Katakana Samples

#1. Hisamitsu Mask
          -スクワラン ,  コエンザイム, ダブルでカバー
          -foreign words/technical terms/emphasis(?)

Here katakana is not only used for foreign scientific terms like: "squalene" スクワランand "co-enzyme" コエンザイム but it is also used for words like "double cover" ダブルでカバー . Double cover is written here in Katakana but it is not a scientific term. Why is this?



#2. Shiseido Anessa Sunscreen
                     - プロテクター ,  シミプロテクト , ダメージプロテクト
                     -Emphasis/foreign words

 Here they use Katakana to spell out the word as it sounds in English: "protector" プロテクター. Why did they decide to do this? Also when listing the types of protection, Katakana is used instead of the normally used Hiragana words. Why?



#3. Shiseido Aqualabel: Deep Clear Oil Cleansing
                     - プラ ,
                     -Emphasis

Notice that the recycle symbol uses Katakana for "pure" プラ instead of the Japanese word さいじゅんかん　or the foreign word Katakana リサイクル for recycle. What is the purpose of doing so?

About Me

 

はじめまして。ラチィシャ　イ―　です。コルビアのだいがくはよんねんせいです。アメリカのフロリダからきました。わたしはにじゅよんさいです。

わたしはおんがくがすきです。にほんごのポップスがすきです。でもえんがはあまりすきじゃありません。わたしのはははジャズがとてもすきです。わたしのちちもジャズがすきです。わたしはジャズがまますきです。

わたしはえいががすきですから。テレビをみます。アニメとホラーとミステリーとアクションときげきのえいががすきです。でもれんあいとせんそうはきらいです。おもしろいくないですから。わたしのはははホラーのえいががとてもすきです。

わたしはスポーツがじょうずです。サッカーとテニスとじゅうどうがじょうずです。けんどうがすきです。でもけんどうはへたです。わたしのははとちちはスポーツをみます。フトバルがすきですから。

わたしはくるまがあります。NISSANのくるまがあります。わたしのははとちちはBMWのくるまがあります。でもわたしのおとうとはくるまじゃありません。

わたしのかぞくはえいごがよくわかります。わたしもえいごがよくわかります。にほんごがすこしわかります。かんこくごもがすこしわかります。ちゅうごくごがぜんぜんわかりません。

どうぞよろしくおねがいします。

Reason(s) why I study Japanese

When others ask me what languages do I study, most of them are surprised by my response. Why do I study Japanese? I suppose the desire to learn the language goes back to over a decade or so. Yep, I became infatuated with anime. First it was those shows that came on television late at night, then I found out that I could see the original, "unAmericanized" versions. The only problem was...they were in Japanese. Sure, English subtitles were available, however I began to notice subtle changes in those subtitles depending on who made them. I picked up on certain words and their English meanings by watching anime. Certain words like "sugoi" and "chigaimasu" were interpreted slightly differently. To solve some of this confusion I discovered Japanese dramas. I wanted to see and hear the language being used in more everyday situational occurrences. Finally upon entering college, I decided there was no other time better than now to start learning the language formally from a teacher. Once I revealed my desire, someone suggested that I take this course in order to "ease" into the language rather than to be "slammed" with it (First year Japanese I course).

 

"Cowboy Bebop", to this day remains to be my favorite anime of all time. :)