japanese language

Japan’s ‘Hentaigana’: The Lost Characters

Before Japanese script was standardized in 1900, writers used a vast and beautiful array of variant cursive characters known as…

1 week ago

Crash, Sparkle, Grumble: Japan’s Sound Words

Go beyond textbook grammar and discover the soul of the Japanese language: onomatopoeia. This guide breaks down the essential "sound"…

2 weeks ago

The Unseen Labor of a Subtitler

Subtitling is a delicate dance of linguistics, technology, and creative writing, far from the simple transcription it's often assumed to…

2 weeks ago

The Ultimate Language Journal Guide

Think a language journal is just for vocabulary lists? Think again. We'll show you how to transform a simple notebook…

2 weeks ago

Counting People in Japanese: The ‘Nin’ Counter

Learning to count in Japanese means mastering counters, and the one for people holds a fascinating secret. While most numbers…

2 weeks ago

The Subtitles vs. Dubbing Debate

The subtitles vs. dubbing debate is more than just personal preference; it's a clash between authenticity and accessibility. Subtitles preserve…

2 weeks ago

The Birth of a Vowel: Epenthesis Explained

Ever wonder why 'athlete' sometimes sounds like 'ath-a-lete', or 'film' like 'fi-lum'? This isn't a speech error, but a fascinating…

3 weeks ago

The Grammar of Haiku: More Than Just 5-7-5

Many writers know the 5-7-5 syllable count of haiku, but this is merely the surface. The true grammar of the…

3 weeks ago

The Dutch Door: Japan’s Hidden Language Bridge

For over two centuries, Japan was sealed from the world. Yet, on the tiny island of Dejima, a single language—Dutch—became…

3 weeks ago

The Grammar of Respect: Navigating Honorifics

While English speakers use 'sir' or 'ma'am', many languages embed respect directly into their grammar. This post explores the fascinating…

3 weeks ago

This website uses cookies.