Writing systems

[arkamii]

Im new to the forum and if im honest new to the whole language itself. I would like to start learning japanese but have no clue even where to start. Do i learn to speak the basics first? Do i learn to write japanese aswell as speak it at the same time? i have many questions but there is one main question that i have to ask that sort of has two parts two it.

The first part of this question is, i know at some point i will have to learn the japanese alphabet, and i was wondering as i am starting out should i just use Romaji? or should i learn the actual Japanese alphabet, and if so what systems do i need to learn, do i need all hirigana, katakana and kanji? or will i only need to learn one of these to start out.

The second part of the question is, do i learn the alphabet and then learn to speak and write japanese simultaneously, or should i focus on one, for example start out only learning how to speak words and their meanings.

 

[Mike Cash]

The heavy lifting has been done for you. Get a proper textbook and it will take you by the hand and lead you down the path. Get the beginners level of whatever series you decide to use, read the preface, then start with Chapter 1.

 

[arkamii]

The heavy lifting has been done for you. Get a proper textbook and it will take you by the hand and lead you down the path. Get the beginners level of whatever series you decide to use, read the preface, then start with Chapter 1.

Are there any that are reccomended or you know of that work extremely well? I also want to make it clear firstly that i know absolutely no japanese AT ALL!

 

[Mike Cash]

My information is so far out of date as to be useless. (My textbook talked about listening to "records", if that gives you an idea).

But we have many currently active learners who can give you good recommendations. I believe the "Genki" series enjoys a good reputation.

 

[nice gaijin]

I highly recommend the Genki series from Japan Times. This series is a pretty good introduction to Japanese grammar, gets you started with the writing systems (get away from romaji as quickly as possible, it's a terrible crutch that hobbles your literacy) and starts you off with a little vocabulary. There are accompanying exercise books with CDs if you want those too. I started learning Japanese through college courses, and these were our main text books in the beginning.

this is the version I used, and this is the level 1 workbook.

This is the new version, looks like it comes with a CD and according to the reviews, addresses pretty much all the complaints people had about the first edition. I'd get this one if it were for me.

I used Genki I and II, and then their Intermediate Japanese book (which I dubbed "Genki III" because it was pretty much the same format with more advanced material). Later down the line, there are other books published by Japan Times that I found to be particularly invaluable. My favorite was Cultural Episodes, which is just a compilation of increasingly difficult short essays that I found not only helped me step up my reading abilities, but they were also really informative and thought-provoking. When I finished it, I felt confident enough to start reading novels on my own.

When you're ready for it, 日本人の知らない日本語 (and vol. 2) are really interesting, manga-style books written from the perspective of a Japanese teacher who learns more about her own language through her foreign students' questions.