The last poster wins!!!

[PotatoFur]

That sounds fun! I also just got back from something - not having MY throne! 

I've been on-off doing Japanese for about six years! I can read pretty durn well these days, but I've only started taking it proper-seriously about four months ago, give or take. I'm at about an 6-year-old's level.. Which, if you think about it, makes sense - that's how long a 6-year-old has been learning the language, too -laugh-

That seems interesting! I feel like it would be difficult learning a whole new alphabet though, so don't be too hard on yourself. 

[ZaraRaEchidna]

You mean MY throne?!

That seems interesting! I feel like it would be difficult learning a whole new alphabet though, so don't be too hard on yourself. 

Oh, I wasn't being hard on myself at all - it's actually a point of pride amongst people who learn the language  it's two alphabets, Kanji and Kana - Kanji are unique symbols (sort of) that make up of entire words, and there are about 3000 in common use; so that's 3000 logographs to learn. The other alphabet, Kana, is made up of two syllabaries - which are what it sounds like, syllables - you have one set for native words, and one set for loan words. Kana is -way way way- easier to learn, you can imagine - I learnt both sets in one week, and I know about 300 kanji?  Which is way more than it sounds! If you imagine a 6-year-old has been immersed in the language for six years, learning to read and write - to be on that level without being as deeply immersed is impressive, no? 

[PotatoFur]

No, MY throne! 

it's two alphabets, Kanji and Kana - Kanji are unique symbols (sort of) that make up of entire words, and there are about 3000 in common use; so that's 3000 logographs to learn. The other alphabet, Kana, is made up of two syllabaries - which are what it sounds like, syllables - you have one set for native words, and one set for loan words.

My goodness, you've successfully made French seem easy to learn! 

I learnt both sets in one week, and I know about 300 kanji?  Which is way more than it sounds! If you imagine a 6-year-old has been immersed in the language for six years, learning to read and write - to be on that level without being as deeply immersed is impressive, no? 

That's incredible! I don't know what else to say in all honesty...

[ZaraRaEchidna]

MY THRONE!!!! 

My goodness, you've successfully made French seem easy to learn! 

C'est la vie~

That's incredible! I don't know what else to say in all honesty...

It's taken me long enough! Well, I reckon anybody could learn Kana in a week or two - it's pretty easy, once you get down to it. And so exciting, because then it unlocks a lot of the written language, if you can just learn how the spoken language fits in together - without having to learn the full common-use kanji -- each unique kanji has its' own readings - two readings, typically - which can be spelt out in kana - you have to read it out loud somehow, after all! They tend to do this for childrens' media - check it out the next time you see a flyer or poster in Japanese, for a childrens' property! The more complex symbols will probably have smaller symbols ontop - that's the kana reading!

[PotatoFur]

Pleawse can I have it back? 

They tend to do this for childrens' media - check it out the next time you see a flyer or poster in Japanese, for a childrens' property! The more complex symbols will probably have smaller symbols ontop - that's the kana reading!

That's good to know!