Konnichiwa (こ ん に ち は)! Japanese is a very interesting language and learning it is a pleasure, whether for business, understanding the meaning of what you hear or read (like manga) or talking to a Japanese friend. At first, it can undoubtedly discourage you, in fact it has nothing to do with Italian. The graphics system and the kanji are actually complicated, but the grammar, pronunciation and ways of speaking can actually be acquired rather quickly. Start by learning some useful basic expressions, and then dive into phonetics, syllabaries and ideograms.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Understanding the Basics
Step 1. Learn Japanese writing systems
This language has four of them, and each of them is made up of different characters. Surely it seems like a difficult task, but, regardless of the graphic system of origin, each word is pronounced using a combination of only 46 basic sounds. Learning the difference between various writing systems and their uses is an integral part of language learning. Here is a general overview:
- Hiragana is a Japanese syllabary made up of phonetic characters that form the first linguistic writing system. Contrary to the Latin alphabet, each character corresponds to a syllable, which generally includes a vowel and a consonant.
- Katakana is another syllabary, almost always used for loanwords and onomatopoeic sounds (such as bum or bang). Together, these two syllables include all existing sounds in the Japanese language.
- Kanji are Chinese ideograms adopted by the Japanese writing system. While on the one hand we have hiragana and katakana, which are simply syllabaries, kanji are ideograms, characters that have a meaning. There are thousands of them, and around 2000 are commonly used. The syllabaries were derived precisely from these symbols. The 46 sounds needed to pronounce hiragana and katakana are also used to pronounce kanji.
- The Latin alphabet in Japanese is used for aesthetic reasons, as well as to write acronyms and company names. Called romaji, the Latin letters can also be used to transcribe Japanese words. Obviously, this is not done in Japan, but it is a valid method for beginners, in fact the transcription is useful in the early days. In any case, there are many Japanese sounds that are difficult to express through our alphabet and different homonyms (many more than in Italian) can give rise to confusion. Consequently, students of the language are encouraged to assimilate Japanese characters as soon as possible, better to avoid relying on the Latin alphabet.
Step 2. Practice Japanese pronunciation
The 46 characteristic sounds of the language are composed of one of the five vowels or a combination of vowel and consonant, except for a single sound composed of a single consonant (we are talking about ん, pronounced "n"). Vowel sounds are pronounced just like in Italian. You can start practicing by following the hiragana and katakana tables step by step. Check out this site for pronunciation examples.
Focus on the intonation of the various sounds. Their length changes the meaning of the words. Using a long syllable (like oo) instead of a short one (like o) could completely change the meaning of a word
Step 3. Learn to recognize the variants of the basic sounds
Japanese characters may have marks to indicate a slightly different pronunciation. For example, kōtsū, with both long vowels, means "traffic", while kotsu, with short vowels, "bone". Pay attention not to get confused:
- The consonants have a pronunciation similar to that of Italian, but they are always harsh. Doubles are also pronounced as in our language.
- The vowels are pronounced just like in Italian. The only distinction is that there are also long vowels, whose sound is stretched to mark the difference.
Step 4. Learn Japanese grammar
Starting with some basic grammar rules will allow you to start understanding the language and syntax. Japanese grammar is simple and flexible, so it's easy to bind words and express sentences with complete meaning.
- The subject is optional and can be omitted.
- The predicate is always put at the end of the sentence.
- Nouns have no gender. Most do not even have the plural.
- Verbs do not change based on the subject. Furthermore, they are not changed according to the number (singular / plural; therefore, they will always be the same; there is no difference between "I", "us", "him" or "them").
- In Japanese, particles that indicate whether a word is a subject or a complement always follow the word they refer to.
- Personal pronouns (I, you, etc.) are used according to the level of education and formality needed in each individual situation.
Method 2 of 3: Professional Courses
Step 1. Get software that allows you to listen to the pronunciation
Once you have acquired the basics, it is time to deepen, only in this way you can improve your skills. If you learn Japanese for the sake of it, because maybe you like culture, read manga, watch anime or want to visit the Land of the Rising Sun, a CD might be enough to learn. Just spend an hour a day studying to begin mastering grammar, learning more about interleaving and acquiring a widely used vocabulary.
- Listen to audio tracks on your way to work, have lunch, take a break or stroll in the park. Try to get files that you can upload to your mp3 player or mobile phone.
- It is not necessary to learn to read and write to better understand the language and culture. As a result, if you're planning on taking a trip to Japan, knowing a handful of useful phrases will be more practical than trying to memorize intricate ideograms.
Step 2. Sign up for a course
If you study because you want to do business in Japan or want to live there, you should focus on a university-level course (find out at the CLA, the University Language Center, of the nearest university), an intensive language program or online lessons. Learning to read and write will be key to long-term success. In addition, having a mentor during the early stages of learning is ideal for developing good study habits and asking any questions that come to your mind about the Japanese language and culture.
- Study writing systems. Start learning all of them (remember there are four) right from the start, especially if you should definitely be able to read and write. Hiragana and katakana can be learned in a few weeks, and you can use them to write anything in Japanese. Currently, there are 2000 most used kanji, so it generally takes several years to memorize them. It's worth it if you really want to be able to understand and speak the language.
- Use flashcards to learn new vocabulary and simple expressions. You can use them while waiting for a meeting to start, on the train, and so on. For starters, you will find free ones on the web, otherwise you can buy better quality ones from a bookstore specializing in university books or online.
- To practice kanji, look for flashcards that demonstrate the steps required to write them; the back should indicate the handwriting and the back examples of compound words. You can buy a pack of white cardboard sheets: you will create personalized flashcards, based on what you want to learn exactly.
- Participate in the discussions and activities proposed in class. Do all your homework, raise your hand often and get involved as much as possible to get the most out of the course. If not, you won't notice any improvements.
Method 3 of 3: Language Immersion
Step 1. Join a group that you organize meetings to have conversations in the language
You will probably find at least one in your city. Just do a little research on the internet or call a Japanese language and culture association. Refine your hearing to be able to grasp what is being said. Even though he doesn't understand a word, he tries to repeat what others say, in order to start identifying single words and improve understanding.
Step 2. Make friends with native speakers who give you the opportunity to practice regularly
Many Japanese people want to learn Italian or English (if you speak it), so maybe you will find someone willing to do a linguistic tandem. Having friends to chat with can help anyone improve.
- Program activities that involve the language but are not strictly dedicated to study. If you have Japanese friends who haven't lived in Italy for long, be a tour guide. Plan an excursion. Remember that tension must be released regularly; do not always and only study within four walls, otherwise you will only stress yourself trying to memorize hundreds of kanji. Learning while having fun is the best way to kill two birds with one stone.
- During periods when there are no trips, call a friend daily and speak only and exclusively in Japanese for half an hour. The more you practice, the faster you will improve.
Step 3. The mass media are your allies
Every day, browse the newspaper, read a novel, watch a movie or TV show. Find a cultural product that fits your interests - learning will be much easier. Japanese newspapers will expose you to the most practical words and grammar forms. After you improve, try reading a novel, which will instead introduce you to a more personal style of writing. Mix learning sources: watch classic cinema and anime movies without subtitles; at most, choose those in language.
Manga, that is, comics, are great for learning Japanese better, but remember that the language level varies significantly. Comics aimed at an adult audience are ideal for practicing (especially since the illustrations help you understand the meaning of what you are reading), while a newspaper aimed at children is full of onomatopoeias and slang. Do not automatically repeat what you have read in a manga: first try to understand if it is correct to use a certain word or expression
Step 4. Study in Japan
It is the absolute best method to concretely apply what you have studied and learned. This is a very exciting and unpredictable adventure to immerse yourself in another culture, albeit for a short period of time. While you haven't done exhaustive research, living on the spot will expose you to experiences you never imagined.
- Do you go to university? Find out if it is possible to participate in a study program in Japan. This is a great strategy for exposing yourself to the language for an extended period. Generally, these experiences allow you to receive a scholarship.
- Don't be discouraged if you really don't understand everything that is being said to you or you can't read or write as well as you would like. It takes years and years to learn to speak another language fluently. The nuances and intricacies of Japanese make it difficult to master, but they are also an integral part of its appeal.
Advice
- Learn from the context. If the person next to you bows or responds by greeting your interlocutor in a certain way, follow their example as soon as you find yourself in a similar situation. Better to observe people of the same age and gender as you. What is deemed appropriate for an elderly person is unlikely to apply to a young woman as well.
- Don't spend on gadgets. You shouldn't go shopping for an electronic dictionary. It's expensive, and most of the features are useless if your Japanese skills aren't in-depth enough to justify the expense. In theory, you should be able to recognize at least 300-500 kanji before making such an investment.
- All languages are easily forgotten if you don't practice them, so don't neglect them. If you study for several months and then stop for a year, you will forget all the kanji learned and most of the grammar rules. Japanese is not a language that can be absorbed all at once. Native speakers themselves often confess that they begin to forget ideograms after living for extended periods abroad. Constantly devoting yourself to learning (half an hour a day is enough) will prove to be a more effective strategy than a mad and desperate study once every two months.
- If you go to Japan and try to speak the language outside of a formal or business context, it can happen that you are ignored. Someone simply won't want to bother chatting with you because, judging by your appearance, they'll assume you speak slow, unfair, and weird Japanese. Don't let this put you off. The people who listen kindly and patiently to everything you try to say far outweigh those who don't listen to you.
- Don't be in a hurry: little by little you will improve, but you have to be constant. Don't just do grammar exercises, also try to speak with native Japanese speakers, read texts in the language and watch videos.
- The ideograms must be learned last, and try to memorize them without transcribing them in romaji or noting the translation. This way, you will have to remember how they are spelled and what they mean, without needing any support.
- The words and expressions used in anime and manga are often inadequate for the situations that arise on a daily basis. Try to learn how the language is used in real life, do not acquire bad habits and tendencies related to characters belonging to popular culture.
