Difference between revisions of "Learn Japanese"
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===The Basics=== | ===The Basics=== | ||
| − | #Learn the Japanese writing systems. Japanese language has four writing systems, each of which is composed of different characters. This may sound like a lot to learn, but every word in Japanese, regardless of which writing system it comes from, is pronounced with some combination of only 46 basic sounds.<ref>http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese.htm</ref> Sorting out the different writing systems and their uses is an important part of learning Japanese. Here's a brief overview: | + | #Learn the Japanese writing systems. Japanese language has four writing systems, each of which is composed of different characters. This may sound like a lot to learn, but every word in Japanese, regardless of which writing system it comes from, is pronounced with some combination of only 46 basic sounds.<ref name="rf16104">http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese.htm</ref> Sorting out the different writing systems and their uses is an important part of learning Japanese. Here's a brief overview: |
#*Hiragana is a Japanese syllabary, phonetic characters that make up one Japanese writing system. Unlike the English alphabet, each character stands for one syllable, which may include a vowel and a consonant sound. | #*Hiragana is a Japanese syllabary, phonetic characters that make up one Japanese writing system. Unlike the English alphabet, each character stands for one syllable, which may include a vowel and a consonant sound. | ||
#*Katakana is also a syllabary, most often used for foreign words or onomatopoeic sounds (like bang or squeak). Together, hiragana and katakana account for the entire range of sounds in the Japanese language. | #*Katakana is also a syllabary, most often used for foreign words or onomatopoeic sounds (like bang or squeak). Together, hiragana and katakana account for the entire range of sounds in the Japanese language. | ||
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#*Hard consonant sounds are pronounced with a hard stop in between two sounds. | #*Hard consonant sounds are pronounced with a hard stop in between two sounds. | ||
#*Long vowel sounds, pronounced by holding the vowel sound for an extra beat, are distinguished from short sounds, indicating a different word. | #*Long vowel sounds, pronounced by holding the vowel sound for an extra beat, are distinguished from short sounds, indicating a different word. | ||
| − | #Get to know Japanese grammar. Knowing a few basic grammatical rules will help you start understanding Japanese and creating your own sentences. Japanese grammar is simple and flexible, so it's easy to string words together in a way that makes sense.<ref>http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar</ref> | + | #Get to know Japanese grammar. Knowing a few basic grammatical rules will help you start understanding Japanese and creating your own sentences. Japanese grammar is simple and flexible, so it's easy to string words together in a way that makes sense.<ref name="rf16105">http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar</ref> |
#*The subject is optional and may be omitted. | #*The subject is optional and may be omitted. | ||
#*The predicate is always at the end of the sentence. | #*The predicate is always at the end of the sentence. | ||
#*Nouns do not have gender. Most also don't have separate plural forms. | #*Nouns do not have gender. Most also don't have separate plural forms. | ||
| − | #*Verbs do not change according to the subject (he/she/it). They also don't change according to number (singular/plural, like I/we or he/they).<ref | + | #*Verbs do not change according to the subject (he/she/it). They also don't change according to number (singular/plural, like I/we or he/they).<ref name="rf16105" /> |
#*Particles, which mark words as subject, object, etc, always follow the word to which they relate. | #*Particles, which mark words as subject, object, etc, always follow the word to which they relate. | ||
#*Personal pronouns (I, you, etc) differ according to the level of politeness and formality that is needed in each situation. | #*Personal pronouns (I, you, etc) differ according to the level of politeness and formality that is needed in each situation. | ||
