Do you want to learn how to speak Japanese, but don’t know where to start? Below you will find a beginner’s route map to arm you the information and guide maps to help you before you begin.
Japanese Language systems
Familiarizing yourself with the various language workings and systems is the first step to learning any language.
The Japanese language works with all the paraphernalia of a complex language and beginning with the Vowels and verb conjugations to the grammar rules is the route to take before you start up with Japanese Classes to help you along the way.
Japanese Writing
The writing part of the Japanese Language has 3 basic scripts to look at with them being known as Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana. Japanese does not use an alphabet and all three systems are commonly used. Kanji has blocks of meaning and thousands of characters. Hiragana expresses the grammatical relationship between kanji symbols and katakana is used for foreign names. The good news is that hiragana and katakana have only 46 characters each and words are written as they are pronounced.
Now that you have the basic understandings of the language look up Japanese Writing Classes in your learning manual and instructor.
Pronunciation & Comprehension
As with any other language, Japanese too requires you to pick up the sounds and rhythms of the language. Familiarizing the sounds is a good space to start with the help audio lessons or even movies and songs that help you do the listening. Your primary aim must to somewhat aimed at being able to listen to someone speak Japanese and comprehend.
Dictionaries and Translations
One of the essential ways of learning a language is with a good dictionary that helps you through the process and still stays relevant for many years after. Some of the most recommended English-Japanese or Vice-Versa includes:
Kodansha’s Communicative English – Japanese Dictionary: This is a good match for those looking for more natural and colloquial Japanese which is aided by this dictionary with almost 22,000 words supplemented with another 19,000 sample sentences and phrases.
Kenkyusha’s Japanese English Learner’s Dictionary: This is one of those dictionaries which is built for the foreign students of Japanese, The Words can be looked in Romaji. Examples include English, Japanese and Romaji with an assortment of pictures to aid the process as well.
Kodansha’s Furigana Japanese Dictionary: This is a great beginner dictionary those who are familiar with the Kana Scripts we had mentioned above. The Dictionary is a good resource with its appendices including listing Verb conjugations, Numerical counters, and Place names.