Scan barcode
A review by airborne
Japanese Language and Culture for Business and Travel by Kyoko Hijirida, Muneo Yoshikawa
2.0
This is a text that I harbor mixed opinions of. On one hand, it is easily digestible for newcomers to Japanese etiquette, tradition, culture, and language. On the other hand, however, it falls short of providing a complete and modern perspective on such topics. The text is primarily useful for speech, which makes it apt for dealing with travelers from Japan. While the book may effectively instill, at the very best, a foundation of Japanese grammar and vocabulary, the characters for Japanese syllabaries and writing systems have been left out (aside from a pointless but appreciated appendix, in which the "romaji" sentences are re-translated into their original Japanese characters); thus, an integral component of Japanese culture is seemingly ignored by the book's authors. This is problematic for many reasons, especially considering the book is aimed at businesspeople and travelers abroad. Without the proper framework, they will arrive in Japan and immediately realize they cannot read a word. Further study, therefore, should be encouraged.
The text is composed of 19 "lessons," four of which are reviews that should have been longer than a mere three pages at most. All the lessons follow a formulaic method of presentation, as a textbook would. Although the manner in which it presents Japanese vocabulary and grammatical concepts is admittedly methodical and simplistic, I still wouldn't recommend it as a primary source thanks to the invention of superior alternatives. The brass tacks, I feel, are the sections "Cultural Orientation," "The Japanese Mode of Communication," and "Language and Culture." The Cultural Orientation segment delineates interesting tidbits of Japanese tradition and culture. Unfortunately, the information provided should be taken with a grain of salt due to the book's age. Not to mention the text wastes a lot of words appealing to Americans and needlessly contrasting Japanese culture with American and Chinese culture. The Japanese Modes of Communication peers into a specific facet in which Japanese culture, tradition, and even topography have adapted how the Japanese communicate. Lastly, Language and Culture touches upon the etymology and historical uses behind Japanese words and phrases (which I was particularly fond of). While some of the book's writing may be outdated, it made for an interesting read nonetheless.
The text is composed of 19 "lessons," four of which are reviews that should have been longer than a mere three pages at most. All the lessons follow a formulaic method of presentation, as a textbook would. Although the manner in which it presents Japanese vocabulary and grammatical concepts is admittedly methodical and simplistic, I still wouldn't recommend it as a primary source thanks to the invention of superior alternatives. The brass tacks, I feel, are the sections "Cultural Orientation," "The Japanese Mode of Communication," and "Language and Culture." The Cultural Orientation segment delineates interesting tidbits of Japanese tradition and culture. Unfortunately, the information provided should be taken with a grain of salt due to the book's age. Not to mention the text wastes a lot of words appealing to Americans and needlessly contrasting Japanese culture with American and Chinese culture. The Japanese Modes of Communication peers into a specific facet in which Japanese culture, tradition, and even topography have adapted how the Japanese communicate. Lastly, Language and Culture touches upon the etymology and historical uses behind Japanese words and phrases (which I was particularly fond of). While some of the book's writing may be outdated, it made for an interesting read nonetheless.