The Japanese language is one that enthralls because it is so unique and when spoken the words are so beautiful. Even though it is a language that is very appealing, it is also a language that is very complex. This means that not only speaking Japanese language is complicated, but writing it is also something that requires both knowledge and skill. You might assume that there is only one system of writing in Japanese culture, but there are actually 3. It should also be noted that there are many subsystems of writing that also exist. Kana is one of the main system of writing in Japan and Hiragana and Katakana are two of the subsystems of Kana that exist. They might be similar in a lot of ways, but there are also quite a few differences that can be identified between the two. Here are the differences between Hiragana and Katakana:
When Were They Developed?
One of the main differences that exists between the two writing systems is when they were developed and why. Hiragana is a writing system that was first introduced in Japan around the fifth century. This was a more simplistic form of writing that was developed from the Kanji. It did not have a good reputation at first and was seen as women’s writing when it was first introduced.
Katakana is different because it was developed many years after Hiragana and it was introduced as a form of shorthand writing. This means that it was also a form of writing that was designed to be simple in form. This means that it does not incorporate a lot of Chinese calligraphy into the writing style. This shows that both writing styles were developed and introduced at different time periods.
Hiragana is Still Popular
You should also know that Hiragana had a rough start being accepted as a writing system, but today it is one of the most widely used writing systems in Japan. This is different from Katakana because is the writing that is used for translating foreign words into Japan. This means that while both writing systems are still used in Japan today, the subsystem of Hiragana is the one that is used most often and is popularized.
You might assume that Hiragana and Katakana are the same writing system, but this is not the case and the differences that exist between the two should be known.
