A handbook of colloquial Japanese

CHAPTER I.

Introductory Remarks,



I. "How can I learn to speak Japanese?" — This question
has been so often addressed to the present writer that he
has resolved to put his answer into a permanent shape.
He is persuaded that no language was ever learnt solely
from a grammar, — least of all a language like Japanese,
whose structure and idioms arc alien from all that we are
accustomed to in Europe. The student is therefore recom-
mended only to glance through the Theoretical Part at first,
in order to obtain a general idea of the territory he has to
concjuer. He can pick up by the ^•ay such of the examples
as strike him, committing them to memory and seeking
opportunities for using them to his servants and his native
teacher. He should then go on to the Practical Part, and
attack the " Fragments of Conversation '' and the " Anecdotes '
as soon as possible, however baffling it may seem to be
confronted wiUi such long sentences. After all, as Japanese
consists chiefly of long sentences, one cannot too early
decide to face them. A little practice will rob them of much
of their terror. Every now and then the Theoretical Part
should be consulted on difficult points. It should be read




through carefully, a little at a time, after a diligent study of
the Practical Part and the committal of a few pages of the
latter to memory shall have caused the student to make
some way in the mastery of the language.

T 2. The necessity for memorising cannot be too strongly
insisted upon. It is the sole means of escape from the
pernicious habit of thinking in English, translating every
sentence literally from a whispered English original, and
therefore beginning and ending by speaking English Japanese
instead of Japanese Japanese. It is not only that the words
and idioms of Japanese differ from our English words and
idioms, but that the same set of circumstances does not
always draw from Japanese speakers remarks similar to those
which it would draw from European speakers. Japanese
thoughts do not run in quite the same channels as ours.
To take a very simple instance. If an Englishman wishes
to make a [xylite remark to a friend about the latter's sick
father, he will probably say, " I hope your father is better
to-day."' In French, German, Italian, etc., the phrase would
be pretty nearly the same. In each of these languages the
same kindly hope would be expressed. In Japanese it is
different. The phrase must run thus :