Why one should learn Japanese
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I was in the middle of learning it myself and became heavily distracted with trying to find a career job at the time, so eventually I stopped altogether. That was nearly 2 years ago. I can still remember various simple phrases and I do try to remember certain words I hear often in anime, but I haven't gone anywhere with it. I'm now pretty nicely settled into my career and all of my schooling is over for the near future, so I've been contemplating starting up again, especially with all the anime I've been watching lately.
I guess the thing that's fascinated me the most with the language, or really trying to learn any language (I had a couple years of german back in high school) is finding these words that don't have a true translation in english. If you can't tell I've been watching a ton of One Piece lately and they use the word "nakama" like crazy. In English we would probably just say "friend", but to me the way they use it feels more like a friend that you would consider family, there's not really an English word that has the same vibe to it. Anyway, stuff like that is pretty cool. I believe that's why both English and Japanese have so many borrowed words.
I guess the thing that's fascinated me the most with the language, or really trying to learn any language (I had a couple years of german back in high school) is finding these words that don't have a true translation in english. If you can't tell I've been watching a ton of One Piece lately and they use the word "nakama" like crazy. In English we would probably just say "friend", but to me the way they use it feels more like a friend that you would consider family, there's not really an English word that has the same vibe to it. Anyway, stuff like that is pretty cool. I believe that's why both English and Japanese have so many borrowed words.
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If I didn't have to learn German (Deutsch), I would have already learned Japanese. It's sad that here in the U.S. that people don't know more languages. After I'm done getting German over with, because I just want it done with so I can move on, I'll learn Japanese, live in Japan for 2-3 years, then once Japanese is taken care of to a certain point, I'll learn Spanish, only because it is a necessity. I live in California, and I honestly hear more Spanish, Asian, and Indian than I hear English. I really don't want to learn it, but I have to. Then I'll learn some other language.
If you have true motivation, it's somewhat easy. With my current schedule, I could finish German and be rather fluent in it in about 1 year if I really focus. Then I could work on Japanese, and I have a huge motivation to learn that. Besides that little list you made, I also want to stop using Google Translate and, translate a bit, sort of to make myself feel good and payback the community. Plus hey, it's more knowledge. Knowledge; learning is one of the drives of life in my opinion.
Oh, and about 95% of my music is in Japanese. That's another reason.
If you have true motivation, it's somewhat easy. With my current schedule, I could finish German and be rather fluent in it in about 1 year if I really focus. Then I could work on Japanese, and I have a huge motivation to learn that. Besides that little list you made, I also want to stop using Google Translate and, translate a bit, sort of to make myself feel good and payback the community. Plus hey, it's more knowledge. Knowledge; learning is one of the drives of life in my opinion.
Oh, and about 95% of my music is in Japanese. That's another reason.
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Winged-Fapper wrote...
Spoiler:
For that it requires "Motivation"...
Foreground Eclipse wrote...
Spoiler:
Make sense...
Foreground Eclipse wrote...
Spoiler:
Same for me, you could learn easily if listen frequently...
zeroniv_legendNow wrote...
Spoiler:
Your choice, its not that we can do anything about it... And please read the topic post thank you...
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The way I see it, the only real reason to learn Japanese; is to not have to listen to those shitty English Naruto dubs.
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I'll admit that anime inspired me to learn japanese.
I spent a year in self study and then assisted a certification course provided by my country's japanese embassy. I have a level 3 fluency certificate, which is equivalent to per say a 4th grader in reading and writing; enough to get around and hold a basic conversation.
I never toyed with the idea of actually working in Japan, and if anyone has then I advise to read up a bit. Japan has the most overworked, underpayed and less productive workforce on the planet. Working all day 7 days a week with absolutely no overtime pay is common ground. If it's your dream then don't let me sway you; simply know what to expect.
In my daily life, I have never had a practical use for my japanese skills. Aside from an occassional question as to what some characters mean that some person saw on some advertisement, nothing more. I've rarely had the chance to actually communicate with a Japan native and next to zero people in my social circle. I don't flaunt my knowledge around, but occassionally someone asks how many languages I speak (3 btw) and when I say japanese, they all give me a weird look; kind of like seeing a really weird bug lol.
I still practice japanese everyday and have done so for the past 7 years since I began studying it. It produces absolutely 0 income for me, but it's a skill I worked hard to attain and am proud of it.
I spent a year in self study and then assisted a certification course provided by my country's japanese embassy. I have a level 3 fluency certificate, which is equivalent to per say a 4th grader in reading and writing; enough to get around and hold a basic conversation.
I never toyed with the idea of actually working in Japan, and if anyone has then I advise to read up a bit. Japan has the most overworked, underpayed and less productive workforce on the planet. Working all day 7 days a week with absolutely no overtime pay is common ground. If it's your dream then don't let me sway you; simply know what to expect.
In my daily life, I have never had a practical use for my japanese skills. Aside from an occassional question as to what some characters mean that some person saw on some advertisement, nothing more. I've rarely had the chance to actually communicate with a Japan native and next to zero people in my social circle. I don't flaunt my knowledge around, but occassionally someone asks how many languages I speak (3 btw) and when I say japanese, they all give me a weird look; kind of like seeing a really weird bug lol.
I still practice japanese everyday and have done so for the past 7 years since I began studying it. It produces absolutely 0 income for me, but it's a skill I worked hard to attain and am proud of it.
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kickinwing wrote...
The way I see it, the only real reason to learn Japanese; is to not have to listen to those shitty English Naruto dubs.Well, No offense but I often agree with this. If they were to release a raw anime, then just leave it that way, but English subtitles would still be helpful, without the english dub...
But not to be a bias, I'll stay in the neutral side...
And...
VGuy wrote...
Spoiler:
Well maybe I got a little more information about Japan... And I acknowledge you for learning japanese for that long... I will continue studying and live up with your example...
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Why should we? To understand japanese porns? That's very ridiculous. I think it's japanese people who should learn english. You know, english is used in almost 3 BIG continents, while japanese language is only used in one small country. English is much more global. I think learning china language has more benefits than japanese.
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The problem with a desire to learn Japanese is that it is a frivolous pursuit.
Not that there's anything wrong with frivolous pursuits, I'm just attempting to provide a counterpoint to Kyo's proposal.
Japan as a nation is slowly in decline, with a strong cultural and societal flaws which are causing not only the population but the entire economy and nation to decline.
A strong emphasis on saving rather than spending is causing the nation to rely too heavily on revenue from exports.
This alone is not a large cause for concern, however Japan has also been recently overtaken in terms of technology development and manufacturing by China.
Not only this, but Japan's greatest economic asset of foreign debt is also being outgrown by China.
The final nail in Japan's economic coffin is a rapidly shrinking workforce- with an aging/retiring population, low birth numbers and strict immigration policies.
In the last ten years the death-rate in the nation overtook the birth-rate, leading to a drop in population that seems to be growing exponentially; based on the UN and Japanese published statistics in the years 2007 to 2011 Japan's population has decreased by 0.4%, or 1 out of every 250 people.
[size=10][Note: These figures account for the recent disasters in Japan and don't perfectly reflect the natural decline in population][/h]
Basically what I'm saying is that from a utilitarian standpoint learning a dying language is not the best use of your time.
From a cultural standpoint it could very well be worthwhile- as the preservation of language is of utmost importance.
Language shapes the way we perceive the world, and each new language allows you to see the world in new ways.
There is a piece of folk wisdom that floats about- the Inuit have an especially large number of words for snow. They can describe snow in all kinds of ways that we in English can't.
It can be said then that they truly appreciate the nature of frozen water, because they can express and represent it in so many more ways.
[size=10][Except this isn't true, and few languages have more words for snow than English; sludge, sleet, hail, snow, frost, flake, sheet, powder, etc.][/h]
I apologize for the long post.
Not that there's anything wrong with frivolous pursuits, I'm just attempting to provide a counterpoint to Kyo's proposal.
Japan as a nation is slowly in decline, with a strong cultural and societal flaws which are causing not only the population but the entire economy and nation to decline.
A strong emphasis on saving rather than spending is causing the nation to rely too heavily on revenue from exports.
This alone is not a large cause for concern, however Japan has also been recently overtaken in terms of technology development and manufacturing by China.
Not only this, but Japan's greatest economic asset of foreign debt is also being outgrown by China.
The final nail in Japan's economic coffin is a rapidly shrinking workforce- with an aging/retiring population, low birth numbers and strict immigration policies.
In the last ten years the death-rate in the nation overtook the birth-rate, leading to a drop in population that seems to be growing exponentially; based on the UN and Japanese published statistics in the years 2007 to 2011 Japan's population has decreased by 0.4%, or 1 out of every 250 people.
[size=10][Note: These figures account for the recent disasters in Japan and don't perfectly reflect the natural decline in population][/h]
Basically what I'm saying is that from a utilitarian standpoint learning a dying language is not the best use of your time.
From a cultural standpoint it could very well be worthwhile- as the preservation of language is of utmost importance.
Language shapes the way we perceive the world, and each new language allows you to see the world in new ways.
There is a piece of folk wisdom that floats about- the Inuit have an especially large number of words for snow. They can describe snow in all kinds of ways that we in English can't.
It can be said then that they truly appreciate the nature of frozen water, because they can express and represent it in so many more ways.
[size=10][Except this isn't true, and few languages have more words for snow than English; sludge, sleet, hail, snow, frost, flake, sheet, powder, etc.][/h]
I apologize for the long post.
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I Spy wrote...
The problem with a desire to learn Japanese is that it is a frivolous pursuit.Not that there's anything wrong with frivolous pursuits, I'm just attempting to provide a counterpoint to Kyo's proposal.
Freedom of expression is fine...
I Spy wrote...
Japan as a nation is slowly in decline, with a strong cultural and societal flaws which are causing not only the population but the entire economy and nation to decline.
A strong emphasis on saving rather than spending is causing the nation to rely too heavily on revenue from exports.
This alone is not a large cause for concern, however Japan has also been recently overtaken in terms of technology development and manufacturing by China.
Not only this, but Japan's greatest economic asset of foreign debt is also being outgrown by China.
The final nail in Japan's economic coffin is a rapidly shrinking workforce- with an aging/retiring population, low birth numbers and strict immigration policies.
In the last ten years the death-rate in the nation overtook the birth-rate, leading to a drop in population that seems to be growing exponentially; based on the UN and Japanese published statistics in the years 2007 to 2011 Japan's population has decreased by 0.4%, or 1 out of every 250 people.
[size=10][Note: These figures account for the recent disasters in Japan and don't perfectly reflect the natural decline in population][/h]
Basically what I'm saying is that from a utilitarian standpoint learning a dying language is not the best use of your time.
From a cultural standpoint it could very well be worthwhile- as the preservation of language is of utmost importance.
Language shapes the way we perceive the world, and each new language allows you to see the world in new ways.
There is a piece of folk wisdom that floats about- the Inuit have an especially large number of words for snow. They can describe snow in all kinds of ways that we in English can't.
It can be said then that they truly appreciate the nature of frozen water, because they can express and represent it in so many more ways.
[size=10][Except this isn't true, and few languages have more words for snow than English; sludge, sleet, hail, snow, frost, flake, sheet, powder, etc.][/h]
I apologize for the long post.
A common race might and will be extinguished, but still it is remembered for its contribution to the world.. That, my friend is history...
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I'd love to learn Japanese and I've tried many times through loads of different online resources etc. but I just can't seem to concentrate on it for so long. Maybe I should find a tutor to get lessons somewhere...
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Platnumin wrote...
I'd love to learn Japanese and I've tried many times through loads of different online resources etc. but I just can't seem to concentrate on it for so long. Maybe I should find a tutor to get lessons somewhere... Learning requires a "strong will"...
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Kyomaster wrote...
Learning requires a "strong will"...
I understand that, but it's not my lack of will power, other commitments take priority. Whereas if I hired a tutor I could fit it into schedule and actually devote some time to it :)
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Platnumin wrote...
Kyomaster wrote...
Learning requires a "strong will"...
I understand that, but it's not my lack of will power, other commitments take priority. Whereas if I hired a tutor I could fit it into schedule and actually devote some time to it :)
how about tutoring through the internet for free?
Find it on this thread... The tutor inspired me... (For Real)
https://www.fakku.net/viewtopic.php?p=3258197#3258197
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Platnumin wrote...
Kyomaster wrote...
Learning requires a "strong will"...
I understand that, but it's not my lack of will power, other commitments take priority. Whereas if I hired a tutor I could fit it into schedule and actually devote some time to it :)
how about tutoring through the internet for free?
Find it on this thread... The tutor inspired me... (For Real)
Older Thread
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Um...ok..So you're telling us all to learn Japanese? I dont have a problem with this o-o Being someone who wants to learn lotsa languages~
You should have at least provided free language aid downloads or some Japanese learning websites/links since you were serious about introducing us to Japanese.
You should have at least provided free language aid downloads or some Japanese learning websites/links since you were serious about introducing us to Japanese.
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Koko7 wrote...
Um...ok..So you're telling us all to learn Japanese? I dont have a problem with this o-o Being someone who wants to learn lotsa languages~ You should have at least provided free language aid downloads or some Japanese learning websites/links since you were serious about introducing us to Japanese.
I did...
This
And this
Oh and in case you would imply that these should be put upon the first post, then granted...
Arigatou Gozaimasu...
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I tried to learn when I was in eight grade but the lady was sooooooo boring. Uh, I'll definitely try now!
