Japanese, the Spoken Language: Part 2

by Eleanor Harz Jorden

This second book of Japanese: The Spoken Language continues a course in modern spoken Japanese that teaches current usage through drills and functional exchanges. The book includes brief and natural core conversations, drills in a response format, and explanations offering not only linguistic analysis but also descriptions of how the language is used within Japanese society. The series is entirely romanized. Accompanying audio and video materials...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300041888
• ISBN13: 9780300041880
• Release Date: May 1988
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.0" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

JSL Book Purchase

I was very pleased with this purchase. The book was in great condition- no writing, marks, tears, or creases. Delivery was speedy. Thank you.

Required textbook

This is the book I needed for my third year of Japanese. I like the way it is set up and how it encourages practical language use. It may be a little difficult for someone who wants to learn outside of a classroom.

The best method

Please ignore any review that makes a comment on the use of romaji in this text book. If someone is even complaining about the use of romaji in this book, they are approaching the book with the wrong method. As is mentioned in other reviews, the proper method of using this text must be applied. If it is followed, your japanese will soar. The romaji, which is different from what you normally see, is not meant to be read, but only as a reference if you forget the pronounciation. The romazi, used, is by far superior than the starndard one, as it expresses nuances in pronunciation, that are missing in the standard approach, For example, when you should pronounce an the "n" sound as an m, et cetera. The key to this book is to always listen to the tapes and to repeat, repeat, repeat. I find situations, living in japan, when one of the core conversations I have memorized, just automatically comes out of my mouth, and I dont have to think. The conversations and the grammatical patterns are constructed in a way, that you can use a minimal amount of japanese, and get by, gramatically correct, and be understood. Maybe there is an over emphasis on politeness in the language, but in order to understand the grammer completely, and to be able to talk to anyone, not just your close friends, i recommend that you use this book.

Excellent college course

This is an excellent method for studying Japanese. HOWEVER, it works best if you are in a daily class using this book with a trained instructor. If your instructor has not been trained using the prescibed teaching methods, OR has been trained but is too lazy to actually use them, then this course will not work for you.This book focuses on muscel memory. You must constantly drill. If you take this book on, you must memorize the core conversations perfectly - including the intonation, speed and correct pronunciation (get the cd-rom that goes with it). Then you must drill yourself on the coversational drills included in the chapter. This method won't work unless you drill!The grammar explanations are some of the best I have ever read. If you want to learn to think in Japanese, AND you can dedicate the time required and faithfully follow the methodology, then this is the course for you.

Dull, effective; good supplementary reading.

This book is painfully dull. It really is painful in places. You can go chapters without seeing a single sentence you think you're ever likely to use. Indeed many of my Japanese friends have glanced at the book and repeatedly pointed at bits and said "tsukawan" (don't use). The language contained within does not in anyway resemble the spoken language as you will hear it in Japan. Also its completely in romaji of which the merits/demerits could be argued at length. Why then bother with this book? It concentrates on some of the more grammmatical aspects of Japanese, and these explanations are really first rate although very involved. They are as good as anything I have seen. By the way if you think you know a bit of Japanese and want to jump into book 2, I suggest you think again as this really isn't for beginners. The best Japanese textbook is, as far as I know not available via the big companies on the internet. These are Shin nihongo no kiso and Minna no nihongo they are published by 3A in Japan. You'll have to track them down yourselves but they are worth it.