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On the word, 'theory'


理論 [RI-RON]

説 [SE-TSU]
2. Rumor.




dinogami said…

It does--"theory" is correct in, say, "theory of evolution" or "germ theory of disease" or "theory of plate tectonics." The correct word for the common "usage" of "theory" is, in many instances, "hypothesis"; in other instances, it's "guess" or "supposition."
Raptor's Nest said…
I'm well aware of that, but the general public doesn't seem to be. The two Japanese words are distinct to begin with.
Raptor's Nest said…
Plus, the English word, 'theory' actually can be used in the sense of 'hypothesis' and still be correct. But the Japanese word 'ri-ron' cannot be correctly used in the meaning 'hypothesis'; nor can 'se-tsu' be correctly used as 'theory'.
dinogami said…

It can, but it shouldn't, just the same way that I could call a TV show a "movie" (it is a moving picture, after all), but shouldn't. Just because everyone does something incorrectly does not, per force, make it correct!

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