What's the best way to learn Japanese, if you don't care about being able to write it? [more inside]
posted by Mwongozi on Aug 30, 2009 - 18 answers

Of all the web applications, Nintendo DS games, iphone/ipod touch apps, and other technology-based methods available for learning Japanese Kanji, what do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by Vorteks on Apr 23, 2009 - 9 answers

I'm kicking around a concept for a theoretical piece I hope to work on in the near future, dealing with the way "femininity" and the "female" category are conceived of linguistically. Help me find some empirical data! [more inside]
posted by parkbench on Mar 24, 2009 - 24 answers

I'd like to learn Japanese and I'm looking for book recommendations, especially for someone who can read Chinese. [more inside]
posted by pravit on Mar 21, 2009 - 12 answers

Why does French suck? [more inside]
posted by malapropist on Feb 18, 2009 - 64 answers

Looking for academic lectures in Japanese freely available on the web [more inside]
posted by kinakomochi on Feb 17, 2009 - 3 answers

Drunken Japanese Filter: I just got home to find my JLPT test results. I took level two of the Japanese language test for the second time, two years after the first go-round, and got 41%. Should I just give up? If not, what the f can I do? [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah on Feb 14, 2009 - 21 answers

How do you get a foothold when trying to learn a non indo-european language? [more inside]
posted by empath on Jan 8, 2009 - 14 answers

Help me learn Japanese via its music! [more inside]
posted by molybdenum on Jan 7, 2009 - 9 answers

How is fureai pronounced?
posted by coizero on Sep 10, 2008 - 11 answers

Are there any layman-accessible, English-language books or (less preferably) websites on Japanese etymology or the development of Japanese? [more inside]
posted by Citizen Premier on Aug 30, 2008 - 6 answers

I am looking for interesting uses of the prefix 'mu' (無) in Japanese. I want to find an example of mu's general use that attains to its meaning as -less or an absence of. The example I have currently, 無線 'musen' meaning 'wireless', is a little boring. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Aug 8, 2008 - 14 answers

Where can I buy the Japanese version and a Chinese version of Microsoft Vista Business online for use in the United States? Media and license. [more inside]
posted by schnee on May 1, 2008 - 4 answers

I remember finding a link off AskMe for a young guy who taught himself Japanese through immersion at home, got a job in Japan, tried the same thing with Chinese? Does anyone remember this? Have a link?
posted by whitewall on Jan 24, 2008 - 3 answers

How can I get Japanese characters to show up on webpages, rather than those less-than-helpful little boxes? [more inside]
posted by santojulieta on Dec 27, 2007 - 5 answers

What do you know about the Japanese word/concept of 'Ma'? I know it denotes the negative space between objects and it relates closely to the similarly used Japanese word 'Mu'. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Dec 27, 2007 - 15 answers

I'd like to teach myself some various languages. Help me find some resources for Spanish and Japanese. [more inside]
posted by santojulieta on Dec 19, 2007 - 21 answers

LostintranslationFilter: "Hang on to your grandmas!" [more inside]
posted by dondiego87 on Dec 18, 2007 - 11 answers

How do I format the citation information for this Japanese journal article? I've found a journal article that I want to cite in a paper, but I can't determine the journal's name. The index page seems to claim the journal title is "Suikei Kozo to Ryuiki Dotai ni Motozuku Mizu, Dosha Ryushutsu Kiko to Saigai Kankyo ni kansuru Kenkyu Heisei", which seems too long and also appears to not translate (so I can't figure out if it's shortenable). [more inside]
posted by lostburner on Dec 4, 2007 - 9 answers

Guides for Learning Japanese Particles [more inside]
posted by Julnyes on Nov 6, 2007 - 9 answers

I'd like to read some blogs and websites in Japanese. [more inside]
posted by dead_ on Oct 23, 2007 - 3 answers

Languagefilter: does anyone know the Japanese words (if there are particular words) for great-aunt and great-grandmother? All of my dictionaries have left me in the lurch, and I don't trust Babelfish.
posted by chihiro on Oct 12, 2007 - 10 answers

How is the English language regarded in Japanese culture? [more inside]
posted by ibmcginty on Aug 25, 2007 - 16 answers

Has anyone taken the language courses offered by the Japan Society in New York? [more inside]
posted by Julnyes on Jul 17, 2007 - 8 answers

JapaneseLanguageFilter: I am looking for good practice reading materials that are a happy medium. [more inside]
posted by ikahime on Jun 10, 2007 - 9 answers

What language should I study? [more inside]
posted by ad4pt on May 7, 2007 - 25 answers

Japanese language filter: I need help utilizing Jim Breen's WWWJDIC or failing that: I am looking for a Japanese word frequency list. [more inside]
posted by Infernarl on Apr 10, 2007 - 4 answers

I'm looking for some ideas to effectively use the Genki 1 textbook to start teaching myself Japanese. [more inside]
posted by badger11 on Dec 13, 2006 - 6 answers

Why the random English words used in asian language programming? [more inside]
posted by twiggy on Nov 16, 2006 - 12 answers

PolyglotFilter: I'm looking for multiple blogs to practice several languages. [more inside]
posted by Lockeownzj00 on Oct 8, 2006 - 3 answers

Are there any JLPT prep books that are filled with short, interesting stories that make extensive use of the kanji/grammar for whatever level you are studying? [more inside]
posted by GooseOnTheLoose on Oct 2, 2006 - 2 answers

What are some recommendations for Japanese language schools, especially for conversation, in Tokyo? [more inside]
posted by Ookseer on Aug 23, 2006 - 2 answers

How would I find a Japanese language "camp" or intensive school in the greater New York metro area? [more inside]
posted by Ekim Neems on Jun 29, 2006 - 9 answers

What are the best Japanese language schools in Tokyo? [more inside]
posted by dead_ on Jan 18, 2006 - 1 answer

I'd like to learn Japanese... writing, reading, speaking, listening. As quickly, comprehensively, and correctly as possible. [more inside]
posted by mhuckaba on Nov 17, 2005 - 24 answers

Recommendations for workbooks on building Japanese vocabulary? [more inside]
posted by NemesisVex on Oct 5, 2005 - 3 answers

Does anyone have Japanese pen pals while they don't speak Japanese? [more inside]
posted by curbstop on Sep 25, 2005 - 5 answers

I want to learn Japanese, specifically to read it, preferably quickly. [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin on Aug 9, 2005 - 16 answers

There is a japanese word, used frequently in factories, that means roughly "bucket" or "container" or "processing bin." I think it begins with a "k" although I could be wrong. Does anyone have any idea what it is?
posted by jaanpehechaanho on May 5, 2005 - 11 answers

I'm in process of learning Japanese, and wondered if anyone had ever heard of a course of teaching through anime (something like the spanish teaching series Destinos. I've seen Japanese through Comics and another japanese grammar through manga, but those seem to be more advanced. I do have other books that I'm using - the Pimsler set and Japanese for Busy People but I thought it might be fun to watch something as well as to practice comprehension. I do realize that the vocabulary in most anime is likely to be of questionable use in real life. Regrettably, "Quick! We must use the time machine to defeat the space pirates!" seldom comes up in my conversation.
posted by korej on Apr 26, 2005 - 12 answers

I'm looking for Japanese language study materials to put on my iPod. [more inside]
posted by jeffmshaw on Mar 24, 2005 - 10 answers

For those of you fluent in Japanese, I'd like to hear your best advice on the subject. I've studied for about 4 years, and have been living in Japan for nearly a year, but despite this, achieving true "fluency" still seems like an insurmountable task. Although I am conversationally fluent, at times I become incredibly frustrated. How long do you think it takes to become fluent? And now for the oh-so-impossible question: what should I do to speed up the process? Advice, experiences, suggestions would be welcome from any students of foreign language.
posted by dead_ on Feb 13, 2005 - 9 answers

I think I'm learning Japanese, I really think so... How do I proceed? [more inside]
posted by jpoulos on Jul 13, 2004 - 14 answers

Help! I have less than one week to memorize a 5-minute speech for a contest--in Japanese. Most of what I can find on Google tells me not to bother with memorization, but the contest rules say I have to have it memorized verbatim. I have about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes memorized so far, but they're not solid yet. Does anyone have some tips for memorization?
posted by Jeanne on Mar 7, 2004 - 17 answers

Is there a good free way to begin to learn to speak japanese?
posted by drezdn on Jan 28, 2004 - 12 answers

I've been studying Japanese at a college level for three years now and I think I have an intermediate knowledge of the language, sentence pattern and grammar wise, and an OK vocabulary, considering I don't speak it everyday. Aside from actually living in Japan, which isn't an option right now due to college and work commitments, what is the best way to learn Japanese, especially reading and writing Kanji? [more inside]
posted by SweetJesus on Dec 11, 2003 - 15 answers