Let's Learn Katakana: Second Book of Basic Japanese Writing [Paperback]

Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 087011719X | ISBN-13: 978-0870117190 | Publication Date: January 15, 1986 | Edition: 1

There are three types of Japanese script-katakana, hiragana, and kanji. It is possible to read Japanese knowing only a limited number of kanji, but it is not possible with only a limited number of katakana or hiragana-one must know all of them. Let's Learn Katakana, and its companion volume Let's Learn Hiragana, is a textbook that introduces the learner to the basics of one of these fundamental Japanese scripts. Being a workbook, it contains all the exercises that allow the student to master katakana by the time the book has been finished. Let's Learn Katakana is a classic in the field, and the huge number of students that have used it successfully is a sign of its preeminence as a self-study guide.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mitamura is a Kodansha International author.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

[Following is the Preface to the book, slightly abridged.]

Preface

Up until now, the significance of Katakana in written Japanese has been neglected in teaching Japanese as a foreign language. Even students who become familiar with the symbols often do not have a clear understanding of the entire Katakana syllabary and its many applications.

For the most part, the conventional method of introducing Katakana in Japanese language instruction has been limited to words of foreign origin. A shortcoming of this method is that it emphasized reading Katakana and did not provide sufficient practice in writing. In fact, only basic everyday words such as those for chocolate, handkerchief, ice cream, milk, necktie and the like were used as examples.

Actually, Katakana is not confined to foreign words; the ways it is used are extremely varied, and it is often the appropriate way to write many Japanese words, such as the names of plants and animals, onomatopoeic expressions, domestic telegrams and so on. The most conspicuous use of Katakana is seen in the recent trend to give words a special nuance, usually by stressing certain words to make them stand out. This new use is found in all the latest magazines and advertisements and seems to be on the increase.

Due to the varied and expanding use of Katakana, teaching needs to be updated. Students should be able to read and write Katakana, as well as know when to use it. Continual practice and exposure to Katakana, as provided by diligent use of this workbook, will lead to eventual mastery of this form of writing.

This workbook has been designed, like its companion volume Let's Learn Hiragana, with sufficient explanation and examples to allow students of Japanese to learn Katakana on their own, without the aid of an instructor. Special note should be made of the fact that the words in the examples and exercises are not words ordinarily written in Hiragana and here transcribed into Katakana for the sake of instruction. They are words carefully selected because they are always or in certain circumstances written in Katakana.

There are five chapters in this book. Chapter 1 introduces the forty-six basic Katakana and twenty-three modified symbols. The contracted syllables, and the twenty-five additional syllables found only in Katakana, are given in chapter 2, which first explains the general guidelines for writing words in Katakana. Chapter 3 shows various words of Japanese origin that are written in Katakana. Chapter 4 gives guidelines and exercises for transcribing foreign words into Katakana. In chapter 5 there are review exercises. Answers to the exercises are given in Appendix A, and the derivation of Katakana is outlined in Appendix B.

For convenience, the format of this workbook has been kept the same as the companion Hiragana book. As in the previous volume, the Modified Hepburn System is used throughout for Romanization of Japanese words....

Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA; 1 edition (January 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087011719X
• ISBN-13: 978-0870117190
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > Japanese
  • #83 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Japanese
  • #85 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Japanese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is just awesome!, June 19, 2003

By 

Daniel Magalhaes (Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Learn Katakana: Second Book of Basic Japanese Writing (Paperback)

This book along with its companion Let's learn Hiragana(which must be previously studied before moving into this one) is surely a great step to mastering Japanese writing and reading. Within a month I could read and write perfectly. At first I thought I would not make it, but Yasuko paved me the way. Now I'm buying Let's learn Kanji and Let's learn more Kanji both from the same series. The book is not a 5-star because it is sold as being a book for self students but it doesn't have all the answers on the answer key. For [$$$] you get both Japanese writings quick and painlessly.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely easy to use, June 6, 2001

By 

"lordpixel" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Learn Katakana: Second Book of Basic Japanese Writing (Paperback)

I spent a couple of days working through the basic (46) characters in this book before a recent holiday in Tokyo. By the time I arrived I could read the beer ads on the train. Using the later chapters to understand how to write words, combined with the constant exposure of reading as much as I could every day on the train, I left being able to read and write pretty much any Katakana that I'd need to; including the tricker Y[oo]on used to write foreign sounds.

My only gripe would be the authour does assume you've read the companion book Let's Learn Hiragana in a few places. Its not really a bar to understanding, but it means a few terms here and there aren't defined.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best source for learning Katakana, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Let's Learn Katakana: Second Book of Basic Japanese Writing (Paperback)

This book is really extensive and takes you through all of Katakana and how it is used within Japanese society.

The book first introduces in Chapter One all the characters and characters and related practice exercises in three sections for a total of 46 characters. In Chapter Two, more advanced lessons are covered on the rules for forming Japanese words with Katakana. Example would be that the second 'o' is changed into a 'u' for Japanese words, and is changed to a dash '-' for foreign words. In Chapter Three, there are lessons on how Katakana is used for Japanese words under certain circumstances. In Chapter Four, rules are thoroughly discussed for writing foreign words in Japanese. Finally in Chapter Five, review exercises are offered including a word puzzle. Appendixes are offered showing the answers to the exercises and the origins of Katakana borrowed from Chinese Kanji.

Overall, I find this to be the best source to either thoroughly learn Katakana, or to learn the basics of Katakana. I highly recommend this book and I am using this book to help tutor me through Katakana for my Japanese 1 course that I'm attending.