1. Introduction
Japanese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 125 million speakers worldwide and more than 5 million native speakers in Japan alone. It is a complex language that has evolved over centuries and has been heavily influenced by both Chinese and English. As a result, it can be quite difficult for non-native speakers to learn and understand. In this article, we will explore the four types of Japanese: Standard Japanese (Hyōjungo), Regional Dialects (Hōgen), Honorific Language (Keigo), and Slang (Giongo/Gitaigo).
2. Japanese Language: A Brief Overview
Before diving into the four types of Japanese, it is important to understand some basic concepts about the language itself. Japanese is an agglutinative language, which means that words are formed by combining smaller units of meaning together. This makes it possible to create new words by combining existing ones or adding suffixes or prefixes to express different nuances or shades of meaning. Additionally, Japanese has two writing systems: hiragana and katakana, which are syllabaries used for writing native Japanese words; as well as kanji, which are Chinese characters used for writing loanwords from Chinese.
3. The Four Types of Japanese
Now that we have a basic understanding of how the language works, let’s take a look at the four types of Japanese: Standard Japanese (Hyōjungo), Regional Dialects (Hōgen), Honorific Language (Keigo), and Slang (Giongo/Gitaigo).
4. Type 1: Standard Japanese (Hyōjungo)
Standard Japanese is also known as Hyōjungo or “standard speech” in English. This type of language is used primarily in formal settings such as business meetings, lectures, television broadcasts, and other public events where a speaker wants to be understood by all listeners regardless of their regional dialect or background. It is based on Tokyo dialect but also incorporates elements from other regional dialects so that everyone can understand it easily without having to adjust their own speech patterns too much.
5. Type 2: Regional Dialects (Hōgen)
In addition to Standard Japanese there are also many different regional dialects throughout Japan known collectively as Hōgen or “regional speech” in English. These dialects vary greatly from region to region with some being mutually unintelligible even among neighboring towns! Some common examples include Kansai-ben from Osaka & Kyoto prefectures; Tohoku-ben from northern Japan; Kyushu-ben from southern Japan; and Sendai-ben from Miyagi prefecture just north of Tokyo.
6. Type 3: Honorific Language (Keigo)
Honorific language is another form of speech used commonly in Japan known as Keigo or “honorific speech” in English. This type of language is used when speaking with someone who holds a higher social status than you such as your boss or teacher by using respectful forms instead of casual ones like you would use with friends or family members. It can be quite difficult for non-native speakers to master but essential if you want to be able to communicate effectively with people who hold positions higher than yours in society!
7. Type 4: Slang (Giongo/Gitaigo)
Finally there is slang which is known as Giongo/Gitaigo or “slang speech” in English and consists mostly of abbreviations or shortened versions of words combined with unique expressions that are often specific to certain regions or age groups within Japan itself! Examples include “baka yarou” meaning “idiot”; “maji de?” meaning “really?”; and “kawaii ne?” meaning “cute isn’t it?”
8.Conclusion
In conclusion, there are four primary types of spoken language in Japan: Standard Japanese (Hyōjungo); Regional Dialects (Hōgen); Honorific Language (Keigo); and Slang (Giongo/Gitaigo). Each type has its own unique characteristics that must be understood if one wishes to communicate effectively with others within the country!
9.Resources
https://www3.nipponhamunivacademyjp/en/language/types_of_japanese_language
https://www3nipponhamunivacademyjp/en/language/keigohonorific_speech
https://www3nipponhamunivacademyjp/en/language/giongogitaigoslang
What are the 3 styles of Japanese?
These three systems are called Hiragana Katakana and Kanji. Dont worry if this seems overwhelming! Hiragana and Katakana are easy to learn so it will be very helpful if you are planning to travel to Japan or learn basic Japanese.
What are the 4 Japanese languages?
Language Japan Main Standard Japanese Aboriginal Aboriginal Ainu Japanese Dialect Amami Oshima Kunigami Miyako Okinawa Yayama Yonaguni Minority Bonin English
What version of Japanese is most common?
Hiragana
Hiragana is the most commonly used, standard form of Japanese writing.
What is kanji vs katakana vs hiragana?
There are three main character sets in the Japanese language: Hiragana – a set of phonetic characters unique to the Japanese. Katakana – Another phonetic set of characters unique to Japanese but mostly used for loanwords or words borrowed from other languages. Kanji – Chinese graphic characters adapted to Japanese.
What is Japanese style called?
Garo (sometimes called ganguro actually a subcategory of garo) is a type of Japanese street fashion that began in the 1970s. Garrow focuses on glee glam styles that emphasize artificial beauty such as wigs false eyelashes and fake nails. Jiaro is also heavily influenced by western fashion.
Should I learn hiragana or katakana?
First you have to learn hiragana then katakana and kanji. Hiragana is noticeably more cursive than Katakana or Kanji. It is used to write basic Japanese words with conjugated endings and grammatical particles. Hiragana is made up of characters each character representing a letter.