Module 2: Introduction to the Japanese Syllabary PDF

MODULE 2: INTRODUCTION TO THE JAPANESE SYLLABARY The Japanese Language (Nihongo) is the 4th most important language in the world based on the number of speakers. https://www.kjtranslations.com/blog/most-important-languages-of-the-21st-century/ Tategaki Vertical writing the traditional writing s...

MODULE 2: INTRODUCTION TO THE JAPANESE SYLLABARY The Japanese Language (Nihongo) is the 4th most important language in the world based on the number of speakers. https://www.kjtranslations.com/blog/most-important-languages-of-the-21st-century/ Tategaki Vertical writing the traditional writing style, from top to bottom and from right to left Yokogaki the horizontal writing, from left to right There are 3 writing systems in Japanese. 1. Kanji - Chinese characters or ideographs, each conveying an idea, used to represent words of both Chinese and native Japanese origin. Uses of Kanji: 1. To write Japanese names 2. To write nouns 3. To write the stem of verbs and adjectives Examples of Kanji 山口さん Yamaguchisan 日本語 NihongoForlang1 Prepared by: Prof. Lailo, LPT, MMEM 23 入口 Iriguchi 出口 Deguchi https://www.nippon.com/en/views/b05605/ 2. Hiragana – set of symbols that make up words and is used to write Japanese terms. The symbols are curvilinear in style. 3. Uses of Hiragana: 1. To write words that have no Kanji 2. To write the reading of Kanji (Furigana)Forlang1 Prepared by: Prof. Lailo, LPT, MMEM 24 Examples of Hiragana いつも Itsumo always はい Hai yes これ Kore this https://www.japanistry.com/hiragana-katakana/Forlang1 Prepared by: Prof. Lailo, LPT, MMEM 25 4. Katakana – set of symbols used primarily for foreign names and place names, words of foreign origin and other sounds. The symbols are made up of straight lines. Uses of Katakana: 1. To write foreign words 2. To write technical terms 3. To write foreign names 4. To write onomatopoeia Examples of Katakana  アメリカ Amerika コンピューター Konpyu-ta- ジョン Jon エレベーター Erebe-ta Written Japanese normally makes use of all three. Besides these three forms of writing, Japanese is sometimes written in Ro-maji (Roman letters), particularly for the convenience of foreigners. This is generally used in teaching conversational Japanese to foreigners when time is limited.Forlang1 Prepared by: Prof. Lailo, LPT, MMEM 26 https://www.japanistry.com/hiragana-katakana/ Uses of Ro-maji: 1. To write acronym 2. To write company name 3. For computer input 4. Use by foreign students of Nihongo esp. when time is limited