# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned that although the ending of a sentence may give away the level of politeness we're using, it is also important for us to pay attention to the wording of we use. When speaking in different speech levels, there are certain words that can be simplified or modified to follow the level of speech we use. Also, due to the fact that speech levels are one of the hardest things for Japanese language learners to grapple with, it is suggested that we interact with native speaker in various situations as well as media settings, like watching movies.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about various levels speech levels of Japanese. In such levels, there are certain words that can be simplified or dropped entirely, specifically when looking at informal speech levels. For example, あいつ、どこ、住んでる？ This is a full sentence spoken in informal speech and you can see that the [に] particle often used with 住む is dropped. This section taught me how often particles are dropped entirely in informal speech which is mostly spoken amongst friends and family.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about the differences in speech styles for male and females within Japanese. Often females will speak more politely than their male counterparts. For example, men use 僕やおれ to refer to themselves whereas women mostly use 私, which is a more formal way of referring to oneself. However, more recently the gap between men and women in language has become smaller.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned more about informal speech styles and in particular a bit about Japanese slag that happens when shortening words. Additionally, I learned about the importance of [...] in Japanese informal speech. For example, instead of saying 今週の土曜日は忙しいので,行きませせん　you can say 土曜日はちょっと。。。The [...] implies that there is a conflict with the day that was being picked.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about the importance of explaining reasons and situations for not doing something even within an informal speech style. For example, 今晩のパーティーにはいけないんです。宿題があるので。Here the speaker is still talking amongst friends as can be seen by the short-form for ある, but in a slightly more polite manner as evident by using ~です in the first sentence. Being able to explain situations is very important because it demonstrates respect between the speaker and partner.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about the way of language within written form instead of speaking. For example, if you are writing a letter you would use ~です・、ます forms, however, if you were writing a thesis you would need to use more formal and therefore polite way of writing. You would use 〜だ・であるforms to demonstrate a respectful tone.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, the text describes the many speech levels in Japanese, from quickly spoken casual friendly phrases that drop certain syllables or particles, like どこ、住んでる？ which drops the 「に」particle and the 「い」in「いる」, to more formal drawn out sentences like あの方はどちらに住んでいらっしゃいますか, that replaces more casual words with more formal variants or forms. All of these speech levels however are important as they indicate the relationships between speaker and listeners. The casual language is used by friends or family and shows familiarity while the more formal language emphasizes the gap in the relationship.

# data[].attributes.body
This section delves into the ways in which men's and women's speech differs in Japanese. Often men's speech is more blunt and uses different pronouns such as 僕 or 俺, while women often use 私. However this is not the only difference, there are also endings that sound more feminine or masculine such as わ which sounds more feminine, or ぞ or ぜ which sound more masculine. However, more recently these endings have been falling out of use and the difference between men's and women's speech has narrowed, however the different words for the pronoun I remain a fixture in everyday speech.

# data[].attributes.body
This section of the focuses more on casual speech, specifically contractions and dropped portions. For example the use of ending a sentence with a word like 「けど...」or「ちょっと...」, which are often used to excuse the listeners feelings. Instead of outright rejecting an offer or invitation one might use one of these to decline without giving a real reason whether there is one or not. In terms of contractions when speaking quickly, often multiple syllables fall into one, like 「てしまった」becoming「ちゃった」or 「ておく」becoming 「とく」. This allows for quicker speech and is similar to using don't instead of do not in English.

# data[].attributes.body
This section discusses inversions. Saying something before the reason or situation that causes it. It allows for the speaker to emphasize the most important part of what the speaker is but doesn't ignore the reason for it. For example in 「今晩のパーティーに行けないんです。宿題があるので。」The speaker is able to immediately communicate there apologies and that they won't be able to attend, focusing on that and t hen after giving an explanation.

# data[].attributes.body
This section discusses written language and the different styles with which people write. It focuses primarily on the medium of writing and audience to determine what sort of writing is used. For example, when texting a friend you might use just as casual a style as when speaking to them, but if you wrote out a letter by hand you would want to be a bit more formal and use 「です・ます体」. But also a much more common form in written language than spoken language is the moral formal 「だ・である体」. A form that while using short forms, also uses non contracted 「では 」instead of 「じゃ」.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned that speech style is very important in Japanese. There are several levels of speech style, ranging from very casual to very formal. Depending on the style used, the speaker conveys different levels of respect to their audience, determined based on their relationship (i.e., casual for family, formal for one's boss). Casual speech styles do not include certain particles or syllables used in formal speech, and each style has different rules for sentence endings, particle usage, etc.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about the differences in speech styles for men and women. On average, women's speech is slightly more formal than men's, such as including more particles and syllables that are otherwise dropped in casual speech. Men's speech is more blunt/straight-forward. Additionally, men and women use different pronouns: men use 僕 or 俺, while women solely use 私.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about more casual styles of speech in Japanese, including the usage of「…」as a sentence ending.  「…」helps imply an issue, such as a time conflict or a lack of desire to do something, without insulting one's audience.  According to the reading, it is important to avoid hurting your audience's feelings, so direct refusal is considered impolite.  Additionally, in casual speech, certain syllables are sometimes dropped or certain characters combined.  For example,「ておく」may become「とく」, as the「てお」are combined into「と」, allowing sentences to be spoken faster.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned about the importance of expressing the reasons or situations behind sentences.  For example, similarly to using「…」to imply a problem,「～いん」in casual speech implies an apology for an action (or inaction), such as being unable to attend an event or forgetting something.  This allows one to apologize succinctly to one's audience while simultaneously including the reason for the apology.  In the sentence「今晩のパーティーには行けないんです。」, the speaker explains that they will be unable to attend the party while simultaneously apologizing for their absence. Grammar such as「～いん」help convey respect to one's audience, even in casual speech.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, I learned that written language also has different speech styles, just as spoken language does.  For example, a casual piece of writing such as a letter to a friend can use です・ます forms. A more formal piece of writing like an essay, however, requires more formal forms like だ・である.  Just like spoken language, the usage of these different forms is decided by one's audience and intended level of respect.

# data[].attributes.body
This section discusses different speech styes in Japanese. Such as keigo, which is very formal, down to very informal and simplified. Whatever speech style you should used is dependent on who you are talking to and what relationship you have. Many times things are added or dropped based off of what speech style you are using. Example - おやすみなさい - おやすみ

# data[].attributes.body
This section talks about masculine and feminine speech in Japanese and its effect on speech. There are some words that you can say to sound masculine like だろう and words to sound more feminine respectively. This is older fashioned though and the language is shifting away from this.

# data[].attributes.body
This section covers casual speech, specifically shortening words to speak faster/easier. This is similar to English where people say info instead of information. It also brings up how to politely decline without necessarily giving a reason, which could be very useful in social encounters.

# data[].attributes.body
this section talks about the importance of which clause comes first, and the importance of giving reasons for the actions/opinions you hold. Such as putting the important part first, and then the explanation, compared to English is more rigid grammatically as in English you can say it either way, reason or answer first.

# data[].attributes.body
this section covers how there are different speech styles represented in writing as well as speech. When we think of styles we usually think of slang, accents, dialects, etc and not different ways of writing. For example you would probably be more polite in writing than in speech.

# data[].attributes.headline
I learned in this section about how different speech styles and levels are used. These styles usually have to do with context to the environment and to who you are talking to. These changes to speech style can often be additions/ subractions of words, usually replacements of the more formal/ informal versions of the word itself. This is seen in 「あの人はどこに住んでいるの？」vs「あの人はどこに住んでいますか。」。Another change can be the addition or dropping of a particle, for example, [あいつ、どこすんでいる」。This sentence is also an example of words that replace other words because [あいつ」is an informal haw of saying that person.

# data[].attributes.subject
I learned in this section about how different speech styles and levels are used. These styles usually have to do with context to the environment and to who you are talking to. These changes to speech style can often be additions/ subractions of words, usually replacements of the more formal/ informal versions of the word itself. This is seen in 「あの人はどこに住んでいるの？」vs「あの人はどこに住んでいますか。」。Another change can be the addition or dropping of a particle, for example, [あいつ、どこすんでいる」。This sentence is also an example of words that replace other words because [あいつ」is an informal haw of saying that person.

# data[].attributes.body
This section was mostly about learning the differences in speech styles for men and women. Women speech styles tend to be more softer and use more polite language, while men usually use more harsher sounding language and more casual language. We talked about this in class also as while women are usually expected to be more formal, so the speech pattern is more formal. Men often do use this "women speech" pattern often in formal settings so the style does not have a rigid barrier on who can use it.