Japanese

The Japanese language is spoken by 140 million people in the world which makes it the 9th most spoken language in the world. In terms of vocabulary, researchers note a certain relation between Altaic and Austronesian languages. Japanese writing is quite original as it combines syllabic phonography with ideography. This makes it difficult to learn for those accustomed to lettering.  

 Japanese is regarded as an isolated language, which makes it difficult to reckon it in any particular group. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, some consider it part of the Altaic languages, while others see a relation with the Korean language. In the process of its formation, the Japanese vehave been strongly influenced by the Chinese. In particular, up to now, 60% of the vocabulary is still taken from its neighbors. The written language formed by the XII century was based on hieroglyphs that were also borrowed from China and two alphabets (hiragana and katakana). All three are still valid today.  

Hieroglyphs are used for writing verbs, numerals, nouns, certain pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Hiragana is used for auxiliary parts of speech. Katakana is used for foreign names and any borrowings in general, except Korean and Chinese. Also, the Latin alphabet (romaji) is now increasingly being used to write Japanese speech.

Features of the Japanese language

The Japanese language is traditionally characterized by a large number of dialects. Among the most famous are Kyoto and Tokyo dialects. In Japanese colloquial language, the distinction between feminine and masculine is stronger. In addition, it is also characterized by a special, polite style: keigo. Its use for certain social situations is mandatory. Keigo demonstrates respectfulness and indicates the social ranks between communicants. At the same time, this style helps to create a particularly trusting, intimate environment.

 Under the influence of Western culture in the Japanese language, there is an increasing distinction between the old and the new generation. Young people use less polite speech and ignore the gender differences. And the media mitigate the differences between dialects, although they still persist. In addition, regional slang is now developing quite actively.

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