Friday, August 04, 2006

Some ideas to think about this weekend...

Recently, I've been trying to make a list of the things that bother me about 日本語. The things I've learned; the things I skimmed over; the things I never completely understood. I'm sure you know what I mean, and I'm sure you've got a similar list of things that get your goat, buried somewhere in your mind.
What I'd like us to do with this site is to compile one giant list --and to use that list to try and get a better handle on these things that trouble us.
So, if you could take five or ten minutes to just jot down a few things that have been nagging you about 日本語, please write them in the comments section this weekend or whenever you have the chance. And from that list, we'll maximize this site's potential.
Below is my list.

-What is the difference in usage between やっと, とうとう、and 結局?
-How do you properly use という in a sentence?
-What are the various usages of もの and こと in terms of grammar patterns?
-Are aimai na kotoba necessary for fluency?
-Using 気が~ and 気を~ phrases.
-決まり文句
-Using the passive correctly.
-Gitaigo and Giongo exercises and common words.
-Keigo and Kenjougo exercises.

That's my ten minute list. Let's see yours.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The problem that vexes me most is knowing instinctually when I have to make the topic clear using the Beginning Japanese "私は".

Long phrases that use も are also a problem for me since I can't tell if that も is taking the place of a は、が、 or を.

Anonymous said...

I can't think of anything to add right now (most of what's been raised I have problems with) but for me comprehension and usage are two really different things. For all this grammar we learn for JLPT2, I'm always wondering when and by whom it's actually used! Japanese friends all give contradictory answers as I'm sure you know...

Oh an by the way, does anyone have the book "Nihongo"? I don't and it's not in print, but it has an amazing section on all the 気 phrases, like all of them.

Anonymous said...

I didn't think 2q grammar was going to be useful until I learned it half via flashcards and half via those history manga you can buy in almost any bookstore. It's somewhat less true of 1q grammar, but after you learn a particular grammar point you start noticing more and more that the people around you have been using it all along. Either that or it appears in more academic works, which makes them sound esoteric but I find fun, especially for the aforementioned history manga.

Unknown said...

What futureal said :-P

The interesting thing about the passive for me is that *AFTER* I really let it sink in for a while the passive has started just appearing in my speech - most of it is immitation - some of it is actually thought out.

The things that you become aware of after learning a conversation pattern, kanji, etc are amazing!

jljzen88 said...

I totally agree. When I first learned the passive, I rarely used it. These days, I've noticed how it has slowly creeped into my everyday conversation. Same with the causative.

Anonymous said...

looks like a good list. passive and (i forget the name in English) is it causative? things like 見せる、食わせる、読ませるとか

are a pain for me too.