110-437 Japanese Writing System

Students who have completed 110-450, 110-451 and 110-467 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

110-468 Colloquial Japanese 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. Students will become aware of the structural and functional characteristics of words in different scripts. In class, students will examine the formation of kanji and kana-written words, and will analyse their functions. Students will explore how readers perceive and recognise words through reading relevant academic articles both in English and Japanese. They will also practise reading efficiently and writing 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.

• written communication through essay writing and seminar discussion;

• attention to detail through essay preparation and writing;

• time management and planning through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion;

• public speaking through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations.

For 2nd and 3rd-year students: two assignments of 800 words 40% (due mid-semester and at the end of semester), a final written examination 50% (due during the examination period) and class participation 10%. For 4th-year students: two assignments of 800 words 40% (due mid-semester and at the end of semester), a final written examination 40% (due during the examination period) and an extra assignment of 1000 words 20% (due at the end of semester).

Materials supplied by the Asia Institute