Though the written language of the Japanese is exceedingly pure and classical, is it difficult to read, owing to a complex style of writing and printing. There are in use two styles of writing; the one called the square character -- borrowed from the Chinese -- is employed in literary manuscripts, official documents, and state papers; the other -- the running or short hand -- is used for all ordinary purposes; its lines run perpendicularly and are read downwards, beginning with the column to the right of the reader. Thus a Japanese book begins where our books end.
The language shows one striking affinity with that of the Turanian family -- it possesses a complete dictionary of fine-sounding and extravagantly laudatory terms, appropriate to only loyal and noble persons, and held too sacred for the use of ordinary people. The language is spoken with greater purity by the Japanese women than by the men. All that we know as yet, with regard to the language of the Ainos, or aboriginals, is, that this ancient tongue is not now understood by the Japanese.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
