Kana no quiz - README
version 1.7 - 2006-10-15
Introduction
This is ``Kana no quiz", a little educational tool, written in Python, to memorize Japanese kana (hiragana & katakana) pronounciation in an easy way, and thus accomplish the first step in learning the language.
The full list of kana is implemented, including additional katakana used in modern language. Default used transcription system is the Hepburn's (most common world-wide), but it does also support Kunrei-shiki, Nihon-shiki and Polivanov systems.
This program is cross platform, the same package works on GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, MacOSX and Windows, using the same GTK+ interface on every platform.
How does it work?
The method is quite simple: a kana appear randomly and you have to find its romaji transcription; either by choosing the good answer from a random list containing several possibilities or by directly typing the answer through a text entry. This second method of course is more complicated.
Progressive learning
Through its option panel, Kana no quiz allows you to tune up the quiz precisely, like choosing which group of kana you want to train yourself upon.
First, hiragana and katakana are separated, both are then divided into big sets of kana according to their type (``Basic", ``Modified", ``Combined"; and a special ``Additional" set for katakana only) which are thus composed of various portions containing 5/6 kana, following the traditional alphabet order (i.e.: ``ka ki ku ke ko").
According to your need and level, you may select one or more portions of the same or different sets, whole sets, all the kana... Once you feel comfortable (you can check it with the results displayed at the end of each quiz), you may also increase the number of possible answers in the random list, or even choose to answer directly through the text entry. Difficulty can be adapted to your skill: this is progressive learning.
From the complete beginner who has to start easily and learn step by step, to the wizard who just wants to confirm his/her absolute master of the kana, everyone should get satisfated with Kana no quiz!
Use Kana-no-quiz
Prerequisites
To run fine, Kana no quiz requires the following softwares to be priorly installed on your computer:
- Python - `http://www.python.org/'.
- For the GTK+ interface:
- The Gimp Tool Kit - `http://www.gtk.org/'.
- PyGTK - `http://www.pygtk.org/'.
Optional: Psyco module, to increase speed performance.
Program installation
This process depends on your package type and platform.
On Windows, simply install Kana-no-quiz using the graphical, binary installer
On GNU/Linux, like other Unixes, if not using any distrospecific package but the classic source code, simply enter `python setup.py install' as root to install Kana-no-quiz.
Launching
On Windows, just click on the shortcut created in the Start Menu.
On GNU/Linux, simply enter the `kana-no-quiz' command.
Enjoy. ;)
Some details
I18n
Thanks to our contributors, Kana no quiz is currently translated into English, French, German (by Florian Niemann), Portuguese of Brazil (by Matheus Villela), Russian (by Aleksej R. Serdyukov), Serbian (by Dejan Danilović) and Swedish (by Markus Fellnert). Feel free to help that list growing up!
Kana image sources
The kana images are bitmap exports of SVG files we modelized by ourselves, using Inkscape, with the hope they could also be reused for other purposes, by people who enjoy them. So, the source SVGs have been made publicly available (see our website), under the conditions indicated above.
Licensing
Kana no quiz is free software released under the GNU GPL license (see `GPL.txt'). Kana images are released under the Free Art license (see `FAL.txt'), as the Kana no quiz logo.
Stay tuned
Kana no quiz is a project conducted by the Choplair-network, you can get lastest information and update from our website:
That's all for now, have fun. ;)
Choplair