[ik] tag - definition and criteria

[JMdictProject]

[An "issue" is being opened for each of the kanji/reading tags to provide a forum for discussing the definitions and criteria for applying the tags. It is intended to be used to assist in the preparation of documentation of the tags.]

The [ik] tag is usually associated with kanji and reading forms and is currently defined as "word containing irregular kana usage". It is currently used in about 460 entries, mostly in the reading fields, however several of these are in the process of being edited to replace the tags with [sK] or [sk]. The tags should probably be redefined as "form containing irregular kana usage".

The usual purpose of the tag is to inform users that the form contains a kana sequence which either does not match the accepted readings of the matching kanji, or in the case of a外来語 does not represent a correct transliteration. Examples include:

• the お待ち遠様/お待ちどおさま entry, where the form お待ちどうさま is included with the [ik] tag. The どう reading is irregular for the 遠 kanji. N-gram count data reveals that the お待ちどうさま form and the matching おまちどうさま reading amount to over 65% of the usage of the term, despite them not being in most references.
• the アサインメント (assignment) entry, which includes the incorrect, albeit common, アサイメント form.

[JMdictProject]

I have made a couple of corrections and amendments to the initial statement of this issue.

[JMdictProject]

A page is being developed on the project Wiki which covers these tags, The text of this issue has been transferred there. See: https://www.edrdg.org/wiki/index.php/Kanji_and_Reading_Information_Fields