Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference [Paperback]

Taeko Kamiya (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 4770029837 | ISBN-13: 978-4770029836

An indispensable tool for acquiring basic communication skills in a limited amount of time.

With Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication, even absolute beginners can learn to communicate in Japanese in a matter of days. Designed specifically for native-English speakers approaching Japanese as a second language, this book presents 142 essential Japanese sentence patterns, first by giving equivalents in English, then following with Japanese translations. Each pattern is accompanied by a concise, easy-to-follow explanation and several Japanese example sentences that demonstrate its usage. In addition, practice sections for each pattern allow the student to test his or her understanding of the material presented.

Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication is organized into twelve chapters according to communicative function, including such tasks as making simple, declarative statements about people and things in the world; making comparisons; talking about events in the past, present and future; expressing desire, conjecture and intention;
stating causes or reasons; making requests; asking and giving permission; and using the passive and causative-passive voices. Extensive charts at the back of the book outline the rules for inflecting and conjugating adjectives and verbs-essential to fluent communication.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

To communicate effectively in Japanese—to speak one's mind and be understood, and respond appropriately to what is said—is a goal for most beginners, but not an easy one to achieve quickly. JAPANESE SENTENCE PATTERNS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION brings this goal within reach, teaching 142 essential sentence patterns for daily life—all the ones an intermediate student should know, and all the ones a beginner should study to become minimally proficient in speaking. All are presented in a handy, step-by-step format with pattern practice on almost every page.

About the Author

TAEKO KAMIYA received her BA from Doshisha Women's College and MAs from the University of San Francisco in education and from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in linguistics. A veteran language teacher, with 25 years' experience teaching Japanese, she is the author of numerous books on the Japanese language, including The Handbook of Japanese Verbs and The Handbook of Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs (both by Kodansha International).

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770029837
• ISBN-13: 978-4770029836
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful yet concise book for beginners and intermediate students, January 2, 2007

By 

Dennis Vasilopoulos (Birmingham, mi United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference (Paperback)

This is an excelent book. Having gone through a course in elementary Japanese, I wanted a book to quickly review the basic grammar and speech patterns. This little book does a marvelous job. It explains all the main patterns concisely, yet sufficiently. The organization and clarity of the book are its main assets. There is a detailed index at the beginning of the book, containing key examples of the pattern. That way you can jump right to the page you need. At the end of the book there are handy appendices (with examples) on counters (some 25 of them), plus charts on adjective inflections and verb conjugations. All in alphabetical english order. Every pattern, or variation, is clearly explained with 3 examples. This is followed by 3 more examples for you to try. Then, the answers are given in smaller print. All examples are given in Japanese characters plus romaji transliteration. Every unit has a few new words of vocabulary, which are then used in the examples that follow. I admired the economy of this book. Nothing is superfluous. And yet, everything is sufficient, within the constraints of its size. It is published by Kodansha International, not Oxford University Press as the Amazon description says. Very few books on Japanese language instruction are suitable for self study. This one clearly is.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent., June 21, 2006

By 

Kendrick Adams (Va Beach) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference (Paperback)

Out of necessity, much of this is a copy of my other review because it is a direct contrast.

Since a search that brought up this book probably also brought up A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Sentence Patterns (Kodansha Dictionary) (same publisher) and at first glance one might be tempted to just buy whichever is cheapest at the time. It's worth noting that they are very different books.

A Dictionary... is indexed for a reader that encounters a strange construction. It is formatted in a way to facilitate looking-up strange new sentences. Japanese Sentence Patterns is indexed for someone that wants to say something in Japanese.

Thus, If you want to tell someone in Japanese that one thing would be better to do than another, Japanese Sentence Patterns will tell you how to say it. On the other hand, if you see or hear "Yukkuri tabeta hou ga kenkou ni ii yo." Then A dictionary... is better for figuring out what the person meant.

In all, both books are very much worth getting. Both serve completely different needs, they are definitely not duplicates of the same book. I do consider this one a bit more useful than the other, it is certainly easier to use. Even a complete novice can use this to create sentences. The exercises help cement new knowledge and the use of kanji can reinforce an intermediate student's reading ability.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars japanese swan, September 4, 2007

By 

Recep Sami Ciner (Ankara Turkey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference (Paperback)

The basic expressions appear in English and represent ideas or patterns to be expressed in Japanese. They are arranged from easiest tý most difficult. Each has a Japanese translation, highlighting the pattern to be learned then pattern is explained with example sentences. A big leap for novice birds to get wings for advanced flyings. Enthusiastically recommended. Hotondo kanzen ni (almost perfect).