Have you ever drawn a family tree?
It's basically a chart that represents and traces your family history to the earliest time possible.
Well, you can also do that when you want to know about the history and origin of a language.
For instance, English is a West Germanic language, which belongs to the Indo-European language family.
You can do the same tracing of family groups when it comes to studying languages in the East like Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
In this article, we will study the background and evolution of the Japanese language and how it is used today.
Are Chinese & Japanese Really Related?
Now, we have come to the million-dollar question.
Let's settle this debate once and for all.
If we use the concept of the language family that was mentioned earlier to compare both the Japanese language and Chinese languages, the findings will show that they both belong to two different language families.
Japanese belongs to the Japonic or Japanese-Ryukyuan language family, which comprises the Japanese language, Ryukyuan language, and Hachijō language.
On the other hand, the Chinese language belongs to the Sinitic branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, which consists of the Lolo Burmese, the Tibetic and others.
However, what we should take note of is that Japan previously adopted the Chinese writing system before Hirogana and Katakana emerged.
That's why you still see many Chinese characters in the form of Kanji as you study the Japanese writing system today.
So, technically you can say that the Japanese language was influenced by the Chinese language to a certain extent as the Hiragana and Katakana are derived from Chinese characters.
Important note: But the Chinese characters that are used in Kanji today may have different meanings and usages as compared to the original Chinese characters that we know of.
For instance, the Chinese character 豚 (tún) is referred to as 海豚 (dolphin) by the Chinese-speaking community, but this same character that's used in Kanji is referred to as pork by the Japanese.
If you happen to see this character in a Japanese restaurant, like 豚骨ラーメン ( Tonkotsu rāmen), please remember that they are serving pork ramen and not dolphin ramen.
From the above example, you can tell that it may not be a smooth sailing journey for those of us who can speak and read in Chinese.
It is actually a process of "relearning" or even "unlearning" these Chinese characters when we are studying the Kanji writing system in the Japanese language.
Interested to learn Japanese comprehensively? Find out where you can take Japanese classes in Malaysia.
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The Big Three of the Modern Japanese Writing System
Now, let's review the writing systems that form the Modern Japanese language that we learn today. Learners usually follow this order to master the Japanese writing system.
Hiragana and Katakana are Japanese alphabet syllabics, collectively known as the kana, while Kanji is known as the Chinese characters.
#Step 1: Learning Hiragana 【ひらがな】
There are 46 basic characters in the Hiragana chart, ranging from monographs, diacritics, and digraphs.
This includes the basic five vowels: a, e, i, o, u as well as the basic fourteen consonants: k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w, g, z, d, b, and p.
Hiragana is used when writing and reading pure Japanese words, as well as grammar in verbs, adjectives, and particles. The writing system usually consists of syllables that have various shapes of curvy flow lines.
Some examples include:
- すし sushi
- りょこう ryoko which means travel
- よやくyoyaku which means reservation
#Step 2: Learning Katakana 【カタカナ】
Similarly to Hiragana, the Katakana chart also has 46 basic characters, ranging from monographs, diacritics and digraphs.
However, its usage is different as Katakana is used to write non-native words.
So when it comes to describing English loan words in Japanese like a camera (カメラ), an ice cream (アイスクリーム) or onomatopoeic words like a cat meow (ニャー, Nyā), we need to master the Katakana.
You would notice that the Katakana strokes and syllables have a more angular and boxy line.
#Step 3: Learning Kanji 【漢字】
Last but not least, we move to the Kanji.
To learn Kanji, one needs to start with the radicals.
Once you are familiar with the types of radicals in terms of their forms, meanings and positions, you can then proceed to memorise the most commonly used radicals in the Japanese writing system.
Some examples include:
- 扌and 手 which both represent the hand
- 水 and 氵which both represent water
- 刀 and 刂 which both represent sword
By recognising these radicals, you can then expand your vocabulary and start to form sentences using Kanji.
Go through the advantages of learning Japanese to have a clearer studying goal as you learn the language.
Can I Still Read Japanese Without Mastering The Writing System?
You may feel a little overwhelmed after reviewing the characteristics of the Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji writing systems.
While we strongly encourage you to take your time to master all three of them, there's no need to feel discouraged because you can still learn to read Japanese with the help of Romaji (ローマ字).
Romaji is basically the romanisation of the Japanese language.
To many beginners who are learning Japanese, it serves as a great help to be familiar with the Japanese pronunciation. Also, it is used when you are typing on mobile devices.
However, you shouldn't rely too much on it and be content with just memorising the Romaji guide. True fluency in the Japanese language is greatly dependent on your competency in using the there main writing systems.
Get your hands on these learning resources to take your Japanese to the next level.
What Should You Learn After Learning Japanese Alphabets As A Beginner In Japanese?
After securing a strong foundation in the Japanese writing system, it's time to look at other language learning components.
Here are three tips that you can look into to expand on your Japanese speaking and listening skills.
Tip 1: Learn a simple self-introduction
We have all been through this stage, don't we?
Hello, How are you, I'm fine. Thank you. Followed by a moment of awkward silence.
Don't just stop there. Pick up some phrases to talk about your age, your nationality, your hobbies or your family when you are introducing yourself in Japanese.
Tip 2: Compile a list of survival phrases if you visit Japan
Next, you can also refer to commonly used phrases that you will certainly need to use when you are in Japan.
Phrases when you need to ask for directions, when you are buying something in the mall, or when you are about to order food will come in handy.
List them down and record yourself speaking these phrases.
Review and compare your tone and pronunciation with the ones that are spoken by a native speaker.
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Tip 3: Indulge in the world of Japanese culture
Our final tip is perhaps a favourite among many Japanese language learners. In fact, a passion for Japanese culture is one of the main reasons why we choose to learn the language in the first place.
If you love anime, J-pop, and Japanese media, be more intentional when you are consuming them. Pay attention to the native expressions and dialogues that are used.
Having said that, it's one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a Japanese-speaking environment in the most cost-effective manner.
Dive deep into these fascinating Japanese cultural exports.
Mastering Perfect Japanese Pronunciation With A Superprof Tutor
Rome is not built in a day.
And it's certainly not built on hard labour alone. It has to always start with someone's vision and systematic plans, covering meticulous calculations, using the right materials for the building blocks, and a chief supervisor to oversee everything.
When you are learning a foreign language from scratch, you not only need great determination, but you also need a good strategist. Someone who is not only experienced but who is also an expert in the subject that you want to learn.
That's why we highly recommend you to learn Japanese with an experienced tutor from Superprof.
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At Superprof, you can take flexible and personalised Japanese lessons from a pool of dedicated and excellent tutors.
Don't be surprised to find many tutors with different areas of specialisation when it comes to tutoring Japanese.
Whether you are looking for an experienced Japanese tutor who can teach Japanese beginner lessons or an online tutor who specialises in Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) preparation, Superprof's got you covered from A to Z!
Finding it hard to perfect your Japanese pronunciation all by yourself?
Just head to the homepage of Superprof Malaysia to kickstart your Japanese tutor-hunting journey!
The first step you need to do is to indicate Japanese as your desired subject, and preferred learning mode (home tutoring/online tutoring).
Next, you can continue to refine your tutor search according to the maximum budget of your hourly rate and learning level.
From there, you will be directed to a wide selection of tutors' profiles that teach Japanese according to your pre-set criteria. After reviewing their basic information, you can proceed to contact them via their profile with a Student Subscription Pass!
We hope this article has been insightful when it comes to learning about the history of the Japanese language.
Now, it's your turn to create history by becoming perhaps the first Japanese speaker in your family?
All the best!
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