110-437 Characteristics of Japanese Writing

110-217 Advanced Japanese B and 110-452 Advanced Japanese Grammar or equivalent, or admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours for fourth-year students.

This subject aims to give students an overview of the current Japanese writing system. It assists students to be aware of structural and functional characteristics of words in different types of the script. In class, students will examine the formation of kanji and kana-written words, and will analyse characteristic functions of the words. They will also learn to pay attention to units smaller than a word, and will analyse their roles in word recognition. Students will explore how skilled and less-skilled readers perceive and recognise words through reading relevant academic articles both in English and Japanese. They will also practise reading efficiently and write accurately and appropriately. Students who complete this subject should have gained good knowledge of Japanese orthography and have developed skills for appropriate and effective reading and writing. They should have developed linguistic and metalinguistic awareness.

Assignments totalling 2000 words for 3rd year, 3000 words for 4th year, and examinations totalling 2000 words. Students are required to attend a minimum of 70% of all classes in order to be eligible to take the examinations.

Materials will be available from the Institute.