japanese and I've always just said it because its easier. I don't really think theres any connection, just coincidence.

 

[RYjet911]

well i know what uni means, yes, i just wanted to make the thread topic catchy. my question is written clearly in my post is it not? im just looking for confirmation on this microtheory.

Basically, 'uni' is a shortened form of 'university'. Regardless of whether you use an identical sound on Japanese, 'uni' is pretty standard English.

It happens a lot in the English language, as shortening long words makes them easier to say.

 

[careful]

It happens a lot in the English language, as shortening long words makes them easier to say.

oh really? hhmm... I had no idea. lol

nah, honestly i was just wondering if it was some emerging weaboo custom, but apparently there doesnt seem to be a relation so nvm now lol

 

[zyfyn]

uni maybe janglish version of university,(japanese have and issue pronouncing L's and R's, so may have dropped the rest of the word for ease of speaking) you know like "hoto cohe" for hot coffee, and uni for English speakers is just laziness

 

[theonewhois3]

Uni means ,on it's own, comes from latin and means the universe or such, i think (no research).Used with in compound with other words, or maybe even just by it self, it means single or one. I present unicycle or unilateral.
Oh and University is somthing similar to study of the universe, that's how the two are related i think.
No need to complicate things, english...
So while uni is used as short form for university, i'm pretty sure it's another messy english word that means the above.

 

[Sonicron]

Linguistics is actually part of my uni studies, so let me put your mind at ease - it's just an abbreviation. It happens all the time in just about any language. As for 'linguistic meticulousness'... well, I suppose it exists, but you have to work from the basic rule that language isn't set in stone, but constantly changing. 'Laser' and 'radar' are both acronyms, but do you see anyone writing them as 'L.A.S.E.R.' or 'R.A.D.A.R.' nowadays? (By the way, personal pet peeve of mine: Not every abbreviation is an acronym! Stop throwing around the word if you don't know what it means, people!) All I'm saying is that while 'uni' looks and sounds like sloppy use of language it might be perfectly normal in a few years or decades, if it isn't already. Heck, I say it, too - easier to say than Universität.

In summary, I believe the colloquial term 'uni' as an abbreviation for 'university' in the English language came into being without loaning from the Japanese loan word, and I don't think you're going to find absolute confirmation for your microtheory because it seems to neglect the status of languages as living, breathing and evolving systems.