Ushi No Tane Forum

I thought that レ could be ri or li.

レ is "re"

ラ = 'ra'
リ = 'ri'
ル = 'ru'
レ = 're'
ロ = 'ro'

ri and re are two completely different sounds. "ri" has the higher 'e' sound (like the first two letters in 'rehersal'), where as "re" has the longer 'e/a' sound, like the pronounciation for 'ray', at least with my accent). "ra" sounds more like the "lalalala" you do when singing

(better examples from one of my books)

a like 'father'
i like 'ink'
u like 'true'
e like 'red'
o like 'hot'

Ok....so リ can be li or ri, and レ can be le or re?

Oh, another question. Why, on the "for girls" versions, is the word "girl" written in kanji? Wouldn't it make more sense to use the kana "女"?

By the way, this is all motivated by my attempts to contribute to the Japanese art board you pointed me to. I figured, if I'm going to use it, the least I could do is learn some of the language.

Harklan wrote:Oh, another question. Why, on the "for girls" versions, is the word "girl" written in kanji? Wouldn't it make more sense to use the kana "女"?

I believe that you may be a bit confused. The kanji (Chinese character) for girl is 女 (onna, nu in Chinese). In the title, "girl" is written in the phonetic script known as katakana. Katakana is the "blockier" of the two scripts (hiragana being the more flowing) and is used with loan words (e.g. "girlfriend" -- ガールフレンド), emphasis (much as italics is used in English text), onomatopoeia, etc. As for why? Because it struck their fancy, no doubt, and it works better with "for" ("for 女" sounds odd).

If you're interested in the various scripts used to write Japanese, the Wikipedia has a few good articles -- particularly that on man'yogana, precursor to hiragana and katakana.

I've already read the Wikipedia article on Japanese. I don't have any formal instruction on Japanese, so I'm trying to figure this out as I go along, but I already know some basics about the different scripts.

You're probably wondering "Why doesn't he just Google a quick tutorial on Japanese?" The answer is simple. Anyone can put anything up on the internet. I don't want to try and learn another language online, because I'm afraid of being poisoned (for lack of a better word) by biased or incorrect information. Let's face it, most of the English speakers who want to learn Japanese online are psychotic otaku "I wish I was asian" white kids.

My interest in the language is not motivated by the desire to watch Japanese cartoons in Japanese. I'm against even using the word "anime", because in English, it suggests a seperate genre. The reason I'm trying to learn some Japanese, as I said, is because I've been using the art BBS that Cher showed me in a different thread. The users there have been kind enough to allow me to participate, even though I can't speak their language. Afterall, I'm a guest in their "home", so to speak. The least I can do is learn some of their language.

Harklan wrote:Ok....so リ can be li or ri, and レ can be le or re?

Yep

Oh, another question. Why, on the "for girls" versions, is the word "girl" written in kanji? Wouldn't it make more sense to use the kana "女"?

Then that would be "onna" instead and it wouldnt be as "cool"

By the way, this is all motivated by my attempts to contribute to the Japanese art board you pointed me to. I figured, if I'm going to use it, the least I could do is learn some of the language.

That's an excellent idea I'm sure they'll appreciate your efforts.

Too...many.....winking.....cows.....I think it be easier to get it when it comes out in english NOT AGIAN!!

woooooow...

I'm trying to learn Japanese, but i'm not very good...

Please can anybody tell me a good beginners webpage? O.o

Foreign languages are best learned in a classroom setting. I don't care what anyone else tells you, classrooms are the best. Especially japanese. I just wish I had been able to take more then just the first year in a class -_-

Classes provite direct support from the teacher, plenty of people to practice with through other students, you are forced to remain motivated to keep up with your class, etc.

That being said, you'll never get anything close to that online... the best I have found is www.yesjapan.com but it is a pay service ($15 USD a month I believe). They have pretty indepth lessons and have sound files for every word/sound to make sure everyone understands the correct pronounciation.

Still, I really really advocate trying to find classes to take it. Self study is really hard, especially with japanese. You can't lose your motivation or you'll have a hard time to keep going.

Hope that helps or at least puts you in the right direction for learning.

I hate rick cause hes a nerd

I don't want the game any more I'd rather buy Another Wonderful life , the DS game or SOH.

The last two posts have nothing to do with the topic...oh, who cares! Any, the Japanese lessons with you people are awesome! But I was wondering how U.S. tranlsators decide to use the "L" sound or the "R" sound. (If anyone here reads Shonen Jump or One Piecce, they know where I'm going with this.... )

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of One Piece fans complaining about Zoro's name being changed to Zolo. Get over yourselves.

It's the translator's peragative. Nothing more unless there is specifically a way the creators wanted it to be spelled. Like Athrun from Gundam seed is pronounced and spelled as Asuran in japanese (specifically katakana). But this is more because of the limits of the sounds in the japanese language. If there isn't any official information from the creator, then the translators decide themselves which they think which would sound better.

Sorry for allowing this topic to continue to go off course.

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of One Piece fans complaining about Zoro's name being changed to Zolo. Get over yourselves.

Why don't you make me? Or better yet, why don't you try getting over us Zoro-freaks raving about the Zolo-thing before you try telling me what to do, huh?

Anyway, sorry to everyone else for being rude (touchy subect, stupid people, bad combo...). Alright!

Sorry for allowing this topic to continue to go off course.

Hey, get off subject all you want, this is helping my studies alot. Thanks!