Why Are Katakana Words Difficult for Foreign
Learners of Japanese?
A Linguistic Analysis of Factors that Make Such
Words Difficult for Learners
Yuko Igarashi
Department of Linguistics
University of Victoria
2 Major Factors That Cause Difficulty with
Katakana Words
(1) The way katakana words (2) Orthographic issues such as
script policy and word form
are presented in textbooks
variations
Katakana Words in Textbooks
(a) Presentation of katakana
words in textbooks
(b) Ratio of katakana words
with kanji and hiragana
words
Katakana Words in Textbooks
Presentation of katakana words in textbooks
A look at how katakana is presented in textbooks in
comparison with hiragana using the following
perspectives
Katakana Words in Textbooks
Presentation of katakana words in textbooks
(1) whether there is a list of the katakana script symbols in the katakana syllabary
(2) which script is used for on-readings and kun-readings for kanji symbols in a
kanji list
(3) whether there are two types of katakana usage descriptions:
(a) katakana script is used for loanwords from languages other than Chinese, and
(b) katakana script is usedfor presenting words written in an unconventional style
Katakana Words in Textbooks
Presentation of katakana words in textbooks
(4) what type of script (hiragana or katakana) is used for presenting onomatopoeia
(5) whether there is a chapter specifically designated for teaching katakana script
(6) whether readings of kanji (furigana) are presented in hiragana or in katakana
(7) whether katakana words are provided with readings in hiragana (furigana for
katakana)
(8) whether hiragana are used exclusively until kanji are introduced for presenting
instructions and dialogues
Katakana Words in Textbooks
RESULTS OF TEXTBOOK OBSERVATION
Katakana Words in Textbooks: Presentation of katakana words in textbooks
OBSERVATIONS
• After learning the script, the learners infrequently see
katakana unless loanwords are used in dialogue or exercises
• The acquisition of hiragana is given priority over katakana
Katakana Words in Textbooks
Ratio of katakana words with kanji and hiragana words
A look at how frequent katakana, kanji and hiragana
appear in textbook commonly used to teach Japanese
to foreign learners
Katakana Words in Textbooks
RATIO OF WORDS IN EACH SCRIPT IN 5 TEXTBOOKS
Katakana Words in Textbooks
Ratio of katakana words with kanji and hiragana words
The popular textbook Genki was tested for frequency of
katakana word used
In it, 1 069 katakana words loanwords appeared but only 230
different words were used
Katakana Words in Textbooks: Ratio of katakana words with kanji and hiragana words
OBSERVATIONS
• The ratio of katakana words is lower than that of hiragana
words.
• The frequency of the appearance of katakana words is
infrequent
Katakana Words in Textbooks
Preliminary Conclusion
Katakana words are not given sufficient exposure in
textbooks. Foreign learners of Japanese encounter the
script infrequently which makes it difficult for them to
recognize katakana words.
Orthographic Issues in
Japanese Writings
Orthographic Issues in
Japanese Writings
Kango - Kanji
Wago - Hiragana
Gairaigo - Katakana
Orthographic Issues in
Japanese Writings
本
ほん
ホン
Orthographic Issues in Japanese Writings
YURE
is a phenomenon in Japanese wherein a word can
be written using any of the three scripts to
convey different feelings
Orthographic Issues in
Japanese Writings
Katakana is used, especially by
advertisers, to write words in
an unconventional manner for
“recall” values
Katakana Word Form Variations
Katakana Word Form Variations
The introduction or acceptance of new sounds which katakana
accommodates jars foreign learners since the spelling of
words may vary from person to person or within a publishing
company
DISCUSSION
Textbooks should be
redesigned!
REDESIGN HOW?
•Katakana should be taught first
•Furigana can also be written in katakana
•Onomatopoeias can also be written in katakana
REDESIGN HOW?
• The on-reading of kanji should be written in
katakana
• The ratio of katakana words with hiragana words
should be equal
• A chapter focused solely on katakana and its issues
should be included
DISCUSSION
Foreign learners should be taught that katakana is not
exclusively used for loanwords
The variations of katakana words should also be
addressed
CREDITS
Igarashi, Y. (2007). Why Are Katakana Words Difficult
for Foreign Learners of Japanese? A Linguistic
Analysis of Factors that Make Such Words
Difficult for Learners. Working papers of the
Linguistic Circle of the University of Victoria
(WPLC), 20. Manuscript submitted for
publication