Abstract:

Order #AFJ401. "Japanese is the language of approximately 125 million people. This course developed by Eleanor Harz Jorden of Cornell University, is concerned only with spoken Japanese in the 'standard' dialect of educated inhabitants of Tokyo. Learning to speak the language at normal speed is emphasized since the aim of the course is to teach the learner to understand and speak the everyday language just as it is spoken by the Japanese. In the text, which is part of the Yale University linguistic series, Japanese sounds are represented by English alphabet letters. The method for producing these sounds is explained and demonstrated on the tapes. The teacher's voice clearly indicates pitch contours and intonations of the language. BEGINNING JAPANESE is offered in two parts, one for the beginner and the other for the advanced learner. Part 1 contains 20 lessons all having a basic pattern of dialogs, grammatical notes, drills, comprehensive materials, and exercises. Each dialog is repeated four times. There are five kinds of drills designed to develop fluency: substitution, grammar, response, formal and informal levels, and expansion. An end-of-the-text glossary lists all 900 'stem' structures used in the course."