About 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language as it is their national language. In addition to Japanese, a group of six languages (known as the Ryukyuan languages) is spoken in and around Okinawa and the other Ryuku Islands in Southernmost Japan. In most cases, however, people speak standard Japanese. The second most important language in japan is English where school children and many adults learn it.
Communicating in Japanese
Japanese is the standard spoken language when Japan became a centralized nation state with a new capital in Tokyo. The Japanese are not tonal but it is essential to stretch the vowels and hit the double consonants where necessary.
Communicating in English
Be conscious and choose simpler words and make simpler sentences if you are speaking to a Japanese in English as you might be in for a rude awakening if you’ve got it in your head that all Japanese can speak English fluently. Do that note that more Japanese learn American English and it is basic courtesy to ask them “Do you speak English?” in Japanese before you start to do so. Generally speaking, most Japanese can read English better than they can listen to it so it might be worthwhile for you to keep a small pad and pen in your pocket!
Communicating in Japanese
Japanese is the standard spoken language when Japan became a centralized nation state with a new capital in Tokyo. The Japanese are not tonal but it is essential to stretch the vowels and hit the double consonants where necessary.
Communicating in English
Be conscious and choose simpler words and make simpler sentences if you are speaking to a Japanese in English as you might be in for a rude awakening if you’ve got it in your head that all Japanese can speak English fluently. Do that note that more Japanese learn American English and it is basic courtesy to ask them “Do you speak English?” in Japanese before you start to do so. Generally speaking, most Japanese can read English better than they can listen to it so it might be worthwhile for you to keep a small pad and pen in your pocket!
Written language
The Japanese adopted the Chinese writing system despite the fact that the languages of china and Japan belong to different families of language.
No comments:
Post a Comment