2. 日本語

4. Table of Contents Speaking Japanese Speaking Japanese ♦ Pronunciation ♦ Pronunciation ♦ Vowels ♦ Vowels ♦ Consonants ♦ Consonants Writing Japanese Writing Japanese ♦ Hiragana 平仮名 ♦ Hiragana 平仮名 ♦ Katakana カタカナ ♦ Kanji 漢字 ♦ Kanji 漢字

5. Speaking Japanese 日本語 (nihongo) 日本語 (nihongo) Each region has its own dialect, but a standard version of Japanese is taught in schools and understood by people all over Japan. Each region has its own dialect, but a standard version of Japanese is taught in schools and understood by people all over Japan. http://japanese.about.com/library/blhiraganaaudio.htm http://japanese.about.com/library/blkatakanaaudio.htm

6. Pronunciation When speaking Japanese, it’s important to make each syllable the same length and say it clearly. When speaking Japanese, it’s important to make each syllable the same length and say it clearly. Vowels Consonant

7. Vowels Vowel sounds are shorter than their English equivalents. Vowel sounds are shorter than their English equivalents. 1. a as in rather 2. i as in beat 3. u as in book 4. e as in get 5. o as in hot When i and u follow a consonant, they are not always sounded clearly. When i and u follow a consonant, they are not always sounded clearly. e.g. desu => dess suki => sski suki => sski Two vowels together should be pronounced as separate sounds and not combined. e.g. kouen (park) => koh en Some syllables can be combined to form one. e.g. kya is a combination of ki and ya.

8. Consonants The pronunciation of consonants is not as strong as English. R is between an r and l sound. V is pronounced the same as b. The pronunciation of consonants is not as strong as English. R is between an r and l sound. V is pronounced the same as b. If there is a double consonant, pause slightly before saying the consonant. If there is a double consonant, pause slightly before saying the consonant. The sound of borrowed words has to be changed to fit with Japanese pronunciation. In most cases, consonants must be followed by a vowel. The sound of borrowed words has to be changed to fit with Japanese pronunciation. In most cases, consonants must be followed by a vowel. e.g. hot dog => hotto doggu

9. Japanese Writing ひらがな : Hiragana -- Curving, flowing look. ひらがな : Hiragana -- Curving, flowing look. カタカナ : Katakana – Straight, angular look. カタカナ : Katakana – Straight, angular look. 漢字 : kanji – Characters adapted from Chinese writing. 漢字 : kanji – Characters adapted from Chinese writing. Horizontal and Vertical Writing: Japanese can be written both horizontally and vertically. Horizontal and Vertical Writing: Japanese can be written both horizontally and vertically.

10. What is ひらがな？ All Japanese words can be written in hiragana, a writing system with 46 syllables. http://japanese.about.com/od/hiragan1/Hiragana.htm ImuNekoUchiHanadogcathouseflowerいぬねこうちはな

11. Hiragana

12. What is カタカナ？ Foreign words are written in katakana which also has 46 syllables. Foreign words are written in katakana which also has 46 syllables. http://japanese.about.com/od/kataka2/Katakana.htm http://japanese.about.com/od/kataka2/Katakana.htm http://japanese.about.com/od/kataka2/Katakana.htm koohiikeekichiizupancoffeecakecheesebread コー ヒー ケーキチーズパン

13. Katakana

14. Hiragana and Katakana Hiragana and Katakana syllables are derived from the kanji Chinese characters: katakana from the radical or component part of kanji, and hiragana from the characters themselves. Hiragana and Katakana syllables are derived from the kanji Chinese characters: katakana from the radical or component part of kanji, and hiragana from the characters themselves. In addition to being used to transcribe the foreign words, the katakana are also used for sending Japanese language telegrams. In addition to being used to transcribe the foreign words, the katakana are also used for sending Japanese language telegrams. http://japanese.about.com/library/blbeginkanji.htm

15. What ｉｓ 漢字？ 漢字 (kanji) are characters of symbols that are borrowed from the Chinese about 2000 years ago. 漢字 (kanji) are characters of symbols that are borrowed from the Chinese about 2000 years ago. There are about 50,000 of the Chinese characters, but in Japan only about 3,000 are common, and of this number, 1945 have been designated by the government for daily use. There are about 50,000 of the Chinese characters, but in Japan only about 3,000 are common, and of this number, 1945 have been designated by the government for daily use.

16. Kanji The Japanese gradually assimilated kanji to meet their own need for a script – but without changing the pronunciation of their own language. The Japanese gradually assimilated kanji to meet their own need for a script – but without changing the pronunciation of their own language. Most kanji can be read in two or more different ways with the meaning depending on which way the kanji is read. Most kanji can be read in two or more different ways with the meaning depending on which way the kanji is read.Example: 白鳥 means “ swan ” when pronounced hakuchou, but “ white bird ” when read as shiratori. 白鳥 means “ swan ” when pronounced hakuchou, but “ white bird ” when read as shiratori.

17. kanji To read newspaper or magazine, it is necessary to know all hiragana, katakana, and about 2000 kanji. To read newspaper or magazine, it is necessary to know all hiragana, katakana, and about 2000 kanji. Kanji were originally formed from simple pictures, mostly taken from nature. These were later standardized and additional words were formed by combinations of kanji. Kanji were originally formed from simple pictures, mostly taken from nature. These were later standardized and additional words were formed by combinations of kanji. Original PictureModern KanjiMeaning 火 Fire 手 Hand 川 River 田 Rice paddy-field 木 Tree 口 Mouth

18. More 漢字 … 富士山 (Mt. Fuji) 日本桜 (Japanese Cherry Blossom)

19. 寿司 sushi Can you read these hiragana, katakana and kanji?

20. References http://japanesei.wikispaces.com/file/view/bowing2.gif http://japanesei.wikispaces.com/file/view/bowing2.gif http://japanesei.wikispaces.com/file/view/bowing2.gif http://japanesei.wikispaces.com/file/view/hiragana_symbols.gif http://japanesei.wikispaces.com/file/view/hiragana_symbols.gif http://japanesei.wikispaces.com/file/view/hiragana_symbols.gif http://japanese.about.com/library/blbeginkanji.htm http://japanese.about.com/library/blbeginkanji.htm http://japanese.about.com/library/blbeginkanji.htm www.google.com www.google.com www.google.com www.japan.about.com www.japan.about.com www.japan.about.com www.clipart.com www.clipart.com www.clipart.com Zen meditation Retreat www.deltaentertainment.com Zen meditation Retreat www.deltaentertainment.comwww.deltaentertainment.com In Japan EMC Publishing 1992 In Japan EMC Publishing 1992 Everything Japanese by Boye DeMente Passport Books 1975 Everything Japanese by Boye DeMente Passport Books 1975

21. The End 終