Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Discuss all translation related problems here or just help your fellow comrade to improve their lingual skills

Moderators: Fringe Security Bureau, Senior Editors, Senior Translators, Alt. Language Translator/Editor, Executive Council, Project Translators, Project Editors

Post Reply
User avatar
crimsonDN
Astral Realm

Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by crimsonDN »

I want to learn how to read Japanese so I can translate light novels into English. What is the best way of attaining my goal and how much time would it take to do so?
User avatar
Nurin
馬鹿月の衛星保障機構 [F.S.B]
Posts: 3206
Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:09 pm
Favourite Light Novel: Ahouka!
Location: お前の頭にある存在だけ。つまり、幻想。
Contact:

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by Nurin »

I guess you should take a look here, is the way I'm learning at least for me, it's working pretty well :D

Regards
Call me Nurin!

Image
User avatar
crimsonDN
Astral Realm

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by crimsonDN »

Nura rihan wrote:I guess you should take a look here, is the way I'm learning at least for me, it's working pretty well :D

Regards
The website looks promising but I don't have a credit card for that $0.1 purchase lol. How long did it take you to become a translator?
User avatar
Nurin
馬鹿月の衛星保障機構 [F.S.B]
Posts: 3206
Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:09 pm
Favourite Light Novel: Ahouka!
Location: お前の頭にある存在だけ。つまり、幻想。
Contact:

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by Nurin »

I'm still learning the japanese, for my translations from japanese to english I use some cheats since I don't know every kanji. so I guess in this pace in more 4 months I finish with every kanji :roll: :lol:

But if you are like me and don't have the CC use the old metode it's free, you can do on your own! :P :D 8) :wink: :lol:
Call me Nurin!

Image
User avatar
Dohma
Project Translator
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:21 am
Favourite Light Novel: Ahouka!
Location: Netherlands

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by Dohma »

I've learned the language through a course of three books called 'Japanese for College Students'. It actually explains the grammar and stuff comprehensively, instead of filling your head with example sentences. Personally, I think it's the best self-study book I've come across, and by the end you should be able to read Japanese without much trouble. However, it's out of print these days, so the prices are pretty steep (about € 20 per book).

You can also check:

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/

It's an extensive course and it's free online, but it takes some figuring out.
User avatar
MineRiko
Project Translator
Posts: 407
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:45 am
Favourite Light Novel: Hidan no Aria
Location: Singapore
Contact:

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by MineRiko »

Bleh, I'll take up a government Japanese programme next year.

Currently, my Hiragana/Katakana would be below F-class standard, but my kanji should be at least A-class. I think my order of learning is wrong...
Wiki Account: Nii-sama
Kanamechan Translations, Chinjufu Scanlations, Chinjufu Channel
User avatar
Nurin
馬鹿月の衛星保障機構 [F.S.B]
Posts: 3206
Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:09 pm
Favourite Light Novel: Ahouka!
Location: お前の頭にある存在だけ。つまり、幻想。
Contact:

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by Nurin »

MineRiko wrote:Bleh, I'll take up a government Japanese programme next year.

Currently, my Hiragana/Katakana would be below F-class standard, but my kanji should be at least A-class. I think my order of learning is wrong...

KKKKKKKKKK LOL

My hiragana/katakana is about AA class, but my kanji level still E Class :D
Call me Nurin!

Image
User avatar
Catahn
Haruhiist Specialist
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:24 am
Favourite Light Novel:

Re: Learning Japanese just for translating light novels

Post by Catahn »

If you have android I have been using the Obenkyo app for flash card memorization. I don't find that it helps me read better directly per say. Instead as I have better flash card memory then when I work through reading.

Another thing that is helping me immensely is using JWPce and transcribing light novels into it. I'm basically feeding Mystrael transcribed raws which have been cleaned up from the OCR program. Now I will say that I took 3 semesters of Japanese a long while ago in college. It may be that I had enough prerequisite understanding to make the transcribing at least partially readable.

Good luck though!
Post Reply

Return to “Lingua Franca Lexicon”