BASIC JAPANESE VOCABULARY AN EXPLANATION OF USAGE

AUTHOR: Toshiko Yamaguchi
PUBLISHER: Pelanduk Publications
PRICE: RM23
LEARNING a foreign language is the dream of most people. We all wish to
be able to speak Spanish, French, German or even Arabic fluently. However,
most of us also do not have the determination of a champion or the
tenacity of a world-class marathon runner.
This book by Toshiko Yamaguchi is a supplementary guide for those who
are in the initial stages of learning the Japanese language. If you have
no basic knowledge of the language, it's time to say "sayonara" to this
book now.
The author holds a PhD in linguistics. Her years of experience in
teaching Japanese to students in Singapore and Malaysia have helped her
understand the problems of learning the language among locals. Japanese
language students will be pleased to know that the book deals extensively
with the subtle differences between various Japanese words. This book has
seven chapters that elaborate on the seven characteristics of the
vocabulary. As in any other language, the nuances are hard to grasp by
novices. So many students make the mistake of using some words in
different situations, thinking the meaning is the same. That is not true.
Yamaguchi explains that many words have multiple meanings. Just like
Chinese characters, each word can convey a different meaning in a
different context. The trick of the trade, so to speak, is to learn the
useful phrases early at the elementary level. So one day if you happen to
be walking in downtown Tokyo, you may want to say "Anata wa eigo o
hanashimasu ka?" (Do you speak English?) to a stranger on the street. If
he replies "Hai, sukoshi hanashimasu" (Yes, I speak a little), then it's
your lucky day.
Those who already have a working knowledge of Mandarin will find it much
easier to master the Japanese language because of certain similarities.
Those who do not have this advantage may find it a bumpy road ahead. The
point is not to give up. This is where Yamaguchi's diligence will come to
play. She has expertly placed, side by side, the explanations in English-
to-Japanese words.
There are the glossary, grammar and answer sections to help students
understand the overall structure of the language. As with most challenging
tasks, everything begins at the most basic level. This guide will shine a
bright light on the path for those who wish to learn and speak the
Japanese language well. The explanations are simple enough to grasp and
important words are marked in bold. With Yamaguchi's well-structured
chapters and the student's perseverance, mastering the Japanese language
should not be too difficult.
Here are some phrases you may want to memorise in case you make an
unscheduled stopover in Japan sometime in the near future. They are "Sore
wa ikura desu ka?" (How much is it?), "Toire wa doko desu ka?" (Where is
the toilet?), "Iie, wakarimasen" (No, I don't understand) and "Tasukete!"
(help!).