I have an idea. I was reading into kanji chains and also studying this "about" page.

http://japanese.about.com/library/blkodgrade1.htm

Using no more than 5 new kanji at a time, we all come up with a story together. In the story we use the kanji from this grade level. Each person's post continues the previous person's story (thus creating repetition) plus the new kanji from the list.

The purpose of this is not output but rapid accumulation of simple vocabulary, so perfection isn't absolutely necessary. We start with grade 1. Kun-yomi.

To avoid overlap (though it might be a good thing) the person who intends to go next should declare it in the topic first. Kanji's are numbered so you also tell these as well, eg (31-36), so we can stay organized.

What do you guys think?

Sounds interesting but I'd like to see an example first so I know how to continue the story.

Okay, I'll take a stab.

僕はいち、雨の王です。はじめまして。

右は円円 (えんまる）。カネの音が大好だ。
テイブルの下は花火(はなび)。火と貝を恐れている。

どうぞよろしく

1-10

Among other things...
テイブル isn't a word, nor is 円円（えんまる）. 大好き needs okurigana. There are fireworks under the table? It's a sentence fragment in any case (along with the 円円 one). Are you trying to say that the shellfish is afraid of the fire?

Would an accurate translation of what you're trying to say be:
I am Ichi, the rain god. Nice to met you.
To my right is Enmaru, he likes the sound of bells.
There are fireworks under the table. The shellfish is afraid of fire.
Pleased to meet you.

Maybe I just don't get this exercise...

Jarvik7 Wrote:Among other things...
テイブル isn't a word, nor is 円円（えんまる）. 大好き needs okurigana. 恐れる isn't a transitive verb. There are fireworks under the table? It's a sentence fragment in any case (along with the 円円 one). Are you trying to say that the shellfish is afraid of the fire?

Maybe I just don't get this exercise...

Maybe he's trying to introduce a friend or something, named after both readings of the kanji?

I also have no idea what happened in the shellfish sentence.

Given that this site teaches kanji meanings rather than grammar or even vocabulary, perhaps it would be easier to do an English language story with specific words replaced by kanji (as in the picture stories in the "Highlights for Children" magazine). That way, people from all levels could take part.

Something like:

昔, there was a 翁 and an 婆 who lived in a 村 by the 海.

If you can't figure out the story, you can try plugging it into the reading section or using a Firefox extension to reveal the hidden words.

Jarvik7 Wrote:Among other things...
テイブル isn't a word, nor is 円円（えんまる）. 大好き needs okurigana. 恐れる isn't a transitive verb. There are fireworks under the table? It's a sentence fragment in any case (along with the 円円 one). Are you trying to say that the shellfish is afraid of the fire?

Maybe I just don't get this exercise...

LOL, If teiburu is not a word why the heck have I heard it so much?

I am Ichi. I am the king of rain. Let's get started.

To the right is Enmaru. Enmaru "really" likes the sound of money. Under the table, Hanabi. She's afraid of fire and shells.

And it goes from there. So, please continue the story my very learn'ed friends

Also, send corrections via messages to keep things going smoother.

Quote:Given that this site teaches kanji meanings rather than grammar or even vocabulary, perhaps it would be easier to do an English language story with specific words replaced by kanji (as in the picture stories in the "Highlights for Children" magazine). That way, people from all levels could take part.

Interesting...

kazelee Wrote:[LOL, If teiburu is not a word why the heck have I heard it so much?

Cuz it is テーブル ^^

I like the Kristins idea, it stops confusion and more people can join in.

Table is テーブル. Katakana almost always uses ー for long vowels instead of an イ or ウ etc. It's probably not a good idea to name people after common words, since it's obviously confusing. It also removes any meaning from the words that your using, which kind of goes against the whole point of learning vocab. How do I know that テーブル is not also a person, and that he's on top of 花火 (oh boy erotic fanfiction). Unless you use the kanji for 金 one is more likely to think that he likes the sound of 鐘. Also, ending sentences makes things clearer. Having がいます at the end of the 花火 sentence would make it more obvious that it's a person and not a bunch of firecrackers going off inside your house.

We should probably start over

CaLeDee Wrote:

kazelee Wrote:[LOL, If teiburu is not a word why the heck have I heard it so much?

Cuz it is テーブル ^^

I like the Kristins idea, it stops confusion and more people can join in.

I... knew... that....

<_<

>_>



Well, the purpose is to get Japanese vocab in some sort of context, so an English story wouldn't help too much. Also, I just tried to do it in English with Kanji and it doesn't seem to have much of a impact. It was actually confusing using 下 with English.

How about we do start over and just proof it (via email to avoid breaking the story to much) as we go along?

Heck, why not?

I think the idea is pretty fun -- and I'll end up learning a lot in the process [cause my 日本語 is へたくそ]

Well, you're talking about the sentence method. The whole point of it, in fact the only part of AJATT I'm activly persuing, is to learn vocabulary in context. You find a sentence with a word you want to learn and learn that sentence. The sentence becomes the context.

You're really just reinventing the wheel.

Tobberoth Wrote:Well, you're talking about the sentence method. The whole point of it, in fact the only part of AJATT I'm activly persuing, is to learn vocabulary in context. You find a sentence with a word you want to learn and learn that sentence. The sentence becomes the context.

You're really just reinventing the wheel.

Not reinventing the wheel. More like, getting together with some of the guys and building a hotrod.

It's something that can be both entertaining and educational.

kazelee Wrote:Not reinventing the wheel. More like, getting together with some of the guys and building a hotrod.

It's something that can be both entertaining and educational.

Well, the reason you don't make your own sentences in the sentence method is because you'll learn bad unnatural Japanese. Basically what you're saying in this topic is "Let's do the sentence method, but with our own sentences!"

It's just not a good idea, at all. I do agree it can be very entertaining though. I personally write essays in Japanese from time to time and have a japanese family I know point out the errors etc. But I would never ever use my own Japanese for memorization and learning techniques since I'm not a native.

Tobberoth Wrote:

kazelee Wrote:Not reinventing the wheel. More like, getting together with some of the guys and building a hotrod.

It's something that can be both entertaining and educational.

Well, the reason you don't make your own sentences in the sentence method is because you'll learn bad unnatural Japanese. Basically what you're saying in this topic is "Let's do the sentence method, but with our own sentences!"

It's just not a good idea, at all. I do agree it can be very entertaining though. I personally write essays in Japanese from time to time and have a japanese family I know point out the errors etc. But I would never ever use my own Japanese for memorization and learning techniques since I'm not a native.

I want to hit you with my keyboard. More so because you are partly right.

I have said that the story should be proofed. I've been reading a bit a children's literature. Should I not use these sentences either? Because they are far different from the ones I've read by Natsume Souseki.

Tobberoth Wrote:It's just not a good idea, at all. I do agree it can be very entertaining though. I personally write essays in Japanese from time to time and have a japanese family I know point out the errors etc. But I would never ever use my own Japanese for memorization and learning techniques since I'm not a native.

Well in all honesty, I never really intended to do this for memorization/learning/SRS/sentences/AJATT/whatever. I'm just trying to have fun with what I know!

Anyone want to go next?

かのじょは「学生とやる気がない」といった。「もう九人の学生とやったがあるんだから休みたい」。

「学生とやれば九円玉をあげるよ！」

Completely screwed up -- it deserves to not exist. Furthermore, I probably made about 5 grammatical errors per sentence. Ah what the heck.

Sounds... dirty....lol

At least the second rikaichan entry makes it seem that way.

So that's 10-15.

How about adding english translations so it's easier to proof.

Using names is a bit of a cheat because you can make names out of most kanji, and they mean nothing. It's also really confusing when they happen to be words.

Er...
Well you're missing こと on the 2nd sentence...

What are we supposed to be doing? Continuing? Correcting? Is it supposed to be one coherent story or a bunch of unrelated one shots?

playadom Wrote:かのじょは「学生とやる気がない」といった。「もう九人の学生とやったがあるんだから休みたい」。

「学生とやれば九円玉をあげるよ！」

Completely screwed up -- it deserves to not exist. Furthermore, I probably made about 5 grammatical errors per sentence. Ah what the heck.

Other than やったがあるん it was allright. It should be やったことがあるん.

PrettyKitty Wrote:Er...
Well you're missing こと on the 2nd sentence...

What are we supposed to be doing? Continuing? Correcting? Is it supposed to be one coherent story or a bunch of unrelated one shots?

Continuous with corrections. Preferably coherent, but that's not always how things turn out. LOL.

・・・学生と、やる？？　ふ、不潔な展開に・・・　Σ（ﾟдﾟ；）

I'm not completely sure on the meaning of the sentence above (that was above before when I was writing this)-- it sounds a little risque-- but I'll give it a shot anyway since it seems interesting.

「おまえのお金なんかいらない！」と花火はいいのこしてはしりさった。
よう空（ようぞら）を見あげるとおおきなまん月（まんげつ）が見えた。ふと雨がふりだした。
花火は気づいていない。犬がかのじょをじっと見つめることに。

It went a bit random, but using random kanji will do that. I also tried to use some of the previous kanji too.

Edit; stopped at kanji 20.

Translation:
"I don't need you money!" said Hanabi as she ran away.
Looking up at the night sky, she saw a big full-moon. Suddenly it start to rain.
Hanabi didn't notice the dog staring at her.