Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don’t need their own posts, and first time posters go here (February 23, 2024)

8 comments

1. Is the “topic marker” reserved for cases where in english the subject and the object are the same thing?

   I just realized this years after failing Japanese class in college.  

   I had asked why you can’t replace wa with ga.  For example, take the english sentence “cheetas are fast.”  In this example, the subject is “cheetas” the verb is “are” and the adjective is “fast.”  There are no objects, or the subject and object *are the same thing.*  I noticed that every situation where ga is wrong and was has to be used in Japanese are all cases where in english there simply is no (explicit) object of the sentence, or the subject *and* the object were the same thing. 

   This made me realize, maybe the Japanese see sentences as requiring *both subjects and objects* at all times and so a sentence with seemingly no object using the “ga” particle appears “off” or “wrong” or “gramatically incorrect” because it’s missing information.  It’s an incomplete sentence to the Japanese. 

   Whereas in english it is taught that a sentence only requires a subject and a verb.  That’s it.  No object nessecary.  However, in Japanese a sentence requires a subject, object *and* a verb.  All three are required.  *Thus* “wa” is *necessary* when the subject *and* object are the same thing.  *Thus* using “ga” in that situation would be incomplete information.  The equivalent of just stating a verb and object with no subject in english like “kicked ball.” “Kicked ball.” Is not a sentence.  Likewise saying “cheetas ga fast” is also not a japanese sentence.  So in this way, in Japanese, objects are treated with the same importance as subjects are treater with in english.  However, in english objects are below subjects in importance; objects are less important than subjects in english, and can be left out without any loss of information and that is still a complete english sentence; in english sentences, objects are unessecary.  But in Japanese sentences, objects are *always* necessary (note, I’m just guessing here I don’t actually know).  Thus, “ga-subject marker” and “wo-object marker” needed to be phonetically combined to please the Japanese brain in instances where the subject and object are the same thing (unlike english, which can just leave out the object with no problem).  So, combine the sound of “ga” with “wo” and you get “wa.” 

   “ga” + “wo” = “wa.” 

   Thus “wa” is used when the subject and object are the same thing.  And “ga” + “wo” are used only when the subject and object are *difrerent* things.  Thus, in Japanese, every sentence requires the conjunction of both subject and object in order to be a complete sentence. 

2. a goodbye note to my customer in Japanese. how weird is the template?

   様へ、

   日本へのご帰国、心よりおめでとうございます。過去の三年間、共に仕事を進める中で多くの思い出ができ、感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。新たなステージでの成功を心からお祈りしております。またどこかでお会いできることを楽しみにしております。ご健勝で。

   最良のご挨拶を込めて、

   New Orleans 13 Flowers

3. I failed my first test and it all came down to not being able to read hiragana. Would it be bad to start over from lesson one? I seemed to not retain anything I’ve learned so far.

   I’m using Busuu by the way.

4. What do you lads mean by “immersion”? Silly question(s) but is it just consuming a ton of media and trying to learn through context or are you mining words? Is it both but wouldn’t that just take a long time even with apps to make it faster especially if you have other decks? I’ve only been studying for a little over a year and I’m somewhere near n5 and wondering what my immersion should be like. Thank you!

5. Hey, I was reading the part on という and it’s derivatives on Sakubi, and this explanation was a little confusing for me:

   ​

   >*The expression と言う という is used to construct a relative clause in ways that would be awkward otherwise. Not all instances of という are this expression, but normally, if it’s written in just hiragana, it’s the expression.*
   *研究者という人間 The people that are researchers*
   *休みたいという訳で Because I want to take a break*
   >
   >
   *It can also just be used for emphasis.*
   *今日という日 The day that is today*

   What are the cases where it would be “awkward” to not use という?

   In the second example sentence, what purpose does いう serve, couldn’t it just beと? I have the same question for the second to last sentence.

6. Usagi says to her mom, ママのばか can someone elabore on this. She is not saying mama’s idiot, but more of a sense it is like – mom is such an idiot – can someone break it down or elaborate more on this please.

7. Would this be worth it? I learn best with a very structured environment/curriculum. I’ve been looking into some university programs for languages that have a concentration in Japanese. I already have a BA and BS so I’m not worried about having to take a bunch of gen ed classes as my credits for those would transfer, so I would be able to focus on/pay for only Japanese language specific courses. I’m already set in a career and am only interested in this for personal enrichment and I’m not concerned with the cost. So my question is, would doing a post bacc degree in Japanese be a good route to go down for learning the language?

   Some things to note is that if I were to try to self study only I would probably lose steam pretty early on and not complete much however in an environment with more rigor such as a college setting I tend excel in my studies. I would be attending part time while maintaining my full time job, and I won’t know exactly how many of my credits I will he able to transfer in to cover any gen ed until I’m accepted and can meet with an advisor, but assuming that I would only have to take major related courses a couple at a time over the next few years, would it even be worth it? Does anyone have experience doing a language degree in japanese and can expand on your experience in terms of learning the language, I don’t expect to become fluent but hoping to get a very solid foundation. Do you think this would be a good idea for me specifically since college is generally the best medium usually for how I learn?

8. **リアクションが微妙になる**
   **hope someone could give me the correct meaning of this expression. I could only guess but not sure : “Her reaction become a little bit doubtful” ?**

   **Context: MC and the general on his side are discussing about a wanted sketch of a criminal, with an imperial general (皇甫嵩). This is their only clue to help them identify and find this criminal.**
   鈴々 (General on MC side)「…………これが、本当に張角なのだ？」
   張角の正体は、今なお謎に包まれていて……手がかりと呼べるのは、朝廷から回ってきた人相書きが一枚だけ、なんだけど。
   皇甫嵩「……いちおう公式の書類なのだけれどね」
   **皇甫嵩のリアクションが微妙になるのも無理はない。**
   人相書きに書いてあるのは、大きな角に四つの目玉、腕が六本に足が三本、おまけに尻尾まで生えていて……。