Title: How to Use Japanese Punctuation Marks: Understanding the "Totens of Thoughts" from Honda Dokuhon
Speaker: Ryo Morisawa
Abstract:
I’m going to ask you to work on some problems right away.
If you were going to place totens in the following sentences, where would you put them?
1)句読点の打ち方をとくに意識したことはいままでなかった。しかし先週の土曜日私は句読点の打ち方についての話を聞いた。
2)実は私は文法はあまり好きではない。
In Japanese, there are no clear rules about using punctuation marks. There are, however, some rules of thumb, and it is possible to explain how punctuation marks are placed logically to a point.
You can find many websites that explain the use of punctuation marks (especially toten) these days. Much of the information contained in these websites are based on Nihongo no Sakubun Gijutsu (日本語の作文技術) by Honda, Katsuichi published in 1976. (I will call it Honda Dokuhon.)
Previously, Monbusho had pushed a proposal that wielded some influence, but Honda Dokuhon blew it out of the water. There are still a number of hold-outs that talk about the Monbusho proposal, but it’s basically a waste to time.
You can understand the gist of what’s written in Honda Dokuhon in the website below. The sheer number of websites like this is an indicator of how much influence Honda Dokuhon has had.
【「実戦・日本語の作文技術」】 (It’s the sequel to Honda Dokuhon.)
http://langsquare.exblog.jp/8257836/
That said, you can’t become a pro of totens simply by reading Honda Dokuhon, because it contains a small flaw.
If you actually read it, you’ll realize that Honda Dokuhon itself contains a relatively small number of totens. Having only a few totens gives you the impression that it is difficult to read.
It’s not that Honda Dokuhon is incorrect; Honda Dokuhon simply shows you how to use the minimum number of totens. When writing sentences, you need to first understand the two principles of Honda Dokuhon, then you need to apply other totens. (Honda Dokuhon calls them “shisoh no ten” or “tens of thoughts.”)
So how do you apply these other totens? That is the topic of my talk.
Speaker Profile:
Currently working as a freelance editor and writer, Ryo Morisawa started his career as an editor of books and magazines at publishers and editing production companies after graduating from college.
He has been involved with various genres, from children’s books to psychology. Among others, he has authored a book titled Kokoga Hendayo “Nihongo Renshucho” [This Doesn’t Work - Japanese Workbook].
The book has been out of print due to the bankruptcy of the original publisher, but lately it is commanding a surprisingly high price in Amazon’s used book market. The contents of the book can be found online.
Morisawa was born in 1959 in Obihiro, Hokkaido.
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Date: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Time: 14:00-17:00
Doors open: 13:30
Place: Seisen University, Gotanda, Room #230 (Building No.2, Third Floor)
http://www.seisen-u.ac.jp/overview/campus.php
Address: 3-16-21 Higashi Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-8642
http://www.seisen-u.ac.jp/access/index.php
Cost:
[Eventbrite - advance purchase] JAT members 1,000 yen; non-members 3,000 yen
[on-site payment] JAT members 1,500 yen; non-members 3,500 yen
Koryukai: 17:00-19:00
Venue: the seminar place
Koryukai cost per person (food + drinks): JAT members and non-members [advance registration] 2,500 yen [on-site payment] 3,000 yen
Advanced Registration/cancellation cutoff: May 25, 2017 (Thu), 12:00 noon JST
※ If you make payment in cash at the place on the seminar day, no registration or reservation is necessary.
<= advanced registration is already closed.
For those who need to cancel their purchased tickets, please be sure to do so.
If the cancellation deadline is already passed, please contact [email protected]. Thanks in advance for your cooperations on the smooth operation of seminars and koryukais.
守沢と申します。よろしくお願いいたします。
当日の話のための「資料」です。できれば事前にザッと読んでおいていただけると助かります。
本多読本をご存じないかたは、下記を読んでおいていただくと、理解が深まるかと。当日も概略はお話ししますが……。
【「実戦・日本語の作文技術」】 （本多読本の続編にあたる書籍です）
http://langsquare.exblog.jp/8257836/
当方が話をするほか、句読点の打ち方に関する質問をお受けします。
「こういう文は、どこにテンを打てばよいのか」
「こういうテンの打ち方は適切なのか」
「○○でテンの打ち方に関するこういう心得を読んだが、信頼できるのか」
etc.……
句読点に関することなら、細かい話でも、難解な話でもかまいません。「ちょっとした疑問」が、意外な発見につながったりするものです。当方が勉強させていただきたいと考えています。
「資料のここがわからないので補足してほしい」
「ここはちょっと違うんじゃないか」
というコメントも大歓迎です。できる限り対応します。
ただ、当日いきなりむずかしい質問が出ると「即答はできない」可能性が高いというか、自信があります（その場合も、後日なんらかのコメントはします）。
できれば事前に質問していただければ、当日まで考える時間ができてありがたいのですが。