Basics of the Japanese Language

Lunch-time sessions at PCCBy Peter Missen

Session 1

Introduction

Objectives for this course

This is a 6 week taster of the Japanese language to cover the basics of the language and the following topics:

1. Introduction (today)

2. Greetings

3. Numbers

4. Time

5. Transport

6. Food

Objectives for this session

Introductions

Expectations

The Japanese language– Grammar– Verbs– Alphabets– Sounds– Pronunciation– Kanji– Basic sentence structure

Example sentences

Introduction

Me – Peter Missen– Took early retirement from IBM in March 2010 – Joined PCC in April 2010– My role is IT Auditor for the Internal Audit group

Started to learn Japanese in 1993 while at IBM

I teach Japanese part-time in the evenings at the University of Portsmouth on their Institution Wide Language Program (IWLP). A scheme that allows any student at the University to learn a language for interest or 10 degree credits.

Class introductions

Around the class please

– Name

– Department

– Something interesting about yourself, related to Japanese if possible…

Expectations

You have my permission to:

– Make mistakes – Ask dumb questions

Please ask questions when you are stuck

Please be interactive…

The Japanese language

Japanese is a picture based language– Pictures borrowed from China

Particles glue the pictures together– examples of particles

wa

ka

no

de

e

kara

made…

Grammar

Compared with European languages, Japanese grammar has some differences.

For example:– No gender– No articles

• Japanese people struggle with our articles - the/a/an

– No plurals– No future tense– No spaces– No capital letters!

Verbs

Verbs are doing words – ACTION

In the Japanese language verbs come at the end of a sentence, for example:

English: Tomorrow I am going to London.

Japanese: me tomorrow london direction go.

Alphabets

There are 3 Japanese alphabets:– Kanji (pictures from China)– Hiragana (sounds for all things Japanese)– Katakana (sounds for all things foreign – any

language!)

We can use Latin characters to express Japanese

The Japanese call this ro-maji – ro-ma = Rome – ji = written character

All 3 alphabets can be used in 1 sentence

The 5 vowel sounds

A I UE O

The same 5 vowels as English!

But in a different order

The 5 vowel sounds - examples

A as in CAT

I as in FEET

U as in SHOOT

E as in REST

O as in OVER

The 46 basic soundsRo-maji:

A I U E OKa Ki Ku Ke Ko

Sa Shi Su Se So Ta Chi Tsu Te To Na Ni Nu Ne No Ha Hi Fu He Ho Ma Mi Mu Me Mo

Ya Yu YoRa Ri Ru Re Ro

Wa Wo N/M

Hiragana:

あ い う え おか き く け こさ し す せ そた ち つ て とな に ぬ ね の

は ひ ふ へ ほま み む め も

や ゆ よら り る れ ろ

わ を ん

Pronunciation

Japanese pronunciation is mostly uncomplicated

Pronounce words as they are written in ro-maji– Though some “U” and “I” sounds are silent– And a U following an O makes a double O sound!

Kanji characters can have several “readings” depending on context

Kanji

The Japanese write top down and right to left

The Kanji for Japan is nihon: 日本

The pictures mean: Sun and origin

“Land of the Rising Sun”

Add language to mean Japanese: 日本語

Basic sentence structure

~ wa ~ desu.

wa = topic marker – the topic of the sentence

desu = is/are/am – no plurals in Japanese

Usage:word(s) wa word(s) desu.

~ wa ~ desu example

watashi wa “Peter” desu.

私はピーターです。watashi = mewa = topic markerdesu = is

All say name… (Substitute your name for Peter)

Another ~ wa ~ desu examplekore wa pen desu. This is a pen.

これはペンです。

kore = this (thing speaker has possession of)

wa = topic marker (first annoyance with Japanese is that the “ha” symbol is used but pronounced “wa”)

pen = pen

desu = is/are/am (used at end of a sentence)

Another ~ wa ~ desu example

kore wa jisho desu. This is a dictionary.

これは辞書です。jisho = dictionary

(2 kanji: words + write/compose)

Another ~ wa ~ desu example

sore wa hon desu. That is a book.

それは本です。

sore = that (thing the listener has possession of)

hon = book(same kanji as “origin” and same pronunciation!)

Another ~ wa ~ desu example

are wa densha desu. That is a train.

あれは電車です。

are = that (thing over there that neither the speaker nor the listener has possession of)

densha = train (2 kanji: electricity + vehicle)

Another ~ wa ~ desu example

kore wa nan desu ka. What is this?

これは何ですか。

nan = what

ka = ?

Homework

Nothing compulsory

Suggestions– Can bring an object to class next week

• Be able to say what it is in Japanese

– Great if you can practice with a colleague

Any questions

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