Newbie at Japanese

[steven]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Well, he might see those if he ventures into text written in vernacular. へぇ〜 and such. But point well made.

Also, good finds on the きゃきゅきょ stuff. We do say "y'all" in Texas, but we don't say "think y'all crazy," but rather "think y'all're crazy." But it still works!

"You'd better check yoself before you wreck yoself."

But intra-word I don't think we have them. When I say "Tokyo" with the Japanese きょ while speaking English, it just feels awkward, like I'm slipping out of English. Like if I say "jalapeño" in English but with the unaspirated-p as in Spanish, it feels as if I've slipped out of English. Slightly unnatural.

But point well made.

Haha, don't get me wrong. We are on the same page here. I agree with what you're saying about those わぁ/へぇ type phrases.

Yea, you're right about the "intra-word" thing. I think that's probably a huge part of it.

Living in Japan, I forget about how Americans say certain Japanese words. Just recently I've made a point of saying Japanese words the American way when speaking English as to not sound like a dork. The "jalepeno" thing is a good example!

I remember growing up thinking that people who spoke foreign words in English with the "true" accents of the words were kinda... (I'll let your imagination choose the adjective). Unfortunately I've become one of those people .

Shinjon, if you have audio clips of how to say those sounds, focus on those.

If you're not understanding what we're talking about, I'll try to put it simply. There is a difference between きよ and きょ, but native English speakers have a hard time hearing that difference. For words that include きょ, they say きよ instead for some reason. So just make sure that you don't become one of those people that messes that up! I think if you do a lot of listening (and recording of your own voice), you'll be fine. I wish I had that kind of recording software/equipment when I first started studying. Nowdays you can get a cheap computer mic and use some free recording software and have a field day as far as language practice goes. Give it a shot if you have the time/means.

[mira]

Originally Posted by ShinJon

Now I am getting confused about the way of saying these words and the hiraganas that you are explaining. Sorry ): I'll have to reread and understand it

I'm sorry I know it can be really confusing but I promise you will get it! What are you confused about?

[ShinJon]

Well I have to go and find the recording software so I can hear myself speaking compared to a native Japanese speaker

Know any software that gives free recording?

[ShinJon]

Mira, I just am confused about the rules of the small size hiragana and the large ones like how I can know when to use them and say them correctly

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by ShinJon

Mira, I just am confused about the rules of the small size hiragana and the large ones like how I can know when to use them and say them correctly

Right now, only worry about four small hiragana: ゃゅょっ. Don't worry about ぁぃぅぇぉ for another couple years.

In any case, っ "doubles the next consonant"
ゃょゅ come after ちきしりにひびぴぎじぢみ (all the ~i sounds) to make a cha kya sha rya nya hya bya pya ja mya sound or whatever. Without the little sizing, they would be chiya, kiya, shiya riya niya hiya biya piya jiya miya or whatever.

[ShinJon]

But those small ones are the one i have to memorize first before studying the a o e u i the one you just mentioned after the small?





Ignore the top, I think I am getting to understand what you are trying to tell me here. You mean these words that has a Large hiragana along with small hiragana such as ゃょゅ that I have to look at for now?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by ShinJon

Well I have to go and find the recording software so I can hear myself speaking compared to a native Japanese speaker

Know any software that gives free recording?

I am not sure what you are trying to do.

I have been speaking Japanese (at some level) for nearly 20 years. I am sure I have an accent, and have never thought to compare my voice with a native Japanese speaker's.

Originally Posted by ShinJon

But those small ones are the one i have to memorize first before studying the a o e u i the one you just mentioned after the small?

I see the path you are going down. You need a formal study plan. You are going to confuse yourself into frustration and giving up.

[ShinJon]

Well would it be the best if I just study the symbols of hiragana you know, starting from A I O U E, then move on to Ka-Ke until I can remember these symbols before moving on to studying more hirgana that contains more strokes to look at?

[BakaTensei]

Originally Posted by ShinJon

Well I have to go and find the recording software so I can hear myself speaking compared to a native Japanese speaker

Know any software that gives free recording?

audacity is free to download, but I wouldnt compare your voice to a native speaker...just record yourself to make sure you dont fall into any nasty pronoucation habbits

[steven]

Originally Posted by MMM

I am not sure what you are trying to do.

I have been speaking Japanese (at some level) for nearly 20 years. I am sure I have an accent, and have never thought to compare my voice with a native Japanese speaker's.

I see the path you are going down. You need a formal study plan. You are going to confuse yourself into frustration and giving up.

It was my idea, actually. I agree with what Bakatensai said.

Trying to mimic a native speaker would be discouraging, but you need something for a base.

Save straight up mimicing for later on down the road. It will help your ryhthm and intonation. It sounds like i'm talking about music, and in a sense, I am.

The part of your post that I bolded (MMM) is a good point. To be honest though, most people give up after their second year of college Japanese from what I've seen. I think with any language (or studying anything for that matter) you're gonna get overwhelmed at points. It's learning how to get past those times that is important. Dealing with it right from the start doesn't seem right though.