This course aims to develop basic understanding of structural features of Japanese language. Students will be introduced to basic phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, and discourse levels of Japanese. Taught in Japanese.
This course focused focused on linguistics. It started in English for the first month, so that we could get the grasp of some of the basics in English first, as well as comparing and contrasting some things between English and Japanese, before switching into Japanese for the rest of the semester. In it we learned about different Japanese linguistic concepts as well as the application of them, for instance the causative form in Japanese, as well as learning about pitch-accent. We also learned about the difference between the Japanese mora and the English syllable.
This course satisfies MLO1, in particular MLO 1.2. MLO 1.2 focuses on Japanese language and linguistics. We compared the different phonetics used in Japanese and English, for instance the difference in vowel sounds as well as the pronunciation of the f sound in Japanese. We also compared the syntax of Japanese and English for instance the difference in sentence structure between Japanese and English. Along those same lines we looked at discourse as well, and how intonation changes meaning of sentences and how that intonation differs. We also looked at morphology in Japanese. For instance we looked at how different classes of verbs in Japanese conjugate. We also especially looked at pitch-accent in Japanese, learning the rules surrounding it for both native words as well as loanwords. This was important especially once you look at the difference between the way English speakers accent words, through stress, which is very different from Japanese, where stress does not change the meaning of the word. For instance in English the words, defer and differ, though spelled differently, when said, if you remove the stress accent, are pronounced the same. In Japanese it is the same in that though words may be written differently, they are pronounced the same with the exception of the change in pitch, which can alter the meaning of the word. One example would be the words for bridge, edge, and chopstick, which when transliterated are all hashi, despite having different kanji, and to an untrained ear all sound the same, unless you pay attention to the change in pitch and how it varies between the three.
This course did also satisfy MLO 1.1, however. Part of MLO 1.1 focuses on the ability to use Japanese appropriately in a variety of both social and professional settings. Part of this course focused on Japanese used in business setting. We learned exactly how and when to use the three types of keigo, or honorific language in Japanese. For instance you use kenjougo or humble language when talking about yourself to superiors or when talking about your company or people in your company to someone outside of your company. Sonkeigo on the other hand should be used to talk about superiors when talking to them, unless in a company setting where there are others from another company present. Teineigo, or polite language, should be used whenever talking to customers or with colleagues in business setting. We also studied how to make a fluent self-introduction that would leave a lasting impression, as foreign names can be difficult for Japanese people to remember. Below I have included my self-introduction as evidence of my improvement in fluency and more complicated Japanese sentence structures.
This course focused focused on linguistics. It started in English for the first month, so that we could get the grasp of some of the basics in English first, as well as comparing and contrasting some things between English and Japanese, before switching into Japanese for the rest of the semester. In it we learned about different Japanese linguistic concepts as well as the application of them, for instance the causative form in Japanese, as well as learning about pitch-accent. We also learned about the difference between the Japanese mora and the English syllable.
This course satisfies MLO1, in particular MLO 1.2. MLO 1.2 focuses on Japanese language and linguistics. We compared the different phonetics used in Japanese and English, for instance the difference in vowel sounds as well as the pronunciation of the f sound in Japanese. We also compared the syntax of Japanese and English for instance the difference in sentence structure between Japanese and English. Along those same lines we looked at discourse as well, and how intonation changes meaning of sentences and how that intonation differs. We also looked at morphology in Japanese. For instance we looked at how different classes of verbs in Japanese conjugate. We also especially looked at pitch-accent in Japanese, learning the rules surrounding it for both native words as well as loanwords. This was important especially once you look at the difference between the way English speakers accent words, through stress, which is very different from Japanese, where stress does not change the meaning of the word. For instance in English the words, defer and differ, though spelled differently, when said, if you remove the stress accent, are pronounced the same. In Japanese it is the same in that though words may be written differently, they are pronounced the same with the exception of the change in pitch, which can alter the meaning of the word. One example would be the words for bridge, edge, and chopstick, which when transliterated are all hashi, despite having different kanji, and to an untrained ear all sound the same, unless you pay attention to the change in pitch and how it varies between the three.
This course did also satisfy MLO 1.1, however. Part of MLO 1.1 focuses on the ability to use Japanese appropriately in a variety of both social and professional settings. Part of this course focused on Japanese used in business setting. We learned exactly how and when to use the three types of keigo, or honorific language in Japanese. For instance you use kenjougo or humble language when talking about yourself to superiors or when talking about your company or people in your company to someone outside of your company. Sonkeigo on the other hand should be used to talk about superiors when talking to them, unless in a company setting where there are others from another company present. Teineigo, or polite language, should be used whenever talking to customers or with colleagues in business setting. We also studied how to make a fluent self-introduction that would leave a lasting impression, as foreign names can be difficult for Japanese people to remember. Below I have included my self-introduction as evidence of my improvement in fluency and more complicated Japanese sentence structures.
自己紹介__made_video_.mp4 |