Who here speaks Japanese?

[Hoff 0]

Simple question. I'm into pro wrestling, anime, video games, and sumo, and all of these things are Japanese. A basic understanding of written and spoken Japanese would serve me well. I know there's a few online sites that "teach" the language; I tried one of those, and I actually had the katagana down a little, but I forgot it over time. Anyway, if anyone could recommend a way I could learn it at home, such as a book/workbook/audiotape course, that'd be great, since I don't really have time to take a class (not right now, anyway). Thanks in advance!

[Nighthawk 0]

I gained a rudimentary knowledge from watching movies and playing video games but I guess that's not working for you.

[Lightning Flik 0]

I know VERY basic Japanese and I've probably forgotten most of it.

 

Best thing to learn, is learn it through being tought how to say and use the stuff effectively. When you get the basics and common knowledge down, you can then probably absorb quite a bit from movies/games.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

The younger you're taught the language, the more you'll ultimately remember. I was taught Japanese at seven years of age and know quite a bit of it, however that is the only way I've ever been taught, from an early age starting with the basics, such as numbers and the alphabet, and working my way up.

 

If you're serious, then you're going to have to look into professional education, as it's the best method for someone of your age (which I'm just assuming is 20's-ish)

 

UYI

[Damaramu 0]

I know a little Chinese..........but not Japanese.

 

Wo xiang riwen meiyouyisi.

[Youth N Asia 0]

I know: "Youth N Asia...ICHIBAN!"

 

That's it.

[welshjerichomark 0]

Mae rhiad i ti gwneud Cymraeg! Mae ardderchog. Ac yna, gallet ti mynd i Patagonia, ble mae'n nhwin siarad cymraeg (rydw i'n meddwl)

[{''({o..o})''} 0]

I knew some when I went to Japan a couple of years back, but I don't think I remember a full sentence worth.

[Damaramu 0]

Mae rhiad i ti gwneud Cymraeg! Mae ardderchog. Ac yna, gallet ti mynd i Patagonia, ble mae'n nhwin siarad cymraeg (rydw i'n meddwl)

Excuse me? Take that back!

[Renegade 0]

I know some Japanese. If I have some spare time I’ll try to follow it up again

 

Essesntials of verbs and grammar by Rita Lampkin is a good book to go for. Also cant go wrong with subtitled anime. Also some guy did 12 word documents or so on how to learn Japanese. Its pretty basic compared to the book but its a very good place to start. AIM me if you want those docs since the guy didnt credit himself in them.

[Hoff 0]

Thanks.

 

...Shot in the dark -- you're not Hawk, are you? From WDI/The Hideout? Your custom title is the same, is all. Anyway, when I have a moment, I'll drop you a line (let's not point out that obviously I have a moment now...I just dislile AIM).

[Renegade 0]

Thanks.

 

...Shot in the dark -- you're not Hawk, are you? From WDI/The Hideout? Your custom title is the same, is all.

Cant say that I am, never been to WDI/Hideout.

[Hoff 0]

Fair deal. I grabbed your IM name, be expecting chirps from a stranger sometime before too long.

 

Thanks to all, by the way.

[Internet Warfare 0]

Japanese for Dummies...

[Ced 0]

I'm about to finish a semester of elementary Japanese at my community college. It's taught by a Japanese man in his fifties and I think I've learned quite a bit in four months. It really helps when you're taught by a native speaker.

 

Biiru o nomitai desu. Demo uchi ni arimasen. Shimatta...

 

Oh, and I'd also like to say that the Japanese counting system is quite possibly the most complicated system I have had to deal with so far.

Edited December 7, 2003 by CED Ordonez

[Damaramu 0]

I'm about to finish a semester of elementary Japanese at my community college. It's taught by a Japanese man in his fifties and I think I've learned quite a bit in four months. It really helps when you're taught by a native speaker.

 

Biiru o nomitai desu. Demo uchi ni arimasen. Shimatta...

 

Oh, and I'd also like to say that the Japanese counting system is quite possibly the most complicated system I have had to deal with so far.

Hehehe....Chinese is so easy.

 

Yi

Er

San

Si

Wu

Liu

Qi

Ba

Jiu

Shi

 

If you want to say 22. You say Er Shi Er. 38? San Shir Ba.

[Ced 0]

Damaramu, doesn't the Chinese language have 4 different tones for each vowel?

[Renegade 0]

I'm about to finish a semester of elementary Japanese at my community college. It's taught by a Japanese man in his fifties and I think I've learned quite a bit in four months. It really helps when you're taught by a native speaker.

 

Biiru o nomitai desu. Demo uchi ni arimasen. Shimatta...

 

Oh, and I'd also like to say that the Japanese counting system is quite possibly the most complicated system I have had to deal with so far.

1-100 is a piece of cake, then again I've never learnt to count any higher.

[Damaramu 0]

Damaramu, doesn't the Chinese language have 4 different tones for each vowel?

*cries*

Sadly...yes........

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Mae rhiad i ti gwneud Cymraeg! Mae ardderchog. Ac yna, gallet ti mynd i Patagonia, ble mae'n nhwin siarad cymraeg (rydw i'n meddwl)

I think Welsh would be a good language to yell at someone in.

 

Oriental languages spoken quickly sound like insect noises to me, I can't even begin to follow it, even if I knew the words.

[Guest Kamui]

I know more than a bit of Japanese I've just picked up on my own in the 11 years or so I've been into anime and Japanese culture in general. I plan to learn the rest by majoring in it when I get to college.

 

The only way to become truely fluent is to spend time in Japan speaking the language, though. So generally, what most people do if they REALLY want to be fluent in it, is they spend the four years as a Japanese major and then sign up for the JET program that's run by the Japanese government- basically, they pay you a salary and give you housing to work as an assitant English teacher at a Japanese public school. You can do this from a minimum of one year to a maximum of three years and you don't need a Japanese degree either- any basic 4-year college degree will make you eligable (although the people with English or Japanese degrees will usually get preference). If you REALLY want to be fluent in the language, this is the best way to go.

[Renegade 0]

He doesnt have the time to take classes, I doubt he has the time to go to Japan and do some degree

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

I know a bit of Estonian. Unfortunately, it has very little practical use outside Estonia...

[welshjerichomark 0]

I know one line of Russian:

 

Ya vas noo-bloo. Okay so thats not how you spell it, but it means "i love you".

[Guest Kamui]

He doesnt have the time to take classes, I doubt he has the time to go to Japan and do some degree

I know. I was just saying the best way to become fluent for anyone else who might be reading- everyone else already pointed out the obvious ones ("Japanese For Dummies" and other self-help programs like it).

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I know one line of Russian:

 

Ya vas noo-bloo. Okay so thats not how you spell it, but it means "i love you".

That sort of sounds like a Polish saying I know, from a Polish guy I know who says it all the time. Something like Ya's va doo ble or some shit, basically you use it when talking about how well something fits. It means "like a dick in an ass".