Japanese writing system This is my post in Japanese discussion forum about Japanese writing system. https://www.italki.com/discussion/214511 Would you please correct it? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A Japanse quiz: What was Katanaka for 200-1000 years before? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - What do you think Katakana was for in the beginning? Japanese katakana (AIUEO：アイウエオ） is now mainly used for writing foreign things or concepts, mainly American and European ones like: - KONPYUUTA：コンピュータ: computer - FASSHION：ファッション：fashion - OODEKORON：オーデコロン：eau de Cologne - ROKKUNROORU ロックンロール： rock'n roll - BAREE: バレエ： ballet - SEKUHARA: セクハラ： an abbreviation of sexual harassment Other countries' things are written in Katakana except for Chinese ones. NANPURAA: fish source (Thailand) KOORAN: コーラン：quran (Islamic) GAMURAN: ガムラン：gamelan (Bali) But until around 1850, then 150 years ago, Japan had closed itself and there was nothing European or American then, although katakana had been there since 1000 years before. This means Katanaka was not used for describing Western things in the beginning. What do you think Katakana was for at first? ( of course, there is the answer)