Speaking Japanese – Some Advantages
There is no question that it does take longer to learn Japanese than some other languages. At the same time, there are about 500,000 Americans who live in Japan, so it is certainly possible. And there are over 120 million speakers of Japanese in the World, so it’s not the small irrelevant language that some people think it is. You’ll be in an exclusive group, but not a small one.
Companies from Japan are represented in nearly every major country in the World, befitting of one of the world’s greatest export economies. Speaking Japanese is a clear advantage if you work for a Japanese corporation, or if you want to do so.
Japanese managers still hold many of the senior positions outside of Japan in the bigger Japanese corporations. Before their promotions to senior positions outside Japan, many executives have relocated for a few years to the corporate headquarters in Japan, gaining respect and recognition. Clearly learning Japanese is required if that is your plan. Even if your employer has some internal programs, there is a lot to be said for getting noticed by taking matters into your own hands and doing and external program also.
Respect is everything to the Japanese. Learning the Japanese language is a great way to clearly display honor and respect, and won’t go unnoticed. The best way is to first focus on spoken Japanese. Writing skills can be dealt with afterwards.
Japan is a country of adventurous travelers. If you work in the hospitality industry, learning Japanese can give you a boost also, as you will be more valuable to your business or you employer. From both a personal and professional perspective, there are many advantages to being able to talk with Japanese tourists.
Grammar in many other languages is more complicated than in Japanese. There are no noun genders, no accompanying articles, and no plural forms to learn while studying Japanese. There are very few irregular verbs in Japanese, and only the past and present tenses. Spoken Japanese has only 5 vowel sounds and spelling is phonetically consistent, making the language relatively easy to pronounce.
Japanese culture (and the language) has been greatly influenced by China, Korea, and India, some of the greatest world civilizations. Asian cultures share many similarities that differentiate them from Western traditional and cultural habits. Greater insights can be had into the religious, aesthetic, and ethical values of other Asian nations by studying Japanese as many of these are shared across Asian cultures. A familiarity with Asian cultures also allows you to step outside of your own culture and see the Japanese and Asian cultures in a whole new and fresh light.
The author operates a Language website, and you are welcome to review his Learning Japanese recommendations here. Also, you may avail of a FREE 6-Day Learn Japanese Online Course.
