The previous discussion of キレた ended with mention of the phrase "a fit of rage." Someone who is having "a fit of rage" is generally so angry that they cannot control themselves. I talked last time about how "rage" is related to "キレた"
and now I would like to look at the meaning of the term "fit." "Fit" is one of those very simple terms that can give non-native speakers "fits." "Giving someone fits" generally refers to causing someone problems or irritation. This use generally does not mean that the person in question is angry, but instead irritated or perplexed.
"Fit" has another but closely related meaning which is signicant in medicine. You can have, for example, a "fit of coughing" or a "fit of sneezing." Such fits occur when you are coughing or sneezing multiple times in quick succession. One cough is simply a cough, many coughs all at once is a "fit." I once taught a class while I was still getting over a cold and I had a coughing fit halfway
through the class. The coughing was difficult to suppress and it made continuing the class almost impossible. A similar use of the term "fit" is a "fit of giggling" where a person starts laughing and cannot stop. While we generally may think of this state as not being a problem, depending on the situation it could potentially be inappropriate, cause embarrassment or even discomfort.
"Fit" also corresponds to the Japanese term "発作" depending on the type of "発作." The most common example would be when a person with epilepsy (癲癇) has an epileptic fit. An epileptic fit is a single instance from start to finish of a "癲癇発作." The use of "fit" in this manner is a little dated in English and borderline impolite. The expression, an "epileptic seizure," would be more frequently used in clinical settings.
"発作" can also be translated as "attack" in English as in "心臓発作" or "heart attack." So the question becomes how do you know which one to use? My intutitive feeling says to me that "fit" covers events that repeat over and over or escalate as in "coughing fit" or "fit of rage." The term "attack" corresponds more to single non-cylical events such as the heart attack or an "attack of indigestion (消化不良)."
However, I will be the first to admit that this distinction does not really hold up in all cases. You do NOT have an "asthma (喘息) fit," you have an "asthma attack" which according to my "definition" would probably be a "fit." Also, people can suffer "panic attacks" and I am not quite sure where panic falls in my distinction.
This whole discussion just underscores that language is often not based on logic, but rather based on conventional use by real and sometimes not very logical people.
|