Monday, June 10, 2013

We're Going Bilingual! バイリンガルブログにしよう!

                                 






         We're Going Bilingual!
                   バイリンガルブログにしよう!     




Hello people of cyberspace, how goes it ?(I really need to stop trying to come up with witty entrances for my blog entries, don’t I…)
Well, I’ve been thinking about my blog audience (or lack thereof, there are only about 6 of you) and I have decided to broaden its horizons by making it bilingual! That’s right, so now all my posts will be in two languages. (Of course not literally, as a lot of my English terminology and writing style makes exact translations almost impossible.) The reason is that I have a huge portion of my YouTube viewers who are Japanese, or are interested in seeing my rambling blog entries in both languages. So the decision has been made by the majority, in a sense.
So from now on expect to see things in two languages!


インタネットの皆さん、元気ですか。(ブログを始めると「こんにちは」より面白い挨拶にしたいけど、何にしようかわからない。)アビーです。最近どうやってもっと多くの人にブログを読ませることができるのかなと思っていて、一つのことを気づきました。私のブログは今まで英語だけですね。私のYouTubeの動画を見てくれている人の半分は日本人なので、ちょっと不便利ですね。そして、このブログを読んで勉強したい人もたくさんいると思います。だから、これからバイリンガルのブログにしようと思っています。日本語でも英語でもブログを書きます。(まあ、文字通りの翻訳はちょっと無理ですね。日本語の力は英語の単語ほど足りないからです。でも、頑張ります。だから、決まりました。今日からこれはバイリンガルのブログです!


As promised my blog is going to be more structured from now on, talking about once a month about my language learning journey, fun stuff in my life, etcetera. Today’s topic is going to be related to Japanese casual language and slang. There are lots of phrases and constructions that fit into this category.  I’ll introduce some of my favorites and the ones I find most interesting.
前のブログ投稿に約束した通りに、毎月ブログを書いて日本語の勉強とか最近あったことについて書きたいです。今回のブログは、日本語のため口言葉とか日常会話について話したいと思います。丁寧語じゃなくて、友達としゃべる時に使う日本語。一番お気に入りの表現と文法を紹介します。

1)   〜ている changes to てる. This may be a little confusing for some of you who haven’t studied Japanese grammar in depth, but let me just summarize. The ~ing verb form, like “eating” “drinking” etcetera in Japanese is conveyed with the “te iru” form. The te form of a verb plus iru/imasu. In casual conversation, often the “I” in “iru/imasu” comes off, and you are left with “teru” on the end instead of “te iru”.
For example: 食べている (Tabete iru- eating) becomes 食べてる (Tabeteru), which is a less formal and more conversational contraction. It’s not really a formality thing, because you can do the same thing by changing “te imasu” to ‘temasu” like “tabetemasu”, but rather it’s a convenience thing, as when you are speaking fast it becomes rather a hassle to separate the “te” and the “iru”. I love this contraction, I use it almost as much as the English “can’t” instead of “cannot”.

2)   何、これ? (nani, kore?) this phrase is interesting simply because of the grammatical flip it does. Most people learn the traditional phrase これは何ですか (kore wa nan desu ka?) for “what is this?”, but countless times in shows, texts, and casual conversations between friends this “nani, kore” appears and confuses many learners. Putting the question word first, then a comma, and then the subject is a casual way of stating the same thing. It is actually easy to remember because it is the same order as the English question with the question word ‘what’ coming before the subject ‘this’, but for people who have drilled Japanese sentence order into their heads, it may confuse them momentarily. Literally they are saying “what is it, this thing?” as if to point at the object in question with the ‘kore’ at the end. You can see this casually in other questions too.
あの人は誰ですか?(Ano hito wa dare desu ka? (who is that person?) becomes 誰、あの人?“dare, ano hito?”, which has the same meaning but is more casual and conversational than the former.
それはどういう意味ですか (sore wa dou iu imi desu ka?- what is the meaning of that?) can become どういう意味、それ? (dou iu imi, sore?) It is a phenomenon that should be simple but baffles many a non-native speaker.
3)〜てくれ!The te form plus “kure” forms a sort of command that could be polite, but isn’t. It comes from “te form verb + kureru?” which means “would you do me the favor of __ing?” or “would you do this for me?” For example “katte kureru?” (would you buy it for me?)
If you remove the ‘ru” and make it a statement with an exclamation point on the end, it becomes a rather demanding and less polite statement often used by children, or jokingly between friends where it is okay to be casual.
Examples:
黙ってくれ!Damatte kure! (Shut up, would you?)
ほっといてくれ!Hottoite kure! (Do me a favor and leave me alone.)
お母さん、お菓子買ってくれ Okaasan, okashi katte kure (Mom, buy me candy)
This is a great example of taking a verb that is used for politeness and turning it into a less polite form.

4)「知らん」 (shiran) and「わからん(wakaran)
These are crude/casual forms of “shiranai” (I don’t know) and “wakaranai” (I don’t understand). Often said in a tone full of attitude or a tone of not caring, these phrases are the perfect aloof mix of “I don’t give a shit” and “how should I know?” When you are just saying “wakaranai”, unless you make your tone different it could just mean that you don’t know. Shiran and wakaran are more casual contractions, and are often uttered with disdain, like “I wouldn’t know/ I don’t care/ Go bother someone else.” This is more the case with “shiran.” “wakaran” is more often just “I dunno/I don’t get it…” with an air that shows that you really aren’t that troubled. However if yelled emphatically at your homework, it can express “God, I just don’t GET this!” It’s all in the tone, but either way these casual phrases can add spice to your statement.

5) 「別に」Betsu ni” is a phrase that just basically contradicts a statement. It means literally “separately” or “on the contrary”, but when used in response to a question like “is there something wrong?” or “do you mind?” it can mean “no, actually quite the opposite.”
「別に良いよ」”betsu ni ii yo” usually means “no really, actually I don’t mind” in response to someone’s question like “are you sure you don’t mind if I go hang out with Kenji over there? You won’t be lonely by yourself?” That was actually a quote from an anime I watched. It can also be said in kind of a mysterious tone in response to “are you thinking about something?” You could reply “betsu ni” in a slightly haughty manner to show that that person is NOT getting to know what you were thinking about. It can also be mysterious or hiding something like “Do you know anything about my surprise party?” “iie, betsu ni…” Or it can be used to brush someone off in annoyance. “Is there something wrong?” “betsu ni…” It can convey all sorts of emotions, but in general it just contradicts the person’s statement.

So there you go! Those are my favorite phrases lately. I feel like if you use them, you sound more fluent. So feel free to use them! Thanks for reading my blog again! Sorry it took so long between updates as usual. I’ll try to be better about that.
じゃ、今日のブログはこれで。日本語の学習者の皆さん、勉強になりましたか?最近のお気に入りため口の日本語です。使いこなせるなら、もっと日本人のように聞こえると思いますから、ぜひ使ってみてください。でも、ため口だから、気をつけてください。友達と自分より若い人と話すと使えます。いつも読んでくれている皆さんにありがとうございます。久しぶりに投稿しなくてごめんなさい。これからもっとはやく投稿したいです。
それじゃ、またね!

Talk to you guys soon! Bye
バイバイ



Saturday, May 4, 2013

New Beginnings (新しい始まり)


New Beginnings
新しい始まり
새로운 시작


Hello World, it’s Abby here. I’m practically dying of shame here, as I haven’t updated my blog in way too long. I wanted to write about something every week, but so much stuff has been going on that I felt overwhelmed and ended up not writing about anything at all. From now on I promise to do one of these at least once a month! ^^ I also decided, that instead of just jabbering on about my life, I would blog about specific topics, like my language journey and different Japan related things. For example, I want to talk about the differences between the different cultural foods, and the differences between how people express feelings in both, the way Americans feel about Japanese culture, my experiences with it, etcetera. Just different stuff that interests me. I don’t just want to go on and on about my life updates all the time, that would bore everyone to death. But since so much has happened, this blog will be devoted to catching you guys up on things… So bear with me. This is kind of important. The last couple months have been full of endings and beginnings.

First of all, it was my 14th birthday on April 9th. That’s right, I’m no longer 13. I SURVIVED!! LOL
No really, I was kind of relieved. I went to 3 Japanese restaurants within the course of a week. My family knows how I like to celebrate ^^. We got sushi and sashimi and ramen. One of the restaurants had waitresses working there who were actually Japanese, so I got to have a linguistic ordering experience as well. I think it went well, because I got the correct food and the waitress seemed to understand everything. I also went to get my ears pierced, and my hair cut. So I have a completely new look. Bangs and double ear piercings. A new look for a new year!

Second of all, I applied to a high school nearby to start 9th grade next year, and I got in!! It is a really great school- they offer 6 languages and international bacchelaureate programs as well as great academics all around. I went and toured there, and the people seem lovely. I can’t wait to start! I was originally planning on finishing Junior High in my school, but since I got this opportunity I’ve turned Junior High into Middle school! I only had to do 7th and 8th grade, and then my high school career begins.

Speaking of which, 8th grade is almost coming to a close. One more month!! Final exams and stuff aside, I can’t wait. 8th grade hasn’t been completely terrible, but it has been stressful. Due to some friend-related drama, my social life wasn’t really a highlight, but since that time I have regained some lost friendships and made new friends as well. I have learned that teenagers can be horrible human beings, and that no one in their right mind survives 8th grade without losing a few people to the hands of popularity and malice. I also had my first boyfriend. We recently broke up, due to several reasons involving the fact that we will both be going to different schools, and we weren’t really interested in the same things or the same kind of relationship. But we had a great time while it lasted. So while this is bittersweet, I am glad to have a new beginning there. I will be keeping in touch with my middle school friends, and although I will be sad to have to leave them, Central High School presents great opportunities I can’t turn down. So lots of happy and sad things in store for leaving Maple Grove Junior. I’m just glad this is happening more than anything else.

Oh yeah, summer! Summer is coming up faster than I can handle… But I am so pumped for Japanese camp. Mori no Ike, I’m coming home!!! ^^ I love that place. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones, and of course learning lots and lots of 日本語.  After 2 weeks of Mori no Ike, I will be doing Penumbra Theatre acting camp again for 4 weeks, although it is day camp, so I will still have time for other things on weekends and after hours. Busy busy busy! We’re writing monologues this year.

And… I’m doing Korean. My Korean study has progressed amazingly in the past 6 months- I can now actually speak in sentences and convey things that I never thought I would be able to. This is partially due to the fact that my K-pop/K-drama obsession has become slightly… more of an obsession than it already was ^^;  한국 문화 사랑 해요 ~

My plans for the future year involve high school amazingness, more Korean studying, studying to take the Japanese Language Proficiency test, and lots and lots of YouTube videos.

So that’s what’s up with me!
Next blog will have a more fun/interesting topic. I promise. ^^

P.S. If you haven’t checked out my forum website for Japanese learners, that is
www.japanese.freeforums.org/
Thanks!

See ya Later!
じゃ、またね。
안녕!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

ANNOUNCEMENT! お知らせ

Hey guys, I'm going to apologize in advance for the awfully boring format of this blog post, being all text and all. But I have a very important announcement. My friend Anna and I (http://www.littlegaijin.net)  have been practicing Japanese together and have been friends for a while now. She first "met" me in a sense on YouTube when I began learning Japanese, and has been my senpai ever since, although now our Japanese is closer in level :P (and she's older than me, so she's still kind of my senpai... :D) Anyway, she and I have an announcement.
WE MADE A FORUM! What kind of forum specifically? Well, a forum for people learning Japanese. You can join and use the forum for completely free at http://japanese.freeforums.org/
We just started the forum so we only have three members. Anna is Admin of the forum, and I am a global moderater, basically her partner for the forum. Together we run the forum to help people learning Japanese, such as topics and discussions on Japanese culture, and a place for you to ask questions about Japanese, and even a discussion room where you're only allowed to speak Japanese so you can practice! You can make other internet friends who are studying Japanese and ask Anna and I questions so we can help you too :)
Right now though, the forum is set up but it isn't doing much because we don't have many members. So if you are interested, please help support us and our new forum by joining at http://japanese.freeforums.org/

My username there is MidoriAbby, and our admin Anna is of course "littlegaijin".
See you all on the forum!

Thanks for reading,
Abby

Friday, January 4, 2013

Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとう


オッス、みんな!アッビです。
Hey, What’s up my faithful readers of this galaxy and beyond, how is your life? (I get bored with boring blog beginnings, okay...) This is Midori/Abby, signing on for another blog update.
I know I haven’t posted a blog in like half a century, so you guys might have given up on me and gone off to go watch YouTube videos or be Tumblr addicts or Tweet about your current location…I don’t know what you do in your spare time. But anyway, I’m back, so that’s the important thing!
Who even reads this blog anyway? Like, are there actually people listening to me, a random teenage Japanophile, go on about life and Japan and my unaverage life in America and learning Japanese and stuff? I know there are a few of you, so I thank you for tuning in and I promise not to disappoint you. :D
           Updates From My Life (A.K.A My lame excuses for not posting):
-I just got back from the wild land of Maine, where I was visiting my family for Christmas. I was not eaten alive by my relatives, although there were some close calls, so there is no need to worry! We did have a white Christmas there, which was very lovely。

-Midterms are coming up, which means I am doing a lot less procrastinating than usual, and my grades are looking pretty good. We’re reading this huge book in English called the Grapes of Wrath, by the same author of that one book about mice, and I have to do an essay on it.

-There was Christmas, and I got lots of amazing things from my relatives, because that’s what relatives do. <3
I got a purple dress coat, the whole season collection of Fruits Basket, which I have already finished completely, some new pajamas, another Japanese music CD, a Taylor Swift CD and a calendar. But the best present of all was probably a duffel bag with wheels. You may ask “Why in the name of heaven is THAT your best Christmas present, Midori-chan?” Well, if you were with me at Mori No Ike (summer camp) last year, you will know exactly why. I had an unfortunate incident with my old duffel when I was extracting it from the bottom of the luggage pile, which involved me dropping it on my unfortunate camp counselor, who was then kind enough to help me with it. (Arigatou, Ryou-sensei!) I’m not even sure he remembers that, but I am still humiliated about it to this day. When I got home I complained that I needed a better one, and figured I would just have to live with it. But my Dad took it into his consideration to buy me a new one with wheels that is easier to maneuver in order to save me further humiliation.
  The whole duffel story is kind of a joke between me and anyone who knows about it, so it was a great gift.  






Oh wait, I can’t believe I almost forgot….
HAPPY NEW YEAR~
And to my readers familiar with 日本語、I would like to say
明けましておめでとうございます。
今年もよろしくお願いします〜

Yatto nisenjuusan nen desu yo!! It’s finally 2013! We survived 2012, against the odds.
Everybody had really, really pretty fireworks displays all over the world, I watched them on YouTube after I finished with the usual one in Time’s Square. Some of my favorites besides USA and 日本(Japan) included Dubai, where the world’s largest tower was lit up tier by tier with pyrotechnics, and London, which was just a spectacular show. China as usual was a spectacle as well, and Seoul, South Korea had this really neat gong/drum thing that I would really like to learn how to play someday. People in my own neck of the woods decided that it would be nice to shoot off their own displays long into the night… 0.o’ 

London Fireworks
     

Dubai

So of course, like everybody else, I have made some New Years Resolutions, sort of. I actually didn’t think of them until last minute, but they still count.
1)                      Improve my YouTube channel. This will involve remaking some Japanese lessons and making lessons frequently and taking lots of suggestions from you guys. By the way, did you know that there’s almost 1000 of you? That’s right, my subscriber count is going to hit 1K soon, and I am majorly psyched. 登録してくれてどうもありがとうございます〜

2)                      Write a novel. I don’t know, I just feel like doing this. If I could at least get a good start on one, it would make me happy. I wrote one in 5th grade, but I want to see how my writing style has changed, and plus I feel like it will keep my English up to par with my Japanese (lol). The more I study Japanese, the more my English deteriorates. Soon I’ll need to go to English camp!

3)                      Make more friends and stay in touch with them! I want to continue to make more friends from all over the world, because you guys are amazing, and also to make a bit more of an effort to be less of the “weird girl” at school. Actually no, I want to be MORE of the “weird girl” that I am because it attracts other weird nerdy people like me, and I love that! So yeah, if you’re a language nerd or an internet nerd or any other kind of nerd, you are awesome in my book and I assure you we will get along splendidly. I also want to keep in touch with my friends from Mori no Ike, because you guys are my sisters and my best besties and you are part of the select few people on the planet who understand who I am and love me for it <3 Yes, I’m talking about my awesome cabinmates, and I will see you guys in June, which is about 5 and a half months away!!! And all the Mori Sensei, I’m excited to see you guys too because you’re my role models!! And pretty dang awesome too xD

4)                      To improve my Japanese and become more fluent. MORE fluent being the key word, because I don’t expect to gain total fluency in 365 days. That has been my resolution last year as well, and I have come to learn that it is just plain ridiculous to expect that much improvement.

5)                      Write lots of blogs for you guys!!

SO, 皆さん、What are your plans for the new year?
Leave a comment below and let me know!
(ugh, I hate it when I inadvertently rhyme things…)

Also if you want to follow me on Instagram my ID is MidoriAbby, and if you have language related questions email me at TheLanguageHelp@gmail.com and my youtube is RanAbvideo for Japanese lessons.
〜ミドリ