Language isn’t just something we use to converse or communicate with each other, it is a very significant part of our culture. There are thousands of different languages spoken all over the world and each language has its own unique nature and several different dialects. The Japanese language is considered as one of the most complex languages in the world. In this blog we will highlight some of the most interesting and amazing facts about the Japanese language.
Facts About The Japanese Language
Origin: The true origin of the Japanese language is still a mystery however the language was first seen in a written form in around 8th century. In its earliest form, the Japanese language used different variations of Chinese alphabets.
Language Family: The Japanese language belongs to the Japonic language family which also includes the Ryukyuan language.
Speakers: With more than 128 speakers, Japanese is currently the 9th most spoken language in the world. More than 90% of Japanese speakers live in Japan.
De Facto National Language: Japan does not have a national language. Japanese is the de facto national language of Japan and does not enjoy any official status in the country.
Systems Of Writing: Traditionally the Japanese Language writing system had three aspects i.e. Kanji, Katakana and Hiragana. In the recent decades Romanji has also been added to the writing system which simplifies the original Japanese letters.
The World’s First Novel: Written in the 11th century “The Tale Of Genji” is considered as the first novel ever written. It was written in early middle Japanese language.
Dialects: There are many different dialects of the Japanese Language however these dialects can be divided into two major categories i.e. The Tokyo Dialect (Eastern Dialect) and the Kyoto Dialect (Western Dialect). Sometimes the Hachijo Island Dialect and Kyushu Dialect are also added to the major dialects of the Japanese Language.
Japanese Language On The Internet
Japanese language is considered as the fourth most used language on the internet. Internet is a large place and it is nearly impossible to come up with an exact number however some accounts even label it’s as the third most used languages on the internet.
Speaking Speed: The Japanese Language is considered as one of the fastest spoken languages in the world.
Word Trading: Japanese has borrowed a lot of words from other languages and people in the rest of the world have borrowed a lot of words from the Japanese language. Anime, Karaoke and Origami are some common examples.
Relation With Other Languages: Even though the writing style of Japanese Language has hints of Chinese Language in it, the Japanese Language in itself is not related to any other language. It is considered as a “language isolate”.
Sounds Not Available In The Japanese Language: The Japanese language does not have L or R sounds.
Japanese Language In Brazil: The Japanese language is the one of the most spoken languages in Brazil (After Portuguese). Brazil is considered to have the highest number of Japanese speakers outside Japan.
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