Who here can speak Japanese?

[thedoclc]

i can say "start" and i can count to 10
you get no prizes for guessing where i picked that up from...

Some sort of game show?
I'm really bad with my numbers, I get past 20 and it all just goes balls-up and I mix the order the words are supposed to come in!

Counting above 20 is fairly easy. Unless you're talking about counting something specific. Counters are irritating in Japanese.

Example: ni-jyuu-ni/二十二/にじゅうに=22 (Literally, two ten two). san-jyuu-roku/三十六/さんじゅうろく=36 (Literally, three ten six).

Counters suck. Fuck counters.

Agreed on both this post and your earlier one. I do not understand why certain languages decided to take up such an unwieldy system for numbering. Naturally, there are plenty of strange artifacts in English and other European languages, but counters always struck me as a pure WTF feature of a few Asian languages.

Could someone enlighten me if Korean, Vietnamese, and a few other languages use counters?

 

[Lethos]

i can say "start" and i can count to 10
you get no prizes for guessing where i picked that up from...

Some sort of game show?
I'm really bad with my numbers, I get past 20 and it all just goes balls-up and I mix the order the words are supposed to come in!

Counting above 20 is fairly easy. Unless you're talking about counting something specific. Counters are irritating in Japanese.

Example: ni-jyuu-ni/二十二/にじゅうに=22 (Literally, two ten two). san-jyuu-roku/三十六/さんじゅうろく=36 (Literally, three ten six).

Counters suck. Fuck counters.

It becomes a major pain in the ass when you gotta say the price of something like a house ¬¬

 

[Naheal]

i can say "start" and i can count to 10
you get no prizes for guessing where i picked that up from...

Some sort of game show?
I'm really bad with my numbers, I get past 20 and it all just goes balls-up and I mix the order the words are supposed to come in!

Counting above 20 is fairly easy. Unless you're talking about counting something specific. Counters are irritating in Japanese.

Example: ni-jyuu-ni/二十二/にじゅうに=22 (Literally, two ten two). san-jyuu-roku/三十六/さんじゅうろく=36 (Literally, three ten six).

Counters suck. Fuck counters.

Agreed on both this post and your earlier one. I do not understand why certain languages decided to take up such an unwieldy system for numbering. Naturally, there are plenty of strange artifacts in English and other European languages, but counters always struck me as a pure WTF feature of a few Asian languages.

Could someone enlighten me if Korean, Vietnamese, and a few other languages use counters?

Considering Korean and Japanese are both based upon Chinese (Mandarin, I think), I'd imagine that they do.

Also, on the subject of English: with the sheer amount of irregular verbs in our language, it's almost more efficient to just memorize the various tenses of the verbs themselves rather than just learn the rules of said verb conjugations.

 

[[.redacted]]

I really want to learn some of it, or to be able to use bits of it woven amongst other English words without sounding stupid (an impossible take, I realise).

But I have this nagging fear that if I were to learn how Japanese should sound, even the Japanese voice actors would butcher the lines like the English dub actors xD

 

[MisterM2402]

.

Quoted for fucking truth, man.

Not you as well... *facepalm*
We already argued against his points, if you would read the whole thread - our arguments carry a lot more weight and logic to them than his.

And, once again, I'm NOT a weaboo, so this "truth" your quoting is actually lies, just to burst your little bubble there...

 

[Naheal]

I really want to learn some of it, or to be able to use bits of it woven amongst other English words without sounding stupid (an impossible take, I realise).

But I have this nagging fear that if I were to learn how Japanese should sound, even the Japanese voice actors would butcher the lines like the English dub actors xD

Trust me, when you're learning a new language and bordering on fluency, weaving it in with whatever language that you're wanting to speak is not only going to happen without you realizing it, but it'll get irritating quick.

 

[Berethond]

I'm no weaboo but I did know that... However the trade off was the extreme sharpness found on a quality blade (which can take like 8 months to produce i've heard). Also the nature of the blade combined with good technique meant the user didn't often need to carry a heavy shield to parry blows with... And don't forget, Samurai's didn't have to fight guys with western broadswords either...

Well, not quite. First off, the katana was never really a combat weapon. They had spears and bows for that, and even the naginata. Naginatae. Naginatas. Whatever. The reason they didn't use shields is because all of those weapons (Bow, spears, naginata, katana) take two hands to operate. Also, the edge on a katana is not significantly better than a sword made by any other swordsmith anywhere else in the world.

Furthermore, blocking edge-on-edge with any bladed weapon is a terrible idea, as it weakens any blade.

Even furthermore, the Celts used a swordsmithing process virtually identical to the feudal Japanese one about 2000 years before the Japanese did. They found a better way to forge their swords, however.

 

[Naheal]

I'm no weaboo but I did know that... However the trade off was the extreme sharpness found on a quality blade (which can take like 8 months to produce i've heard). Also the nature of the blade combined with good technique meant the user didn't often need to carry a heavy shield to parry blows with... And don't forget, Samurai's didn't have to fight guys with western broadswords either...

Well, not quite. First off, the katana was never really a combat weapon. They had spears and bows for that, and even the naginata. Naginatae. Naginatas. Whatever. The reason they didn't use shields is because all of those weapons (Bow, spears, naginata, katana) take two hands to operate. Also, the edge on a katana is not significantly better than a sword made by any other swordsmith anywhere else in the world.

Furthermore, blocking edge-on-edge with any bladed weapon is a terrible idea, as it weakens any blade.

Even furthermore, the Celts used a swordsmithing process virtually identical to the feudal Japanese one about 2000 years before the Japanese did. They found a better way to forge their swords, however.

Not to... turn this into another medieval weapons thread, but the real reason why the katana was any sharper than another blade was due to the curve itself, not from practices that were used to craft it (though, if I recall correctly, the curve was a manifestation of the forging techniques used by the Japanese).

All that said, a western blade can and will do more to a person than a katana will. Hell, even Chinese weaponry was better for melee combat than a typical katana.

The entirety of the wank that exists for the katana comes from the association of it to the samurai, an eastern equivalent to the perceived chivalry of the west. This makes them both a) exotic and b) noble. Both of these together makes them irresistible for the western audience.

 

[Berethond]

I'm no weaboo but I did know that... However the trade off was the extreme sharpness found on a quality blade (which can take like 8 months to produce i've heard). Also the nature of the blade combined with good technique meant the user didn't often need to carry a heavy shield to parry blows with... And don't forget, Samurai's didn't have to fight guys with western broadswords either...

Well, not quite. First off, the katana was never really a combat weapon. They had spears and bows for that, and even the naginata. Naginatae. Naginatas. Whatever. The reason they didn't use shields is because all of those weapons (Bow, spears, naginata, katana) take two hands to operate. Also, the edge on a katana is not significantly better than a sword made by any other swordsmith anywhere else in the world.

Furthermore, blocking edge-on-edge with any bladed weapon is a terrible idea, as it weakens any blade.

Even furthermore, the Celts used a swordsmithing process virtually identical to the feudal Japanese one about 2000 years before the Japanese did. They found a better way to forge their swords, however.

Not to... turn this into another medieval weapons thread, but the real reason why the katana was any sharper than another blade was due to the curve itself, not from practices that were used to craft it (though, if I recall correctly, the curve was a manifestation of the forging techniques used by the Japanese).

All that said, a western blade can and will do more to a person than a katana will. Hell, even Chinese weaponry was better for melee combat than a typical katana.

The entirety of the wank that exists for the katana comes from the association of it to the samurai, an eastern equivalent to the perceived chivalry of the west. This makes them both a) exotic and b) noble. Both of these together makes them irresistible for the western audience.

The curve doesn't make the blade itself sharper, it makes it more effective for cutting. For much the same reason a butcher's knife is curved.

People taking about katanas makes this one ranty, I'm afraid.

 

[Naheal]

I'm no weaboo but I did know that... However the trade off was the extreme sharpness found on a quality blade (which can take like 8 months to produce i've heard). Also the nature of the blade combined with good technique meant the user didn't often need to carry a heavy shield to parry blows with... And don't forget, Samurai's didn't have to fight guys with western broadswords either...

Well, not quite. First off, the katana was never really a combat weapon. They had spears and bows for that, and even the naginata. Naginatae. Naginatas. Whatever. The reason they didn't use shields is because all of those weapons (Bow, spears, naginata, katana) take two hands to operate. Also, the edge on a katana is not significantly better than a sword made by any other swordsmith anywhere else in the world.

Furthermore, blocking edge-on-edge with any bladed weapon is a terrible idea, as it weakens any blade.

Even furthermore, the Celts used a swordsmithing process virtually identical to the feudal Japanese one about 2000 years before the Japanese did. They found a better way to forge their swords, however.

Not to... turn this into another medieval weapons thread, but the real reason why the katana was any sharper than another blade was due to the curve itself, not from practices that were used to craft it (though, if I recall correctly, the curve was a manifestation of the forging techniques used by the Japanese).

All that said, a western blade can and will do more to a person than a katana will. Hell, even Chinese weaponry was better for melee combat than a typical katana.

The entirety of the wank that exists for the katana comes from the association of it to the samurai, an eastern equivalent to the perceived chivalry of the west. This makes them both a) exotic and b) noble. Both of these together makes them irresistible for the western audience.

The curve doesn't make the blade itself sharper, it makes it more effective for cutting. For much the same reason a butcher's knife is curved.

People taking about katanas makes this one ranty, I'm afraid.

Given. If anything, I'm surprised that the obsession isn't over something like a Damascus steel blade rather than a katana.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Well, not quite. First off, the katana was never really a combat weapon. They had spears and bows for that, and even the naginata. Naginatae. Naginatas. Whatever. The reason they didn't use shields is because all of those weapons (Bow, spears, naginata, katana) take two hands to operate. Also, the edge on a katana is not significantly better than a sword made by any other swordsmith anywhere else in the world.

Furthermore, blocking edge-on-edge with any bladed weapon is a terrible idea, as it weakens any blade.

Even furthermore, the Celts used a swordsmithing process virtually identical to the feudal Japanese one about 2000 years before the Japanese did. They found a better way to forge their swords, however.

Well I can't pretend to be a sword expert or anything just watched an interesting documentry on traditional Katana blade forging a few years ago. It followed some old dude who literally spends days on end watching a furnace grow to *just* the right temperature (no thermometer) before he starts folding the blade... Thing was beautiful when it was finished.

Pretty sure I saw that thing slicing through whole pigs when he was done...

And I didin't mean edge to edge blocking, that would be stupid. I think the doc said something about the way the metal remains relatively malleable at the back which allows it so parry blows using the back or side of the blade.

 

[Naheal]

Pretty sure I saw that thing slicing through whole pigs when he was done...

A claymore can do that.

 

[Berethond]

Pretty sure I saw that thing slicing through whole pigs when he was done...

A claymore can do that.

A stick could do that if you hit it hard enough.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Pretty sure I saw that thing slicing through whole pigs when he was done...

A claymore can do that.

I dunno man, I've got a claymore and I work with pigs (true story)... Pigs are pretty damn tough.

Can't imagine using it for much else though, 'tis a silly sword...

 

[Naheal]

Pretty sure I saw that thing slicing through whole pigs when he was done...

A claymore can do that.

I dunno man, I've got a claymore and I work with pigs (true story)... Pigs are pretty damn tough.

Can't imagine using it for much else though, 'tis a silly sword...

Either your claymore isn't battle ready or you aren't trained to use it. It isn't just the blade that does the damage with a sword. It's also the weight behind it.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Either your claymore isn't battle ready or you aren't trained to use it. It isn't just the blade that does the damage with a sword. It's also the weight behind it.

That would be an negative to both. I'm a pretty big dude and I guess I am capable of wielding it properly but I think this boils down to the size of the pig. I'm not talking the kind you see on mythbusters, I mean the big 600lb+ bastards. If I had to pick, I'd go for the Katana to get through it quickest.

Wouldn't pick either in a swordfight though...

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

I know how to say

Hello (konnichiwa)

How are you (Genkidesu ka)

And a few other misc words from the occasional watching of undubbed anime.

 

[[.redacted]]

I really want to learn some of it, or to be able to use bits of it woven amongst other English words without sounding stupid (an impossible take, I realise).

But I have this nagging fear that if I were to learn how Japanese should sound, even the Japanese voice actors would butcher the lines like the English dub actors xD

Trust me, when you're learning a new language and bordering on fluency, weaving it in with whatever language that you're wanting to speak is not only going to happen without you realizing it, but it'll get irritating quick.

I know, from speaking French, and to some extent Latin.

I'm just not sure quite how much I want to be able to speak Japanese, and if I was to learn to speak it - I would have to do so in secret...

 

[SturmDolch]

[DISCLAIMER: Before anyone screams "weaboo!!!1" or "wapanese" or anything like that, I am NOT obsessed by Japan and all things Japanese. I am NOT that big on anime (I used to watch DBZ, but no other anime or manga to date), I DON'T think Pokki/bento boxes/chopsticks/Hello Kitty/etc. are the best inventions ever, and I NEVER EVER say "kawaii desuuuuuu!!" while making the peace sign. I have just developed an interest recently of Japanese language (mostly just the language) and some of their culture.]

Thank god. I have a friend learning it because JAPAN IS MEGA KAKKOII!

I don't know any Japanese other than the random exclamations of him, which include kakkoii, kawaii, kauwi (scary? wrong spelling I'm sure), moshi moshi, domo arigato Mr. Roboto, onigashimas, and sodeska.

I think it's always a great idea to learn a language. You never know when it will be useful. I speak fluent German, English (obviously), and some French and Spanish. I need to learn Cantonese from my girlfriend and I've always been curious about Swedish and Finnish. Languages are fun. My best memories from a High School class are from Spanish.

Have fun, and good luck to you!

(Reads the disclaimer and chooses to disregard it as a load of bullshit)

Only weaboos or people within a pretty narrow niche of bussiness have any reason to learn japanese.

Or you find learning languages fun. It's a hobby. Some people have different hobbies than you. And I really don't understand the viking tangent you went on.