カタカナLiterary Work

学生の生かつ。

たくさんしゅくだい、

コックリコックリ。

じゅぎょうが多い、

ゲラゲラゲラゲラ。

ああ、週末なる、

金曜日ハートドキドキドキドキする、

土曜日ボディーゴロゴロゴロゴロする、

日曜日ブレインズルズルズルズルする。

ミッドタームニヤニヤスマイル。

べんきょうしなかった。

ブレインカタカタカタ。

はやくレビューバリバリ。

夏休みのとき。

毎日ホカホカクッキー食べて、

マインドノビノビくつろぐ、

みんなニコニコスマイル、

学生の生かつ。

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生かつ = せいかつ = life
コックリ= nod off repeatedly
ゲラ= boisterious (maybe nervous) laughter
ドキ= nervous heart palpitations
ゴロ = lie sprawled (be lazy)
ズル = dragging(something heavy being dragged)
ニヤ= leering grin
カタ= rattling
バリ=crackling;ripping
ホカ= warmth, heat
ノビ= relax,take it easy
くつろぐ=to relax
ニコ=smiling
夏= なつ = summer

Katakana Analysis

During this project, I have learned many different uses of katakana that I didn't know previously existed. It can be used for emphasis, loan words, onomatopoeia, foreign concepts, and even accents. The two instances of katakana I have looked at are キレイand ヒップ.

ヒップ- (foreign concept) Katakana is used instead of kanji for hip measurement(腰囲). Hip measurement is a Western concept, just as stockings are a western creation.  Long ago, when Japanese people wore kimonos everyday, the was no need for a hip measurement. The only relevant measurement was height, which was written in kanji on the stocking package. It could also be because of stockings being a trendier clothing item that is mostly worn by young people. If this is the case, then many younger people wouldn’t recognize the kanji for hip measurement (腰囲). This makes it reasonable to write ヒップ、 which can mean the body part hip, or the fact that the product itself is “hip” and trendy.

キレイ- (for emphasis) This was on the back of Pantene Pro-V hair product. In this manner, katakana is used for emphasis. When I first looked at the back of the bottle, this is one of the first words I noticed, which means the fact about the product being emphasized was done so successfully. If キレイ were written in hiragana or kanji, I would have just read over it. Words normally written in hiragana that are instead written in katakana draw people’s attention. It makes the word(or idea) stand out, especially surrounded by a sea of hiragana and kanji. It is like the makes of the product are giving you the main points by using katakana.


This project gave me a better understanding of why certain textbooks explain the usage of katakana the way they do. Because katakana is used for loan words, onomatopoeia, foreign names, emphasis, scientific terms, and accents, many textbooks only mention the more common uses(loan words, onomatopoeia, and emphasis). Also, because only beginner level textbooks discuss katakana, the writers do not expect that students will need to use katakana for purposes other than onomatopoeia, loan words, and maybe emphasis. I believe they chose such  light explanations so as not to overwhelm learners of Japanese while learning an entirely new system of writing.

私のりんじん！

この人たちは私のりんじんです。ひだりから一番目の女の人はレチシアーです。レチシアーは十九さいです。タガログ語とすこしスペイン語が分かります。そして、きがながくてしんせつです。うたうのが上手です。しごとはしていません。でも、クラスにいくから、かんごしになりたいです。

むらさきのセーターをきているの男の子はアーロンです。十三さいです。中学生です。タガログ語も分かります。アーロンはとてもせっきょくてき(outgoing)でいつもおしゃべり(talkative)です。ビデオゲームをするのがっ上手です。

アーロンのみぎはジュリアンです。ジュリアンはアーロンの妹さんです。五さいです。ようちえんじ(kindergarten)　です。きえくて（spirited/energetic) かわいいです。えを書くのが上手ですよ。

Katakana Analysis Draft

The most interesting katakana word I saw was キレイ. It was on the back of Pantene Pro-V hair product. In this manner, katakana is used for emphasis. When I first looked at the back of the bottle, this is one of the first words I noticed, which means the fact about the product being emphasized was done so successfully. If キレイhad been written in hiragana or kanji, I would have just read over it.

The other example of katakana I saw was also used for emphasis, the word ヒップ on a package of stockings. I looked on the package, and noticed that the word for height was written in kanji, but the word for hip was written in katakana. I'm not sure why there was emphasis placed on the word "hip." I think people choose to write certain words in katakana because they want  you to be especially aware of them. It's clear why the beauty product company Pantene wants you to pay attention to the fact that the product will make your hair look pretty, but I'm still not clear on why "hip" is emphasized. Could this mean that hip size is more important...?

中休み！

ピエフエイ（PFA)と  アデロンダックス　にスキーをしに行きました。百五十人ぐらいがいました。チューブ（tubing) をして、たくさんゲームをして。たくさん新しい友だちを作った。私たちはうたって、おいしい食べものをたべました。そして、私はさいしゅうてきに本を読みおえました。うれしかったです。

私ははじめてのスキーだった。
休みはよっかったです。
私ははじめてのスキーだった。

Cycle 3!

Cycle 3 was challenging! I feel so accomplished to have completed the curriculum for the course though. I feel like my pronunciation has improved greatly, and I have decent speed when doing the Shadowing. I wish I could work more on my rhythm, which I think can best be done in person. Doing the pronunciation an listening exercises was very helpful. I need more practice listening though. It feels like there is sometimes a delay between hearing someone speak in japanese, and fully comprehending what they are saying. I need to work on this. I think JPN 102 and then PII will make me exponentially better at this! :D

冬休み

冬休みはよかったです！ロサンゼルスにかえりました！ははとそぼはくこうであいました。
十五時間毎日ねました。えいがで　友達とあいに　いきました。シャーロックホームズとドラゴンタトゥーの女をみました。もしろかったです。デパートにくつ下をかいに　いきました。くつ下が大好きです。私のくつ下はかわいてかっこういいです。冬休みは楽しかったです。




新しいペンギンくつ下！