せんりゅう short poem / Katakana Appreciation

みなさん、

Today, I want to talk about "senryuu"川柳（せんりゅう）. Senryuu is a short poem.

It consists of 3 lines with 17 (5-7-5) or more/fewer morae.
Example from wikipedia,

どろぼうを

とらえてみれば

わがこなり

The robber,

when I catch,

my own son

The subject of senryuu is based on human nature, usually ironic or satirical.
(Credit: さとう先生のブローグです　http://nikonikonihongo.blogspot.com/2013/03/blog-post_6523.html#comment-form)

I want to compose one as well. So did I compose.

おはようを                                        Good Morning           

はなしていると                                We are saying it and

ハヤクする                                        Saying it fast

さんぽしてる                                    We are walking

ハヤクしている                                Walking fast

おはようを                                        Good morning

はなしてる                                        We are saying good morning

あるくとはなす                                We are walking and saying

とてもハヤク                                    really fast

This is inspired by people who have to rush to class in the morning or during the 10 minute class-change time. They walk pass someone they know and say hi to them, but they just keep walking and do not talk to each other any more than that. That greeting can be somewhat regarded as shallow and meaningless.  Also, I used katakana in はやく meaning "fast" (adv) to emphasize the word. I'm not sure whether I did it right, but I'm really like it anyway.

じゃあ、　このせんりゅうは　どうですか。　みなさんは　好きですか。
じゃ、またした。

   

Katakana Analysis

Katakana Analysis

Katakana is one of the three kinds of characters in Japanese: hiragana ひらがな, katakana カタカナ and kanji 漢字. All three types of characters can be used together in the same sentence without any concrete grammar rules. However, there is a convention in written Japanese regarding how to use each specific type of characters. In this blog, we will talk only about katakana.

There is a consensus in many Japanese language textbooks that katakana will be used for representing sound (onomatopoeia), loanwords and foreign names (which are three majors uses of katakana). 

Start off with foreign names.Foreign names can come from any origin except the ones already existed in Japanese. 
For example,
My name: Chatarin Wangsanuwat (Thai origin)　    チャタリン (cha-ta-ri-n)　ワンサヌワット (wan-sa-nu-wat-to)                  
                  Smith (English origin)                                    スミス (su-mi-su)
Japanese origin names are written in kanji               上田    (u-e-da)

The next one is loanwords.Words that are from any other origins except Japanese's.For example, pizza     ピザ (pi-za)

- ブラザーフッズミーティング, Brotherhood meeting, sign 

The last one is to represent sound. 

- ズム、Boom, Manga "Vinland Saga"

Nevertheless, there are some katakanas presented not according to this convention.
For example, 

- ゴミをすてないで！、　Don't trash, Street sign

From here, you might notice that the word ゴミ (go-mi) is not quite familiar to the English speakers as any of English words. According to aforementioned convention, go-mi or "trash" should be written in hiragana ごみ (also go-mi) . [Note トリーさん pointed out in the draft's comment that go-mi is usually written in katakana. Thank you for the information!] 

- イカの炙り焼き　(Ika no Aburiyaki), Grilled Squid, Japanese menu

From this Japanese menu, イカの炙り焼き　(Ika no Aburiyaki). I-ka is written in katakana meaning Squid, instead of in kanji 烏賊 (also i-ka). Notice that in this same menu, saba, Mackerel fish, is written in katakana as サバ　instead of hiragana さば　as well. 

- ニッポン、　Japan, Street/advertisement sign

For the last example, towards the bottom of the sign, though there are some kanjis and hiraganas presented, ni-hon (meaning "Japan") is written in katakana ニッポン instead of the more common kanji　日本　（ni-hon or nip-pon）[Note N.K. Suzukisan also pointed out that both pronunciations are correct and widely used. Thank you for the information!].

From these examples, one assumption can be made. The writer decide to use some katakanas not following the convention in order to emphasize the words. In English, apart from bold, italics and underline, we can use capital letter to emphasize the word, indicating emotion attaches to the words (such as shouting)

For example,Please don't leave the trash on the floor, THANKS! (This "THANKS!" indicates writer shouting)The party was NOT fun AT ALL. (The writer emphasize the word "NOT" and "AT ALL").

However, we cannot use capital for Japanese characters.Consider this sentence,私は　昨日　日本のレストランで　とんかつと　チャーハンを　食べました。 There are all three types of Japanese characters in the sentence. The usage of each follows the convention.Therefore, if the writer use katakana instead of kanji or hiragana aka not following the convention, he can emphasize that word.From example above,  ゴミをすてないで！ The writer emphasize the word "trash" (ゴミ)　by using katakana. 

Therefore, there is flexibility within the characters used. Exposing to Japanese reading and writing will definitely help you understand more and become more comfortable using types of characters not following the convention.

私の家族ビデオ

みんさん、　こんにちは

This is my recording talking about my family! I have a little cold so I have a lot of annoying nasal sound today. Hope you still enjoy it!

ワンサヌワット

私の家族

私の家族は　四人家族です。　父と母と兄がいます。

私の家族

このしゃしんは　私の家族のしゃしんです。父と母は　びょういんに　つとめています。　父は　五十五さいですから　かみがしろくて、　耳がよくないです。母は　五十二さいです。　母は　せがひくて、　かみがみじかいです。　家族の中で、兄は　一番せが高いです。あには　二十二さいです。今、サンフランシスコに　すんでいて 大学いんの一年生です。

父は　たいてい　たくさん本をよみますから、　本を読むのが　好きだとおもいます。

母は　たくさん　テレビのショーをみますから、　テレビを見るのが大好きだとおもいます。　兄は　バスケットボールが　大好きです。バスケットボールを見るのもバスケットボールをするのも　大好きです。　私は　バスケットボールをするのが　好きじゃないです。

　

Katakana Analysis Draft

Katakana Analysis Draft

Katakana is one of the three kinds of characters in Japanese: hiragana 平仮名, katakana カタカナ and kanji カンジ. All three types of characters can be presented in the same sentence without any concrete grammar rules. However, there is a convention in written Japanese. In this blog, we will talk only about katakana.

There is a consensus in many Japanese language textbooks that katakana will be used for representing sound (onomatopoeia), loanwords and foreign names (which are three majors uses of katakana). 

Start off with foreign name.
Foreign names can came from any origin except the ones already exist in Japanese. 
For example,
My name: Chatarin Wangsanuwat (Thai origin)　    チャタリン (cha-ta-ri-n)　ワンサヌワット (wan-sa-nu-wat-to)
                  Smith (English origin)                                    スミス (su-mi-su)
Japanese origin names are written in kanji               上田    (u-e-da)

Next is loanword.
Words that are from any other origins except Japanese's.
For example, 
pizza     ピザ (pi-za)

- ブラザーフッズミーティング, Brotherhood meeting, sign 

The last one is to represent sound. 

- ズム、Boom, Manga "Vinland Saga"

Nevertheless, there are some katakanas presented not according to this convention.

For example, 

- ゴミをすてないで！、　Don't trash, Street sign

From here, you might notice that the word ゴミ (go-mi) is not quite familiar to the English speakers. According to aforementioned convention, go-mi or "trash" should be written in either hiragana ごみ (also go-mi) .

- イカの炙り焼き　(Ika no Aburiyaki), Grilled Squid, Japanese menu

From this Japanese menu, イカの炙り焼き　(Ika no Aburiyaki). I-ka is written in katakana meaning Squid, instead of in kanji 烏賊 (also i-ka). 

Notice that in this same menu, saba, Mackerel fish, is written in katakana as ザバ　instead of hiragana さば　as well. 

- ニッポン、　Japan, Street/advertisement sign

For the last example, towards the bottom of the sign, though there are some kanjis and hiraganas present, ni-hon (meaning Japan) is written in katakana ニッポン instead of the more common kanji　日本　（ni-hon）.

From these examples, one assumption can be made. The writer decide to use some katakanas not following the convention in order to emphasize the words. In English, apart from bold, italics and underline, we can use capital letter to emphasize the word, indicating emotion attaches to the words (such as shouting)
Please don't leave the trash on the floor, THANKS! (This "THANKS!" indicates writer shouting)
The party was NOT fun AT ALL. (The writer emphasize the word "NOT" and "AT ALL").
However, we cannot use capital for Japanese characters.
Consider this sentence,
私は　昨日　日本のレストランで　とんかつと　チャーハンを　食べました。 There are all three types of Japanese characters in the sentence. The usage of each follows the convention.
Therefore, if the writer use katakana instead of kanji or hiragana aka not following the convention, he can emphasize that word.
From example above,  ゴミをすてないで！ The writer emphasize the word "trash" (ゴミ)　by using katakana. 

Therefore, there is flexibility within the characters used. Exposing to Japanese reading and writing will definitely help you understand more and become more comfortable using types of characters not according to the convention.

二月 六日

私の好きな食べもの

私は　日本の食べものやタイの食べものや中国の食べものが　大好きです。　でも、わしょくが　一番好きですよ。日本のりょうりの中で、　とんかつとてんぷらが　一番好きです。とんかつとてんぷらはゆうめいな食べものです。　タイのバンコクで　日本のレストランに　よくいきますが　アメリカで　あまりいきません。たいへんですね。　みなさんの好きなたべものは　何ですか。

とんかつていしょく　／　tonkatsu set　

てんぷら　／　tempura

I like Japanese, Thai and Chinese food. I like Japanese food the most. Among Japanese food, I like tonkatsu and tempura the most. Tempura and tonkatsu is famous Japanese food. In Thailand, I go to Japanese restaurant quite often but I do not go a lot in the U.S. What is y'all's favorite food?

二月 四日 PE1: Activities

こんばんは、　みなさん、　おげんきですか？
中休みは　よかったです。
今週に　日本語１０２が　はじます。


PE1: Activities
1. Repeat vocabularies in each chapter in the textbook after the audio files. 5 minutes a day. 
[improve pitch, review vocabularies]
2. Practice the short conversation practices online (either from textbook or kizuna 311). 5-10minutes a day. 
[improve speed, intonation]
3. Listen to Japanese songs and sing along and look up a few vocabularies per song. 5 minutes a day. 
[improve pitch, speed, have new vocabularies]
4. Attend language table every week and engage in the conversation more. Try to initiate the questions and conversation during the language table.
[communication, become more comfortable with communicating in Japanese]
Goals, activities, how long are the practices a day are subject to change.