Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Martinus on March 17, 2003, 03:36:52 pm
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I was wondering if any of you could tell me if you have any experience with speaking japanese? I especially would like the views of someone whos native language is english as it will be my starting point as well.
Thanx guys :nod:
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Myself and some friends are considering learning - the local university does a part time foundation/advanced course... you might like to start by looking at your local uni?
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Unfortunately my college isn't very friendly when it comes to free information and guidance other than pastoral or career info. :doubt:
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I'd say learn Chinese. Mandarin in particular, since it's spoken throughout the whole of China (whereas Kantonese is only spoken in the southern part) and other parts of asia. did you know it's the most spoken language in the world? ;)
I dunno, i just like Chinese better than Japanese... don't know why though... possibly because i admire Chinese martial arts more than Japanese (karate? oh please :D j/k) and also i like Chinese food better
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Well, I'm fluent in both english and japanese....
I'd say the easiest way is to go to wherever they actually speak a language to learn it, but since that's pretty impractical I'd say school-related classes are the most convenient and easy. (though japanese is pretty rare for classes)
It's always helpful to try to find friends who're fluent in japanese and english so you can practice/experiment with conversation and such.
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:nod:
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Hajimema****e! Watashi wa Dark_4ce desu. Dozoo yoroshiku.
Well I've been self learning Japanese now for about half a year, and could keep a very rudimentary conversation like "nice weaher, whats the time" sort of stuff. I can also tell the time and count to a hundred, even start to compile my own sentences. Learning the Katakana, Hiregana and Kanji to me are by far the most hardest and confusing of the lot. But since I allready know finnish, Japanese has a striking resemblance to it, so its rather easy for me to learn how to speak it.
For someone who has English as their native language should realise that it is quite hard to learn, cause Japanese grammar is WAY different than in English. Its not complicated, its VERY simple. But its sounds odd when you're English. I'm saying that it is possible to learn japanese and a hell of alot of fun when you actually start to UNDERSTAND what they are saying in manga movies. Even if its just a word or a sentence. Its great knowing that its possible to learn it all, so you can impress your friends and women. Just don't mention the manga. :D
Good luck grasshopper...
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I've been planning to learn for some time now. Maybe someday the plan becames reality
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Originally posted by Stealth
I'd say learn Chinese. Mandarin in particular, since it's spoken throughout the whole of China (whereas Kantonese is only spoken in the southern part) and other parts of asia. did you know it's the most spoken language in the world? ;)
I dunno, i just like Chinese better than Japanese... don't know why though... possibly because i admire Chinese martial arts more than Japanese (karate? oh please :D j/k) and also i like Chinese food better
[color=66ff00]Cantonese is actually the second most spoken language in Ireland, english being first. Gaelic, or Irish is actually not taught to everyone and is a backward ass language IMHO.
If I were going to learn a Chinese language it'd make a lot more sense for me to learn Cantonese as there are a lot of people here to help me. Japanese as far as I'm aware does not involve the intonation that the chinese languages use, at some point I would like to learn cantonese but I'm really interested in Japanese right now.
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screw all that and learn some math instead. :D
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Strange CP5670 learning another language can aid in the future. :nod: *sigh* we also need Math though to a far more greater degree. :blah:
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Originally posted by Maeglamor
[color=66ff00]Cantonese is actually the second most spoken language in Ireland, english being first. Gaelic, or Irish is actually not taught to everyone and is a backward ass language IMHO.
If I were going to learn a Chinese language it'd make a lot more sense for me to learn Cantonese as there are a lot of people here to help me. Japanese as far as I'm aware does not involve the intonation that the chinese languages use, at some point I would like to learn cantonese but I'm really interested in Japanese right now.
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maybe Cantonese is the most spoken language in IRELAND, but MANDARIN is the most spoken in the WORLD ;)
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Originally posted by Stealth
maybe Cantonese is the most spoken language in IRELAND, but MANDARIN is the most spoken in the WORLD ;)
[color=66ff00]Cantonese is the second most spoken language here, what's the point in learning something in your spare time that doesn't interest you? Sounds a lot like school to me and I have the luxury of choosing what I wish to learn and not the government.
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I'm "learning" japanese right know. herm... I try :P
get a look at www.japanese-online.com
great free online courses.
I find the japanese language by itself very easy, the pb is to learn the kanas :doubt: And as I absoltly want to learn how to read at the same time, I don't make much progress.
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[color=66ff00]Excellent mate, that's just the kind of thing I was looking for.
It's all well and good looking at the words but when you have pronunciation examples you have a winner. :nod:
Thanks Venom. :yes:
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np :)
if only I knew a japanese guy ( or girl, hehe ), would make things easier :p
there's nothing like being obliged to speak in the langauge to learn it. I would have never been as good as english if there wasn't ICQ and the english people who chat with me :)
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that is so true :nod:
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Moo iti do ite, kudasai :)
That's how I muddled thru my University Japanese courses, it's also the only thing I remember :)
I have some books at home, I can look at the titles, they were decent primers and may still be in print.
I'll leave the translation of the above as an excercise for the reader ;)
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Japenese is the worlds second language when it comes to busines. If your looking for a language with job prospects then learn it, or if you cant learn Japanese learn German.
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"say it again, please" or simply "say again?" to be less polite :p
The hardest part is learning the kanji.... but there're strategies for learning this, and having fun at the same time. What you do is first learn some basic vocabulary and a knowledge of at least kata and hira. Then go get some japanese manga (choose wisely, some won't work for this) and try reading it.
The good thing is (in most/alot of manga) the kanji have furigana (little hira over the kanji characters) to make it a lot easier to read it and to understand the kanji. Also find and play games like Final Fantasy 1, 2, 3 or 4 as all of those don't use any kanji. When I was a little kid, that's the strategy I used to learn and remember how to read japanese.
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Kanji may be the hardest part, but that's all visual.
*I* thought the hardest part was pronouncing things correctly.
And yes, in your oral final exams both semesters, we were allowed to ask the instructor to repeat things as much as we needed.
only way I passed, after the 3rd or 6th iteration, she'd slip, and give me a clue :)
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Bloody april fools word replacement...
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Originally posted by Inquisitor
Kanji may be the hardest part, but that's all visual.
*I* thought the hardest part was pronouncing things correctly.
And yes, in your oral final exams both semesters, we were allowed to ask the instructor to repeat things as much as we needed.
only way I passed, after the 3rd or 6th iteration, she'd slip, and give me a clue :)
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Bloody april fools word replacement...
well, we're kindda lucky, after some time, I've just noticed french and japanese pronounciations are almost the same ( save for the "r/l" sound and a couple others ). I really just have pbs with the hira and the kata :doubt: ( and I can already bet it'll be the same with kanjis )
It's gonna take me years to learn them all w/o forgetting two days later :mad: