Why Are Katakana Words Difficult for Foreign Learners of Japanese?

Why Are Katakana Words Difficult for Foreign Learners

of Japanese? A Linguistic Analysis of Factors that Make Such Words Difficult

for Learners

Yuko IgarashiDepartment of Linguistics

University of Victoria

2 Major Factors That Cause Difficulty with Katakana

Words(1) The way

katakana words are presented in

textbooks

(2) Orthographic issues such as

script policy and word form variations

Katakana Words in Textbooks

(a) Presentation of katakana words in

textbooks

(b) Ratio of katakana words with kanji and

hiragana words


Presentation of katakana words in textbooks

A look at how katakana is presented in textbooks in

comparison with hiragana using the following perspectives

(1) whether there is a list of the katakana script symbols in the katakana syllabary

(2) which script is used for on-readings and kun-readings for kanji symbols in a kanji list

(3) whether there are two types of katakana usage descriptions:

(a) katakana script is used for loanwords from languages other than Chinese, and

(b) katakana script is usedfor presenting words written in an unconventional style

Katakana Words in TextbooksPresentation of katakana words in

textbooks

(4) what type of script (hiragana or katakana) is used for presenting onomatopoeia

(5) whether there is a chapter specifically designated for teaching katakana script

(6) whether readings of kanji (furigana) are presented in hiragana or in katakana

(7) whether katakana words are provided with readings in hiragana (furigana for

katakana)

(8) whether hiragana are used exclusively until kanji are introduced for presenting

instructions and dialogues


Presentation of katakana words in textbooks

Katakana Words in TextbooksRESULTS OF TEXTBOOK OBSERVATION

Katakana Words in Textbooks: Presentation of katakana words in textbooks

OBSERVATIONS • After learning the script, the

learners infrequently see katakana unless loanwords are used in dialogue

or exercises• The acquisition of hiragana is given priority over katakana

A look at how frequent katakana, kanji and hiragana appear in

textbook commonly used to teach Japanese to foreign learners


Ratio of katakana words with kanji and hiragana words


RATIO OF WORDS IN EACH SCRIPT IN 5 TEXTBOOKS

The popular textbook Genki was tested for frequency of katakana word

used

In it, 1 069 katakana words loanwords appeared but only 230 different words

were used


Ratio of katakana words with kanji and hiragana words

Katakana Words in Textbooks: Ratio of katakana words with kanji and hiragana words

OBSERVATIONS

• The ratio of katakana words is lower than that of hiragana words.

• The frequency of the appearance of katakana words is infrequent

Katakana Words in TextbooksPreliminary Conclusion

Katakana words are not given sufficient exposure in textbooks.

Foreign learners of Japanese encounter the script infrequently which makes it difficult for them

to recognize katakana words.

Orthographic Issues in Japanese Writings


Kango - KanjiWago - Hiragana

Gairaigo - Katakana


本ほんホン


YUREis a phenomenon in Japanese

wherein a word can be written using any of the three scripts to convey different feelings

Katakana is used, especially by

advertisers, to write words in an unconventional

manner for “recall” values


Katakana Word Form Variations

Katakana Word Form Variations

The introduction or acceptance of new sounds which katakana accommodates jars foreign learners since the spelling

of words may vary from person to person or within a publishing company

DISCUSSION

Textbooks should be redesigned!

•Katakana should be taught first

•Furigana can also be written in katakana

REDESIGN HOW?

•Onomatopoeias can also be written in katakana

• The on-reading of kanji should be written in katakana

• The ratio of katakana words with hiragana words should be equal

• A chapter focused solely on katakana and its issues should be

included

REDESIGN HOW?

DISCUSSIONForeign learners should be taught that katakana is not exclusively

used for loanwords

The variations of katakana words should also be addressed

CREDITSIgarashi, Y. (2007). Why Are Katakana Words Difficult

for Foreign Learners of Japanese? A Linguistic Analysis of Factors that Make Such Words Difficult for Learners. Working papers of the Linguistic Circle of the University of Victoria (WPLC), 20. Manuscript submitted for

publication

Why Are Katakana Words Difficult for Foreign Learners of Japanese?

Documents

Transcript of Why Are Katakana Words Difficult for Foreign Learners of Japanese?