You have started learning Japanese. You are keen on having the full Japanese learning experience. You choose to learn Japanese Katakana. With 47 basic characters, you can't help but find learning this language system, which comprises foreign words, interesting too. The Japanese writing system consists of three writing systems and Katakana is the least popular of the three.
So what makes up the Katakana writing system?
It is mind ???? (pachi pachi/ popping) to know that the Katakana system is made up of Kanji foreign words and onomatopoeia only. Can you imagine devoting an entire writing system to the learning of sound words and foreign words?
Well, you must remember Katakana originated from Kanji. Words from the Kanji language system were made shorter so that these words became easier to read. If you want to gain the full Japanese learning experience, learning Katakana is a must because modern Japanese literature is written using all three of the Japanese writing systems. If you want to read a Japanese book, you now know what you need to do.
You will stumble across some Katakana basic characters when you read Japanese comic books as well. With the popularity of Manga (an umbrella term for comic books and other picture novels) from Japan, knowing how to read the language becomes essential.
Did you know that Manga has led to much of the popular Anime that most of us South Africans have voraciously consumed? Do you remember Dragon Ball Z? We would all eagerly await for the show to start every weekday afternoon. There is a Japanese word for consumers and lovers of anime and manga-the word is Otaku.
If you have a growing interest in manga, read on:
The Origins of The Japanese Katakana Writing System
The Katakana characters appeared around about the 7th century when parts of Kanji were shortened to make the Katakana words which were easier to read. However, it was only in the 9th century that the Japanese decided it was the right time to create a new writing system that would be used with Kanji. This decision was made because priests attempted to read old Chinese Kanbun which is actually believed to be where the Kanji language originated from. The Kanji language utilised borrowed words from the Chinese language, yet Katakana too has utilised certain characters from the ancient Chinese language.
Kanji didn't cover all terms and the new writing system attempted to cover certain foreign words and sound words that were not covered in the Kanji writing system.
Did you know that Katakana is the preferred writing system for writing company names?
Katakana differs from the other writing systems in terms of the way the words look.
The characters used in Katakana seem to be made up of predominantly straight lines. Rumour has it that a priest wrote the language using a bamboo stick and hence there are no curvy lines in this writing system.
Katakana Chart
If you were a lover of olden Japanese movies, you will notice that telegrams that featured in these movies were written predominantly using the Katakana writing system. In fact, at first, Katakana was seen as the writing system to be used for any formal documents as well.
Nowadays, you are most likely to find text written using a combination of the Japanese writing systems. Hiragana and Kanji can be seen in just about every basic text that you come across in Japan. However, Katakana is one syllabary writing system that has earned its niche in Japan and you would do yourself a favour by learning it.
If you are keen on learning Katakana, your language tutor will recommend that you use a Katakana chart to learn.
Sounds relatively simple, right?
Well, there are over 27 Katakana charts, and in order to learn more about the writing system from the chart, you ought to find a chart that is best for you.
Standard Katakana charts are simple and boring but these are mainly what you need to get a firm grasp of the language.
Mnemonic-based Katakana charts are believed to be a game-changer in terms of learning characters. If you want to memorise the Japanese characters, it is recommended that you find a mnemonic-based Katakana chart.
You can view the Tofugu website to find some of the Katakana charts.
You can study Katakana charts, but becoming entirely familiar with the writing system requires much more effort than this.
It is only under the guidance of a professional language tutor that you will become entirely familiar with the syllabary language.
Where to Look When Learning Katakana?
Katakana is still a writing system that you will see being used on billboards in Japan today. So, to gain the full Japanese learning experience, expect to take lessons where Katakana is used as well.
Perhaps, your tutor will advise that you start off by learning the Katakana writing system. When you start by learning Katakana, many foreign words will pop out at you.
Look to English Words
You ought to remember that Katakana is used to pen down words that are borrowed from other languages. Perhaps you may have heard your tutor pronounce a Japanese word that sounds quite similar to an English word. To be frank, the word probably originated in English. Stare carefully at these words:
Wake up and smell the "kohii".
Yip, you might have got a whiff of the English word just by reading the syllabary pronunciation of the Japanese word, ‘kohii’.
Don't be too surprised if coffee isn't the only word you hear that sounds quite similar to the English alternative.
Look at Shop Names
Katakana has been used particularly by companies when they created names for their businesses.
You can also look at plant names and other scientific terms which probably also utilised the Katakana writing system.
Japanese Restaurant Menus
Yes, you will find that most menus in a Japanese restaurant feature food options written using the Katakana writing system.
Japanese Comic Books
Katakana is also used for various sound words (onomatopoeia). Open up any Japanese comic book and you are bound to see symbols from the Katakana writing system. Every sound word gracing the pages will be written in Katakana.
Truth be told, you can even look at literature books to catch a glimpse of the Katakana writing system. You might be delighted to know that the writing system contains clean straight lines.
Still, you might squirm at the thought of having to learn yet another writing system in Japanese and you might find most Katakana words intimidating when you look at the characters combined on a page. You need to make sure that you learn the right stroke order which will then make the language easier to grasp.
Again, when learning any language for the first time, you need to know that practice makes perfect. Knowing the stroke order of the characters and practising writing the characters are both equally important for this particular language learning journey.
Resources to Use to Learn Japanese Writing
You ought to remember that seeing the writing system often will help you to brush up on word pronunciation and stroke order.
There are various resources that you can rely on to help you learn Japanese writing.
In today's times, you have numerous options at your disposal. You could choose to go the old-fashioned way and start out by reading books or you can make use of all the online resources available to you.
Your language tutor may utilise a combination of online resources and books to guide you.
Best Books
- Let’s Learn Katakana
Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura is the author of "Let's Learn Katakana" and if you are enthusiastic about not only learning to read the language but writing too, this could be the ultimate book for practising.
Many consumers of the, "Let's Learn Katakana," book have given the book great reviews.
- Japanese Hiragana and Katakana Writing Workbook: Practice Writing Japanese Exercise Book for Japan Characters
To practise your Katakana writing skills, you simply cannot go wrong with this book that you can currently purchase for about R189. You will be startled when you scroll through the online bookstores and realise how many books there are on the market meant for teaching you the Katakana writing system.
YouTube Channels
- JapanesePod101
JapanesePod101 makes learning Japanese and all aspects of the language fun and easy.
Whether you enjoy using YouTube to learn or not, there are specific videos that focus on Katakana on this YouTube channel that will be worth watching.
You might even learn a thing or two from these videos. For those English speakers who are still hesitant about learning the language and the writing systems, this YouTube channel may provide the motivation that you need.
You have all the resources available at your fingertips, you just need to make use of all the resources available to you. The best way to perfect the Katakana writing system is by staying motivated to keep learning. Well, if you need help with staying motivated, the right Japanese tutor can help you.
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