
Japanese, known to native speakers as Nihongo, is related to the Japonic-Ryukyuan languages, though its exact origins remain unknown. Although etymologically unrelated to Chinese, Japanese vocabulary has been influenced by other languages, with many words borrowed from Chinese, or created from Chinese models as a result of 1,500 years of language contact. Influences are evident in the Japanese system of writing (kanji), in addition to many similarities regarding vocabulary and grammatical aspect...
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