They have, so I've noticed, more than one type of script they use for wrinting. One seems more curved and smooth and the other is more block-like and more bold. What's the difference?
2006-12-04 01:24:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
The block script, Katakana, is used for foreign words and the smoother alphabet, Harikana, for Japanese words.
Then there are 1800 commonly used Kanji characters to add to those!
2006-12-04 01:28:06 · answer #1 · answered by Aggie80 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The answer is "nobody knows". No exact data actually.
However, you can chase the historical records.
Japanese ancestor had their own language since ancient time, but they didn't have a letter.
At the time of 1 to 2 century, in some old books in China, you can find some statement that China and Japan had been corresponding. It is said there must be some people, who understood and wrote in Chinese classics, had across the sea from the continent to Japan.(maybe not exclusively Han Chinese, but Mongolian, Korean and others)
As for Japanese Kana, we have to jump to the mid 7th century. A wood strip written in Manyogana form (ancient form of Japanese kana) is being found. The age of this strip is around or before 650 (not mentioned in the English Wikipedia yet). This Manyogana is written along with the way of Japanese speaking, not Chinese order.
I am not sure when Japanese started to use Hiragana and Katakana exactly.
However, in the Heian period, after the end of the 8th century, you can find both "Kanji" and "Japanese kana" easily in the old books.
This is my opinion though, Japanese had never been giving up their own language anytime. And they had been fostering their own letter and culture with taking essence from Chinese letters and having a pride that Japan is different from the continent.
As a matter of fact, before the "Mongol invasions of Japan" in the 13th century (This "Mongol" is today's Inner Mongloia teritory of China, it locates north of Beijing . Kublai Khan, Mongolian, was the emperor and governed China then), he had been sending several letters from Inner Mongolia to Kamakura, Japan and commanding the Japanese to submit to Mongol rule. But Japan had refused or ignored them.
If I answer again, I would say it is because of "Japanese trait", it's both high-mind(stubbornness in a way) and flexibility.
You can find similarity even today. e.g. Lots of domestic Japanese have an allergy toward foreign language. On the other hand, the Japanese business persons who have to work abroad catch on the local languages in short time.
These traits accord those 3 symbols exist. (Korea decided to throw all Chinese letter away in 1978). Here again, this is IMO.
As for the difference of Kana, please check Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana
2006-12-05 03:37:59 · answer #2 · answered by Joriental 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hiragana is the more curved and smooth one. It's used for writing Japanese suffixes, and particles (ha, ga, ka, no etc.) It's also used for pronunciation guides above kanji (you're more likely to see this in manga,) and little kids' books are written in hiragana - with increasing numbers of suitable kanji appearing in books aimed at older kids.
Katakana is the more block-like one. It's mostly used for foreign words, but sometimes is used for a Japanese word within a sentence, to make that word stand out as separate. When filling in forms, you have to give a kana pronunciation guide to your name. Some places like this to be in katakana - although others want it in hiragana.
They're not actually alphabets though, each kana is more of a phonetic syllable. (Once you know how to pronounce them, the whole thing suddenly becomes a lot easier...!)
; )
They all 'evolved' from kanji - but some more obviously so than others!
2006-12-04 19:36:40 · answer #3 · answered by _ 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋
In Japanese these are called Characters.
Japanese is based on:
Chinese characters called Kanji.
Hiragana
Katakana(used for foreign words)
your question why do the Japanese have more than one alphabets? so there is no why it a language. If I say why there are more than one alphabet in English what what will you say?
nihon94@yahoo.com
interesting stuff about Japan is here:http://360.yahoo.com/nihon94
2006-12-04 23:51:37 · answer #4 · answered by Ari 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
One's really ancient from ancient china, one's used in normal japanese language, and one's used for words borrowed from other languages.
2006-12-05 01:42:50 · answer #5 · answered by cousins 4ever 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't know, but it'll be 24/7 work for me! =P
2006-12-04 09:30:49 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ Chelsea Blue ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
also one is more influenced by Chinese characters than the other.
2006-12-04 09:32:05 · answer #7 · answered by KJC 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Only monkey can understand
2006-12-04 21:09:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 7⤋