[RawToast]

An interesting 'reason' not in your list, is simply: "To know another language". That is one of my reasons for leaning Japanese.

Heh, nice topic. I'm learning it mostly for the video games and a little bit because of the anime, and that's about all the reasons I have. I guess that's as invalid as it gets.

qwertyytrewq Wrote:Are you sure it's not because you are learning Japanese for anime and avoiding negative reactions from the people asking?

Because the scenario you describe above makes you sound awfully passive-aggressive.

Perhaps my report/thread may have more validity than first meets the eye.

Are you being serious? I thought the "report" was supposed to be satirical, but you seem to be genuinely attempting to "analyse" blankkor in this post. I don't think there's anything valid about junk psychology, and I'm with blankkor and RawToast in studying a language for the sake of the language itself.

I agree with the idea of learning a language for the sake of knowing another language. The fact that I was never huge into anime or any of that stuff almost makes it harder for me to explain my reasoning behind studying Japanese.
In my experience, it takes another die hard language learner to understand that the language itself can be enough motivation.
Irony points go to the otaku kids from my Japanese classes "honto desuka!? you dont watch naruto!? why are you even here?"

Anyways whatever an individuals reason, its totally up to them and is frankly none of anyone's business. If someones going to judge you because of it, they're probably insecure as hell.

When people find out im studying Japanese, half of the time they assume i want to bag as many Japanese girls as possible. That is the most irritating thing about learning Japanese to me. I'm sure you guys have gotten that assumption at some point as well.

Learning Japanese is a challenge. It's a way to accomplish something that gives personal satisfaction. Japanese in particular because it's so different from common roman or germanic languages. A person may want to see if he or she can pull it off. If they have what it takes.

Now, why do people climb Mount Everest? Why do people run marathons?

Why must the reason be so practical? I think that would miss the point for many.

Learning a language or two is something that can open a lot of doors for you in life. Whether it's through the different people, places or things you come in contact with because of it, or the way you've been culturally affected by being exposed to another culture's mindset and thinking. It can only create opportunities, and since looking back at a lack of opportunities later in life is disappointing for anyone then learning a language couldn't be a waste of time.

Since we're being so psychological I admit that I could be looking down at someone some way when they'd say they're in for it all because of anime. But I don't think it's wrong and invalid--it's only good that there's something motivating you to learn--I just feel like it's kind of arbitrary. And if they go through with it, I'm sure they'll be able to look back later at many other things they've gained.

I like anime etc too but I don't see why it would be an end-goal, instead it's a great bonus. It's one enjoyable thing I can do in order to learn, and keep doing even past the point where I'd feel I'm not getting much learning out of it anymore, just because I can.

But then I don't need a very strong and practical goal to keep me disciplined into learning since I choose to do things I enjoy in order to learn. Others might not find my reason motivating enough, and needing a more concrete reason is fine.

This post was all me me me, but it's just my 2円 nonetheless.

qwertyytrewq Wrote:Last edited by Zgarbas (Yesterday, 7:47 pm)

Why was it edited? My post still looks the same.

RawToast Wrote:An interesting 'reason' not in your list, is simply: "To know another language". That is one of my reasons for leaning Japanese.

Somehow I missed that one. Learning Japanese for the sake of learning Japanese is arguably a valid reason although some people may find it frustrating if that is the only reason you give.

I have updated my report.

Javizy Wrote:

qwertyytrewq Wrote:Are you sure it's not because you are learning Japanese for anime and avoiding negative reactions from the people asking?

Because the scenario you describe above makes you sound awfully passive-aggressive.

Perhaps my report/thread may have more validity than first meets the eye.

Are you being serious? I thought the "report" was supposed to be satirical, but you seem to be genuinely attempting to "analyse" blankkor in this post. I don't think there's anything valid about junk psychology, and I'm with blankkor and RawToast in studying a language for the sake of the language itself.

I still stand by my opinion that he is being passive-aggressive in his response which only enforces the validity of my report.

A framework that's often helpful when looking at peoples' various motivations for performing an activity is to look at a motivation or needs theory, like for example, Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

In this framework, at the base level are the most basic physical needs, such as food and water. Then working up, there are safety needs, social needs, and achievement needs. The latter levels usually corresponding with greater motivation to practice and excel.

So if you want to learn Japanese in order to find or keep a job, you may have a safety need. If you want to meet new people in Japan or impress your Japanese in-laws, that's a social need. If you find it intrinsically fun or rewarding to increase your language proficiency, that's an achievement need.

[Zgarbas]

qwertyytrewq Wrote:Why was it edited? My post still looks the same.

Took out a bit which was rather offensive without adding anything to the opinion.

edit: To add to the topic, I started getting interested in Japanese because I thought it was pretty cool and interesting. These days I'm keeping to it since I intend on becoming a translator and Romanian-English is dead as a career option.

I started learning Japanese with the invalid reasons (anime, manga, video games). My friend told me I surpassed all my other otaku friends with being an otaku because I actually went and learned the language and am now living in Japan, which is kind of hilarious.

Unlike my other friends who chose to not to go on exchange (not because of financial reasons), I will graduate one year later. It's not like doing this study abroad thing would make me more competitive in the job market once I graduate, but it has given me the opportunity to observe and experience things I would miss out on if I didn't do it.

Learning a language is a great thing so why not? In my case I have nothing better to do anyways.

Let's be honest, undermining ourselves because of whatever reasons we have to start learning Japanese (anime, manga, whatever) is self-defeating. It doesn't matter how those reasons have changed (or haven't) in time, what matters is that they were, in fact, the foundation for your inspiration. And who's to say Ghost in the Shell, Monster, Steins;Gate aren't fantastic works of art? All created by Japanese. Hell my username is an obvious portmanteau as a nod to these kinds of series/franchises.

Mushi Wrote:A framework that's often helpful when looking at peoples' various motivations for performing an activity is to look at a motivation or needs theory, like for example, Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

In this framework, at the base level are the most basic physical needs, such as food and water. Then working up, there are safety needs, social needs, and achievement needs. The latter levels usually corresponding with greater motivation to practice and excel.

So if you want to learn Japanese in order to find or keep a job, you may have a safety need. If you want to meet new people in Japan or impress your Japanese in-laws, that's a social need. If you find it intrinsically fun or rewarding to increase your language proficiency, that's an achievement need.

That's very insightful. Using the hierarchy of needs, there's essentially no invalid reason to study anything at all. "Because I can" or "because I choose to" (recognising we're fortunate enough to do it) are the simplest acceptable answers as far as it concerns me.

What is a valid reason anyways?

I'm probably never going to work in Japan, probably never gonna marry a Japanese girl (don't care for that stuff), I don't really know any Japanese folks (again, don't care, I'm not gonna go around hunting for Japanese people...how creepy is that huh).

But I DO LOVE Japanese Hip-Hop, manga, and I'm amused by 2ch, I love reading Japanese novels as well. I don't need to go to Japan for any of this stuff, I can order it from the internet.

One day I would love to meet a Japanese hip-hop artist or something and just chill with him, even make a song maybe, release an underground album, those are my invalid aspirations.