Samuel Elmo Martin Knihy

Emphasizing sentence patterns as the key to attaining a basic control of Japanese, Essential Japanese is a comprehensive introduction to the modern colloquial language. Stressing mastery of the fundamentals, this is the text for the busy person wishing to learn Japanese in a reasonable amount of time.

Over forty years in the making and written by one of the foremost authorities on East Asian languages, no other book can compare with A Reference Grammar of Korean in scope or reliability. This work is destined to become the standard reference on Korean for years to come. Concentrating on the Korean language as it is spoken in contemporary North and South Korea, this work is invaluable for students of modern Korean. Sections on the history of Middle Korean, dating from the fifteenth century, as well as detailed descriptions of the influence and use of Chinese characters and vocabulary, make it essential reading for advanced students, linguists, and historians. Chapters include: explanation of various romanization systems, historical overview of phonological developments, Chinese vocabulary and characters, number constructions and counting systems, detailed listings of parts of speech and their functions, description of verb stems and endings, and explanation of sentence construction and translation difficulties. Detailed appendixes include: lists of Korean surnames, place names, radical names, and stem shapes and a thorough index that makes the book easy to use.

This innovative approach emphasizes the structure of the Japanese language rather than just vocabulary, a method pioneered by Samuel E. Martin. Once seen as controversial, modern linguists now recognize that a structural-based approach enhances retention more effectively than traditional repetition methods, making it particularly beneficial for self-study and first-time learners. An accompanying MP3 Audio-CD reinforces pronunciation and builds listening comprehension. Each lesson is designed to help learners not only understand but also master new material through a four-step method: Step 1 introduces Basic Sentences, focusing on key sentence patterns and contextual vocabulary, with a Basic Vocabulary section listing essential words relevant to the lesson's theme. Step 2 provides Structure Notes, offering in-depth grammar explanations to aid mastery of sentence patterns. Step 3 features authentic Conversation, showcasing natural dialogue that applies the lesson's sentence structures to everyday topics. Finally, Step 4 includes Exercises for practicing and reinforcing key points from the lesson. Accomplished teacher Eriko Sato has effectively revised Martin's classic text for both classroom and self-learners, preserving his voice and teaching style. Together, they make the challenge of learning Japanese manageable, practical, and enjoyable.