Japanese Language, Geography, and the People
Three Sources of Japanese Language
1. Pronunciation: Polysyllabic---Continuities with Pacific Island languages

2. Grammar: Altaic-Turkic---Clearly similar to Korean

3. Written Language: Derived from Chinese

A. Kanji = Chinese Characters

B. Hiragana = 10th-11th centuries

C. Katakana

Geography: The Four Main Islands
1. Hokkaido--northeasterly most
2. Honshu---arch-shaped main island
3. Shikoku---smallest, southwest of southwestern Honshu
4. Kyushu---southwesterly most
People
1. Ainu

2. Pacific Islanders

3. Altaic-Turkic

4. Chinese

HIRAGANA
KATAKANA
ROMANIZATION
A    I    U    E    O 

Ka  Ki  Ku Ke   Ko

Sa   Shi Su  Se   So

Ta   Chi Tsu Te  To

Na   Ni   Nu  Ne  No

Ha   Hi   Hu  He   Ho

Ma   Mi  Mu  Me Mo

Ya            Yu           Yo

Ra    Ri   Ru  Re   Ro

Wa

N