So you want to learn Japanese?

Thu, 2008-01-31 02:26 — Traveler

My first post: A little something for the would-be learner of Japanese.

Congratulations on your commitment to learn the language (or your curiosity about it, anyway). I've been doing the same for over 25 years now, and have enjoyed it all the way.

"Great! So, is it hard or easy? I've heard it's, like, really hard..."

I've got some good news and some bad news. There are aspects to learning Japanese that are easy, and aspects that are hard.

What's that, you say? You'd like the bad news first?

Admirable! All right, let's do that. First take a look at what's hard about learning Japanese. I think you'll be surprised at how short the list is! Then go on to a much longer list of what's easy about learning Japanese. Sweet!

Got an interest in more? Here's a list of all posts related to Japanese.

Comments

Thu, 2011-10-27 13:14 — picturelearning (not verified)

Learn Japanese thru Pictures

Well, learning Japanese isnt really that difficult.Most importantly you must enjoy it.I enjoy myself learn Japanese thru pictures.It makes learning more interesting.

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Home Japan Glossary

New words, and new uses of old words, appearing on this site:

Culturology

For lack of a better word, "culturology" is what I label a particular brand of fascination with, and practice of, "cross-cultural comparison". (Suggestions for a better name are welcome!)

Not cultural comparison as it can be in theory: an objective, even interesting, examination of different cultures. Rather, I use "culturology" to mean cultural comparison as it too often appears in practice: subjective and unscientific nonsense, with a good story taking precedence over facts.

Or, for a pithier definition: Culturology is the dogged effort to dig up and exhibit "cultural differences" whether they exist or not.

Culturologists

The uncritical practitioners of culturology, whether academics, writers, or just general fans of "cultural difference" tales not hampered by critical examination.

Japanology

This has a general meaning of "the study of things Japanese"; here I use it to mean culturology as applied to Japan. It's closely tied to Nihonjinron, with all negative connotations intact.

Japanologist

The uncritical believers – Japanese or otherwise – of elements of Japanology.

Japander

With a friendly nod to Japander.com, which has long applied the word to the commercial appearances of Hollywood stars in Japan, I use the verb in a way closer to the original "pander": to Japander is to tell the Japanologists the silliness they love to hear. "I think Japanese developed as the world's most complex language, thanks to Japan's unique four seasons" – that's Japandering.

Traveler's Law #1

"Any exposition pointing out 'cultural contrasts' must contain at least one bit of unsupported silliness."

Traveler's Law #2

"Any statement beginning with 'the Japanese' (or 'the French', 'Ghanaians', 'Asians', 'Westerners', whatever) is 99% certain to be a dumb statement."

words in quotes

Words like "Westerner" and "the East" may appear in quotes to emphasize their inherent silliness. A claim that "the Japanese" are baffled by some "Western mindset" regarding a "cultural difference" that doesn't even exist, is deserving of all those mocking quotes.

Learning Japanese?

Wisdom from a 25-year learner:

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