Author Topic: Learning to speak Japanese (Read 2905 times)

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

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Fineus · **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2003, 03:59:28 pm

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?

Martinus · **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2003, 04:02:49 pm

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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.

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Stealth · **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2003, 06:16:56 pm

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

j/k) and also i like Chinese food better

Kamikaze · **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2003, 06:17:31 pm

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.

elorran · **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2003, 08:35:04 pm

Dark_4ce · **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:44:36 am

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

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.

Good luck grasshopper...

Gortef · **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:57:23 am

I've been planning to learn for some time now. Maybe someday the plan becames reality

Martinus · **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2003, 12:28:57 pm

Quote

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 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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CP5670 · **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2003, 12:30:22 pm

screw all that and learn some math instead.

neo_hermes · **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2003, 04:08:34 pm

Strange CP5670 learning another language can aid in the future.

*sigh* we also need Math though to a far more greater degree.

Stealth · **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2003, 04:21:02 pm

Quote

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

Martinus · **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2003, 07:04:49 pm

Quote

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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Nico · **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2003, 02:39:31 am

I'm "learning" japanese right know. herm... I try

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

And as I absoltly want to learn how to read at the same time, I don't make much progress.

Martinus · **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2003, 02:20:18 pm

[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.

Thanks Venom.

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Nico · **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2003, 04:43:14 am

np

if only I knew a japanese guy ( or girl, hehe ), would make things easier

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

Gortef · **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2003, 11:46:56 am

that is so true

Inquisitor · **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2003, 08:13:28 am

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

Mr Carrot · **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2003, 08:28:24 am

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.

Kamikaze · **Reply #19 on:** April 01, 2003, 08:33:31 am

"say it again, please" or simply "say again?" to be less polite

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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