Article published In:
Australian Review of Applied LinguisticsVol. 24:2 (2001) ► pp.1–16
Learning strategies employed for learning words written in Kanji Versus Kana
The aims of this paper are: (1) to compare learning strategies employed to memorize the meaning of words written in kanji (logograph) and kana (syllablics); and (2) to identify effective learning strategies to memorize meanings of words in kanji. Eleven native speakers of English enrolled in Japanese at a university participated in this project. Twenty words were selected as the main research instrument. Participants were asked to memorize in 20 minutes the English meanings of the 20 Japanese words written in kanji while saying what they were thinking (a think-aloud protocol). Participants’ behavior was observed, and a test was given after the memorization. About one month later the same procedure was used for words written in kana. A questionnaire was used to find participants’ Japanese learning backgrounds. The findings were: (1) seven out of 11 participants employed different strategies for memorizing the meanings of words written in kanji from words written in kana; and (2) recognition of radicals and analysis of whole words were effective for memorizing the words written in kanji.
References (25)
Birch, G., E. Norris and H. Negishi, (1995) The effect of explicit teaching of learning strategies on students’ reading and writing in a Japanese partial immersion program. Research Report, Faculty of Education, Griffith University.
Burke, B. (1992) Learning to write kanji: how Australian students of Japanese are approaching the task. Unpublished research report, Griffith University, Faculty of Education.
Chikamatsu, N. (1995) The effects of L1 orthography on L2 word recognition: a study of American and Chinese learners of Japanese. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 181:403–432. 
Coady, J. and T. Huckin (eds) (1997) Second language vocabulary acquisition. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Cohen, A. D. (1997) Developing pragmatic ability: insights from intensive study of Japanese. In H. M. Cook, K. Hijirida and M. Tahara (1997).
Cook, H. M., K. Hijirida and M. Tahara (1997) New trends and issues in teaching Japanese language and culture (Technical Report 15). Honolulu, University of Hawaii, Second Language Teaching and Curriculum Center.
De Courcy, M. C. and G. B. Birch (1993) Reading and writing strategies used by students in a Japanese immersion program. Faculty of Education, Griffith University.
Flaherty, M. and M. S. Noguchi (1998) Effectiveness of different approaches to kanji education with second language learners, JALT Journal 20, 2:60–77.
Halpern, J. (1990) New Japanese English character dictionary. Tokyo, Kenkyuusha.
Hulstjn, J. H. (1997) Mnemonic methods in foreign language vocabulary learning. In Coady and Huckin (1997).
Kamiya. S. (1985) Koomoku no keitaitekina joohoo ga sainin kioku ni oyobosu kooka (Effects of orthographic information of item on recognition). Shinrigaku Kenkyuu 56,1:15–21.
Koyanagi. S. (1965) Shinshuu Kanwa Daijiten. Tokyo, Hakuyoosha.
Lawson, M. and D. Hogben (1996) The vocabulary-learning strategies of foreign language students. Language Learning 46,1:101–135.
Miyazaki, S. and J. V. Neustupny (eds) (1999) Nihongo kyooiku to Nihongo gakushuu: Gakushuu sutoratejii-ron ni mukete. Tokyo, Kuroshio Shuppan.
Mori, Y. (1998) Effects of first language and phonological accessibility on kanji recognition. The Modern Language Journal 82,1: 69–82.
Nation, I. S. P. (1990). Teaching and learning vocabulary. Massachusetts, Newbury House.
O’Malley, J. M. and A. U. Chamot (1990) Learning strategies in second language acquisition. New York, Cambridge University Press.
Oxford, R. L. (1990) Language learning strategies-what every teacher should know. Washington, Newbury House.
(1996) Language learning strategies around the world: cross-cultural perspectives. Hawaii, University of Hawaii Press.
Parais, M., H. Hagiwara and N. Hildebrandt (1985) Neurolinguistic aspects of the Japanese writing wystem. Orlando, Academic Press Inc.
Steinberg, D. D. and N. Oka (1978) Kanji to kana moji no yomi no gakushuu (Learning to read kanji is easier than learning individual kana). Shinrigaku Kenkyuu 49,1:15–21.
Toyoda, E. and M. Kubota (2000) Eigo washa Nihongo gakushuusha no kanjigo to kanago ni okeru goshori no sai (The difference in word recognition process of words written in kanji versus kana among English native speakers). Nihongo Kagaku 81: 96–109.
Vann, R. and R. Abraham (1990) Strategies of unsuccessful language learners. TESOL Quarterly 24,2: 177–198.
Yokosuka, R. (1999) Chapter 7 Goi oyobi kanji gakushuu sutoratejii no kenkyuu. In Miyazaki and Neustupny (1999).
Yokoyama, S. and M. Imai (1989). Kanji to kana no hyooki keitai no sai ga tango no guuhatsu kioku ni oyobosu kooka (The effect of orthographic difference between kanji and kana word on incidental memory). Shinrigaku Kenkyuu 60,1: 61–63.
Cited by (13)
Cited by 13 other publications
Tam, Hugo Wing-Yu & Sun-A Kim
2024. Strategies used in learning Chinese vocabulary by adolescent Mandarin-Korean bilinguals in Korea. International Journal of Multilingualism 21:1 ► pp. 36 ff. 
Zhang, Haomin, Jie Sun, Yuting Han & Song Yin
2024. Morphological and cognate awareness in L2 Japanese word learning: evidence from Chinese-speaking learners. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 27:1 ► pp. 83 ff.
Kwok, Chung Kam & Lorna Carson
2018. Integrativeness and intended effort in language learning motivation amongst some young adult learners of Japanese. Language Learning in Higher Education 8:2 ► pp. 265 ff.
Kubota, Maki
2017. Post study abroad investigation of kanji knowledge in Japanese as a second language learners. System 69 ► pp. 143 ff.
Mori, Yoshiko, Motoko Omori & Kumi Sato
2016. The Impact of Flipped Online Kanji Instruction on Written Vocabulary Learning for Introductory and Intermediate Japanese Language Students. Foreign Language Annals 49:4 ► pp. 729 ff.
Rose, Heath
2013. L2 learners' attitudes toward, and use of, mnemonic strategies when learning Japanese kanji. The Modern Language Journal 97:4 ► pp. 981 ff.
Rose, Heath & Lesley Harbon
2013. Self‐Regulation in Second Language Learning: An Investigation of the Kanji‐Learning Task. Foreign Language Annals 46:1 ► pp. 96 ff.
Tsukada, Kimiko
2012. Preliminary report on theKanjiandKatakana(K2) gym: out-of-class character/vocabulary learning activities for Japanese language learners. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 6:1 ► pp. 69 ff.
Mori, Yoshiko & Junko Mori
2011. Review of recent research (2000–2010) on learning and instruction with specific reference to L2 Japanese. Language Teaching 44:4 ► pp. 447 ff.
Toyoda, Etsuko & Tim McNamara
2011. Character recognition among English‐speaking L2 readers of Japanese. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 21:3 ► pp. 383 ff.
Mori, Yoshiko, Kumi Sato & Hideko Shimizu
2007. Japanese Language Students' Perceptions on Kanji Learning and Their Relationship to Novel Kanji Word Learning Ability. Language Learning 57:1 ► pp. 57 ff.
Mori, Yoshiko & Hideko Shimizu
2007. Japanese Language Students' Attitudes Toward Kanji and Their Perceptions on Kanji Learning Strategies. Foreign Language Annals 40:3 ► pp. 472 ff.
Kato, Toshihito
2005. Learning strategies employed by Chinese-background learners in learning Japanese vocabulary. Japanese Studies 25:3 ► pp. 271 ff.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 3 october 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.