LAJ1201: Japanese 1, Sem.

II, AY 2015-16
Lecture 1

Lecture 1
Menu
1. Brief Orientation
2. Introduction to Japanese Language
3. Greetings & Classroom Instructions
1. Brief Orientation
Course Information: Students Packet, Part II: Course Information

2. Introduction to Japanese Language

Trivia Quiz
Circle T if you think the statement is true, and F if you think the statement is false.
(1) Japanese language is used only in Japan.

T/F

(2) In Japan, only Japanese language is used.

T/F

(3) Japanese language remains unchanged over centuries.

T/F

(4) There are varieties of Japanese language.

T/F

(5) Japanese language is completely different from English.

T/F
/5pt

2.1. Grammar System

2.1.1. Parts of Speech
Referring to the words and sentences in the following page, find the general rule.
Generally,
verbs denote ________________, _______________, and ___________________
nouns denote ________________, _______________, and ___________________ etc.
adjectives modify ________________
adverbs modify ________________
particles denote ________________________________
conjunctions connect ________________

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LAJ1201: Japanese 1, Sem. II, AY 2015-16

Lecture 1

verbs

adjectives

yomimasu
(to read)

tabemasu
(to eat)

nomimasu
(to drink)

atsui
(hot)

chiisai
(small)

owarimasu
(to finish)

imasu
(to exist)

arimasu
(to exist)

[]
kiree[na]
(beautiful)

ookii
(big)

[]
[]
genki[na]
yuumee[na]
(healthy)
(famous)
adverbs

nouns

hon
(book)

suika
(watermelon)

biiru
(beer)

Nagami

takusan
(many, much)

sukoshi
(a little, a few)

hana
(flower)

neko
(cat)

uchi
(home)

Nihon
(Japan)

isshoni
(together)

hayaku
(fast, quick)

particles & conjunctions

watashi

wa

NUS
NUS

no

LT8
LT8

de

TOP

NUS

of

LT8

at

shokudoo
canteen

de
at

sorekara
then

10
juuji
10
oclock

tomodachi
friend

kara
from

to
with

12
juuniji
12
oclock

made

benkyooshimasu

to

study

hirugohan
lunch

o
OBJ

tabemasu
eat

8

hachiji
ni uchi e
kaerimasu
8 oclock at home to
return
TOP: topic marker
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OBJ: object marker

LAJ1201: Japanese 1, Sem. II, AY 2015-16

Lecture 1

2.1.2. Word Order

Referring to the sentences in the previous page, find the general rule.
A predicate always comes at the __________ of a sentence.
Japanese Sentence Structure
Subject-Predicate Structure
Topic-Comment Structure
2.1.3. Importance of Particles
Compare meanings of the following sentences in Japanese and English.
(a)

Harry
wa
Vorudemooto
o
koroshimasu
(b)
Harry

Vorudemooto

(c)
Vorudemooto
wa

Harry

wa

koroshimasu

koroshimasu

(d) Harry kills Voldemort.

(e) Voldemort kills Harry.
In Japanese, _________________________ generally decides grammatical relationships.
In English, __________________________ generally decides grammatical relationships.
2.2. Writing System
There are 3 script styles in Japanese; ____________, ____________, and ____________.
hiragana is used to write __________________________________________________.
katakana is used to write __________________________________________________.
Good thing about having 3 script styles
It enables readers to do skim reading.
It enables readers to recognise

without spacing unlike English.

cf.
What you had better remember
hiragana:
basic
letters
katakana:
basic
letters
kanji:
thousands
daily use: __________
basic
= sufficient to read
One way to master Japanese scripts
Step 1
Get familiar with shapes and sounds
Step 2
Practice writing with your Students Packet
Step 3
Check your knowledge
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% of kanji used in a newspaper

LAJ1201: Japanese 1, Sem. II, AY 2015-16

Lecture 1

2.3. Sound System

2.3.1. Kana and Mora
Basic unit of Japanese pronunciation is called __________.
________________________________________ basically corresponds to one mora.
each sound takes roughly the same amount of time to pronounce
Note: = one clap
1 mora

2 mora

ka

hana

hon

3 mora

5 mora

suika

kitte

chokoreeto

2.3.2. Pronunciation: Long Vowels, , , , , and

Be sensitive to tiny differences!!
hiragana

romaji
obasan
obaasan
ojisan
mora

meaning
(
)
(
)
(
)

biru

juu

kaki

biiru

jiyuu

kagi

ojiisan

(
)

buka

byooin
biyooin

(
)
(
)

hosuto

bukka

posuto

2.3.3. How to Write Long Vowels and Double Consonants in hiragana and katakana
Students Packet Hiragana Practice pp. 15-17 and Katakana Practice p. 8.

3. Greetings & Classroom Instructions

Students Packet Greetings & Classroom Instructions

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