Welcome to Japanese: A Beginner's Survey of the Language offers a concise, approachable introduction to how Japanese actually works. Rather than a step-by-step textbook, it presents a clear overview of the language so learners can understand its structure and feel more confident moving on to further study.
The book begins with what English speakers can expect when learning Japanese, who uses the language, and how it developed. It then explains the sound system in accessible terms, covering pronunciation, vowel length, double consonants, new sounds, and pitch accent so you can hear and produce Japanese more accurately.
Subsequent chapters explore how Japanese words and sentences are formed. You’ll learn about loanwords, native and Sino-Japanese vocabulary, and the basic parts of speech, including nouns, particles, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and expressions for numbers, dates, and times. More advanced sections introduce politeness levels, plain and respectful forms, and everyday sayings.
The final chapter offers a straightforward description of the Japanese writing system, outlining the main scripts and how they developed, with script versions of review sentences to connect sound, structure, and writing.
Perfect for:
- Travellers, students, and professionals curious about how Japanese is put together
- Self-study learners wanting a clear survey before or alongside formal courses
- Readers interested in the relationship between speech, grammar, and writing in Japanese
