Kanji Clues: A Mnemonic Approach to Mastering Japanese Characters

Kanji Clues: A Mnemonic Approach to Mastering Japanese Characters introduces a novel approach to character acquisition that combines the ancient practice of memory enhancement with a modern appreciation for active learning.

Informationen zum Autor John Esposito is Professor in the School of Global Studies at Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan. Klappentext Kanji Clues: A Mnemonic Approach to Mastering Japanese Characters introduces a novel approach to character acquisition that combines the ancient practice of memory enhancement with a modern appreciation for active learning. By placing phonology at the center of the reading-writing process, the learner establishes an essential link between sound and meaning before addressing each character's orthography, much in the way native speakers do. Another prominent feature of these volumes is that the lessons are organized thematically according to components in order to enhance their retention and to distinguish between similar looking kanji. As a result, character order is determined by the frequency of their primary elements or components. Once a character is learned, it retains the same meaning when it appears as an element in other characters. There is thus an internal recycling of components and characters throughout the course that serves as an additional aid to their retrieval. Proceeding from components and characters, each lesson then introduces ten new compounds, half of which appear in sentences. Here again, the learner actively forges meaningful links by responding to the clues provided. Indeed, the entire learning sequence is based upon mnemonic principles, such as attention, association, and elaboration, which, when employed together, comprise a memory-enhancing network that facilitates accurate recall and retention. Designed for students who wish to master the Japanese reading/writing system, each volume is comprised of a year's worth of lessons, which can be used alongside a primary textbook, as well as for self-study, reference, or review. Upon completion of the course, the learner will have not only mastered all the 2,136 everyday use characters, but also be familiar with more than 1,200 kanji compounds and the most common sentence patterns in the Japanese language, thereby providing a deep understanding of the inner workings of the language and the tools to decipher new words. Volume 1 is an ideal supplementary resource for students throughout their first year of Japanese-language study. Zusammenfassung Kanji Clues: A Mnemonic Approach to Mastering Japanese Characters introduces a novel approach to character acquisition that combines the ancient practice of memory enhancement with a modern appreciation for active learning. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction Elements of a Mnemonic Network From Mnemonic Principles to Practice Weekly Course Outline Clue Principles as Simple as ABC How to Make Best Use of This Book For Love of Kanji Lessons By The Numbers Water World Tree Of Life In Person Southpaw Review: Lessons 1-5 Watch One's Mouth Heart To Heart Sunshine Down To Earth Put Into Words Review: Lessons 6-10 A Common Thread Plant Life On The Move In The Flesh Strike Zone Review: Lessons 11-15 Under The Same Roof Women's Lib Money Maker Under Cover Clothes Line Review: Lessons 16-20 Fire Department Heavy Metal Lend A Hand Field Of Vision A Perfect Ten Review: Lessons 21-25 Over The Hill Cutting Edge A Grain Of Truth At Full Strength Mountain Range Review: Lessons 26-30 Watermark Tree Rings Personal Identity Hand Out Mouthful Review: Lessons 31-35 From The Bottom Of One's Heart Day After Day Ground Level Spear Carrier Building Block...

Autorentext

John Esposito is Professor in the School of Global Studies at Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan.

Klappentext

Kanji Clues: A Mnemonic Approach to Mastering Japanese Characters introduces a novel approach to character acquisition that combines the ancient practice of memory enhancement with a modern appreciation for active learning. By placing phonology at the center of the reading-writing process, the learner establishes an essential link between sound and meaning before addressing each character's orthography, much in the way native speakers do. Another prominent feature of these volumes is that the lessons are organized thematically according to components in order to enhance their retention and to distinguish between similar looking kanji. As a result, character order is determined by the frequency of their primary elements or components. Once a character is learned, it retains the same meaning when it appears as an element in other characters. There is thus an internal recycling of components and characters throughout the course that serves as an additional aid to their retrieval. Proceeding from components and characters, each lesson then introduces ten new compounds, half of which appear in sentences. Here again, the learner actively forges meaningful links by responding to the clues provided. Indeed, the entire learning sequence is based upon mnemonic principles, such as attention, association, and elaboration, which, when employed together, comprise a memory-enhancing network that facilitates accurate recall and retention. Designed for students who wish to master the Japanese reading/writing system, each volume is comprised of a year's worth of lessons, which can be used alongside a primary textbook, as well as for self-study, reference, or review. Upon completion of the course, the learner will have not only mastered all the 2,136 everyday use characters, but also be familiar with more than 1,200 kanji compounds and the most common sentence patterns in the Japanese language, thereby providing a deep understanding of the inner workings of the language and the tools to decipher new words. Volume 1 is an ideal supplementary resource for students throughout their first year of Japanese-language study.

Inhalt

Introduction

• Elements of a Mnemonic Network

• From Mnemonic Principles to Practice

• Weekly Course Outline

• Clue Principles as Simple as ABC

• How to Make Best Use of This Book

• For Love of Kanji
  Lessons

1. By The Numbers

2. Water World

3. Tree Of Life

4. In Person

5. Southpaw
   Review: Lessons 1-5

6. Watch One's Mouth

7. Heart To Heart

8. Sunshine

9. Down To Earth

10. Put Into Words Review: Lessons 6-10

11. A Common Thread

12. Plant Life

13. On The Move

14. In The Flesh

15. Strike Zone Review: Lessons 11-15

16. Under The Same Roof

17. Women's Lib

18. Money Maker

19. Under Cover

20. Clothes Line
    Review: Lessons 16-20

21. Fire Department

22. Heavy Metal

23. Lend A Hand

24. Field Of Vision

25. A Perfect Ten
    Review: Lessons 21-25

26. Over The Hill

27. Cutting Edge

28. A Grain Of Truth

29. At Full Strength

30. Mountain Range
    Review: Lessons 26-30

31. Watermark

32. Tree Rings

33. Personal Identity

34. Hand Out

35. Mouthful
    Review: Lessons 31-35

36. From The Bottom Of One's Heart

37. Day After Day

38. Ground Level

39. Spear Carrier

40. Building Blocks
    Review: Lessons 36-40

41. Big and Small

42. Dog Tags

43. Steppingstones

44. Cut From The Same Cloth

45. Bows And Arrows
    Review: Lessons 41-45

46. Bamboo Shoots

47. Head Start

48. Woodwork

49. Altar Boys

50. Anything Goes
    Review: Lessons 46-50

51. Vehicle Inspection Appendixes

1. Kanji Components

2. Secondary Pronunciations and Acronyms

3. Secondary Meanings and Acronyms