Japanese expository prose

Abstract

This paper discusses aspects of Japanese expository prose or‐ginazation through an overt comparison of similar English expository prose writings. It is shown that English prose paragraphs are defined through a uniform orientation and that the paragraph topic is established early in the paragraph. English paragraphs have a hierarchical structure, with an indefinite number of subtopics, or perspectives. Japanese paragraphs, on the other hand, tend to be organized by a return to a baseline theme at the initiation of each subtopic, or perspective. Perspectives are more loosely connected, although there is some cohesive‐ness. The overall structure of a Japanese paragraph contains (1) an introduction (2) directly or indirectly related comments, and (3) an optional generalization, summation, or both.