Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I Should Never, Ever, Write the Christopher Hitchens Movie. . .
That said, after reading Hitchens obits in greater number than can justly be linked to, I'm now wholly convinced that his life story must and will be made movie.
Wednesday Homicide
Before The Wire, there was Homicide: Life on the Street. Based on a book by Wire creator David Simon, Homicide was in many ways a spiritual ancestor to Simon's later series. At least. . . that's what I've heard. I'm kind of a Luddite when it comes to downloading TV shows over the internet, so if I can't find DVD's of a given TV show available for rent, I'll end up not watching it. Homicide, unfortunately, is one of those shows.
What I do know is that at least one joke from Homicide eventually made its way onto The Wire. First, the Homicide version:
For the Wire version, click here.
What I do know is that at least one joke from Homicide eventually made its way onto The Wire. First, the Homicide version:
For the Wire version, click here.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Japanese Journal #7
十一月七日（月曜日）天気：雨
前々回のにっきに、僕は、『セーラームーン』のとくさつが好きだと書きました。きょ年、日本にいた時、沢井美優さんに会いました。沢井さんは、『セーラームーン』になりました。
二千十年に、沢井さんは『白雪姫』のミュージカルを演じました（沢井さんは白雪姫になりました）。僕は、日本橋の『ＭＩＴＳＵＫＯＳＨＩ』のデパートでミュージカルを見ました。楽しかったですが、たくさんの子どもがいましたので、ちょっとはずかしかったです。
ミュージカルが終わった時に、かんきゃくはげきじょうの出口から出る時に、げきじょうのあんないがかりは私達に「ちょっとまって下さい」と言いました。そうして、沢井さんとミュージカルのはいゆうが来ました。子ども達ははいゆうと写真ととりました。とてもはずかしかったですが、そのうちに、はいゆうとあくしゅしてはいゆうにかんしゃしました。僕は、沢井さんともあくしゅしました。沢井さんと話すつもりでしたが、「ありがとうございます」と言って出てしまいました。
でも、カメラをもって来ませんでしたので、写真がありません。かなしいです。でも、『セーラームーン』と会った事あります。
English Translation:
Two journals ago, I wrote about how much I liked the live action "Sailor Moon" tokusatsu. Well, last year, while I was in Japan, I met Miyuu Sawai, the actress who played Sailor Moon.
In 2010, Sawai performed in a "Snow White" stage musical (playing Snow White). So, I went to the Nihonbashi* "Mitsukoshi" department store where the the musical was playing and attended a performance. It was fun, though a little embarrassing, what with most of the audience being children. (ed: Yeah, this ain't exactly literal translation anymore. Fuck it.)
After the musical ended, and we, the audience, we heading out the door, we were instructed by the theatre's manager to "please wait a moment." At that moment, Sawai, along with other actors from the musical, came out into the hall. The kids then took pictures with all the actors. I was really embarrassed now, but eventually, I approached the actors, shook their hands, and thanked them. Then I came up to Sawai. I shook her hand, and intended to talk with her a little bit, but instead I just said "thank you" and walked away.
Unfortunately, I didn't bring a camera with me, so I don't have any pictures, which is sad. Nevertheless, I can now say that I've met "Sailor Moon".
*A part of downtown Tokyo.
Click here for a more detailed version of this story.
前々回のにっきに、僕は、『セーラームーン』のとくさつが好きだと書きました。きょ年、日本にいた時、沢井美優さんに会いました。沢井さんは、『セーラームーン』になりました。
二千十年に、沢井さんは『白雪姫』のミュージカルを演じました（沢井さんは白雪姫になりました）。僕は、日本橋の『ＭＩＴＳＵＫＯＳＨＩ』のデパートでミュージカルを見ました。楽しかったですが、たくさんの子どもがいましたので、ちょっとはずかしかったです。
ミュージカルが終わった時に、かんきゃくはげきじょうの出口から出る時に、げきじょうのあんないがかりは私達に「ちょっとまって下さい」と言いました。そうして、沢井さんとミュージカルのはいゆうが来ました。子ども達ははいゆうと写真ととりました。とてもはずかしかったですが、そのうちに、はいゆうとあくしゅしてはいゆうにかんしゃしました。僕は、沢井さんともあくしゅしました。沢井さんと話すつもりでしたが、「ありがとうございます」と言って出てしまいました。
でも、カメラをもって来ませんでしたので、写真がありません。かなしいです。でも、『セーラームーン』と会った事あります。
English Translation:
Two journals ago, I wrote about how much I liked the live action "Sailor Moon" tokusatsu. Well, last year, while I was in Japan, I met Miyuu Sawai, the actress who played Sailor Moon.
In 2010, Sawai performed in a "Snow White" stage musical (playing Snow White). So, I went to the Nihonbashi* "Mitsukoshi" department store where the the musical was playing and attended a performance. It was fun, though a little embarrassing, what with most of the audience being children. (ed: Yeah, this ain't exactly literal translation anymore. Fuck it.)
After the musical ended, and we, the audience, we heading out the door, we were instructed by the theatre's manager to "please wait a moment." At that moment, Sawai, along with other actors from the musical, came out into the hall. The kids then took pictures with all the actors. I was really embarrassed now, but eventually, I approached the actors, shook their hands, and thanked them. Then I came up to Sawai. I shook her hand, and intended to talk with her a little bit, but instead I just said "thank you" and walked away.
Unfortunately, I didn't bring a camera with me, so I don't have any pictures, which is sad. Nevertheless, I can now say that I've met "Sailor Moon".
*A part of downtown Tokyo.
Click here for a more detailed version of this story.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Japanese Journal #6
十月二十四日（月曜日）天気くもり
前回にっきはちょっと長すぎたので今回のにっきに俳句が書きたいです。
『秋の俳句』
西の風
鹿振り返る
落ちた葉や*
*『や』は切れ字です。
（にしのかぜ
しかふりかえる
おちたはや）
ちょっとみじかすぎるがむずかし書いた。
English Translation:
October 24th (Monday) Weather: Cloudy
My last journal entry was a little too long, so this time, I decided to write a haiku.
"Fall Haiku"
Wind blows from the west
A deer snaps its head backwards
A leaf has fallen
(More literal: )
West wind
A deer turns it's head
A fallen leaf
(Romaaji version: )
nishi no kaze
shika furikaeru
ochita ha ya*
*"ya" is a cutting word.
It's a little too short, but it was hard to write.
前回にっきはちょっと長すぎたので今回のにっきに俳句が書きたいです。
『秋の俳句』
西の風
鹿振り返る
落ちた葉や*
*『や』は切れ字です。
（にしのかぜ
しかふりかえる
おちたはや）
ちょっとみじかすぎるがむずかし書いた。
English Translation:
October 24th (Monday) Weather: Cloudy
My last journal entry was a little too long, so this time, I decided to write a haiku.
"Fall Haiku"
Wind blows from the west
A deer snaps its head backwards
A leaf has fallen
(More literal: )
West wind
A deer turns it's head
A fallen leaf
(Romaaji version: )
nishi no kaze
shika furikaeru
ochita ha ya*
*"ya" is a cutting word.
It's a little too short, but it was hard to write.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Japanese Journal #5, wherein I reveal things you've known for years
『えいがかんに日本語がある』 十月十五日（土曜日）
時々、友達は「ジェルミーさん、どうして日本語を勉強しているか」と言う。僕のほんとうのりゆうはばかです。だから、はずかしいので、僕は「日本語のぶんかはおもしろいです」や「日本はきれいな国家です」やよく言う。
でも、ほんとうは、書きたいです。たんべんしょうせつと本とえいがのシナリオが書きたいです。とくに。。。『セーラームーン』のえいがのシナリが書きたいです。ばかですね。僕は二十八さいでカナダの男の人です。でも、『セーラームーン』のえいがが書きたいです。
へんな物語です。十五年前くらい、『セーラームーン』のアニメはカナダに来た。僕とたくさんのカナダの子は『セーラームーン』を見てわすねた。そうして、僕は二千六年に、インターネットで『セーラームーン』のとくさつをはっけんした。そのテレビばんぐみで、女子学生は、せい服と色きさいにとんだかつらをきてたたかう事のふりを悪くした。すばらしくて楽しかったです。
その年、僕はぶん学のクラスもとうろくした。そのクラスで、『ゆうこく』と言うほんやくしたたんぶんしょうせつを読んだ。日本のさくしゃでうよくの三島由紀夫は『ゆうこく』を書いた。だから、日本のきょく右はみりょうくてきになった。きょく右は好きじゃないですが、みりょうくてきです。
『セーラームーン』ときょく右はへんなくみあわせですね。それにもかかわらず、二千十年にえいがのシナリオを書き事を始めた。シナリオの「しょう」は『kyletookabulletforme.blogspot.com』と言うブログにある。今までに、日本人がシナリオを読んだ事がない。日本人のいけんしりたいです。でも、したがきですので、シナリオはまだちょっと悪いです。
僕は、日本語をシナリオに使うので、日本語を勉強している。でも、日本はおもしろい国家です。そうして、三島もおもしろいですので、日本語を勉強します。（ちょっと長すぎるね。）
Translation:
"Japanese at the movies" October 15th (Saturday)
From time to time, my friends ask, "Jeremy, why are you studying Japanese?". My real reason is actually pretty dumb, so I usually say things like "Japanese culture is interesting" or "Japan is a beautiful country."
However, the truth is I want to write. I'd like to write short stories and books and movie screenplays. More to the point. . . I want to write the "Sailor Moon" movie screenplay. Yeah, it's stupid-- I'm a 28 year old Canadian man. Nevertheless, I want to write the "Sailor Moon" movie.
There's a weird story behind all of this. About 15 years ago, the "Sailor Moon" anime came to Canada. I-- along with a lot of other Canadian kids-- watched "Sailor Moon" and then pretty much forgot about it. But then, in 2006, thanks to The Internet I discovered the "Sailor Moon" tokusatsu (ed: tokusatsu is the name given to "Powers Rangers" style shows in Japan). In that TV show, schoolgirls dressed in sailor suits and donning colourful wigs (poorly) pretended that they were really fighting. It was amazing, and I enjoyed it.
That same year, I enrolled in a literature class. There, I read a short story called "Yuukoku" (Patriotism). "Yuukoku" was written by right-wing Japanese author Yukio Mishima. Because of "Yuukoku", I became interested in the Japanese far-right. That's not to say that I like them, but I do find them fascinating.
"Sailor Moon" and the Japanese right are a pretty strange combintion, no? In spite of this, in 2010 I began writing my screenplay. "Chpaters" from my screenplay can be found my blog, "kyletookabulletforme.blogspot.com." Nobody from Japan has read my screenplay yet. I'd like to know the opinion of a Japanese person. (Ed: Yes, I know exactly what this looks like. Shut up.) However, because it's a rough draft, the screenplay is still kind of bad. (Ed: See? See? It's not all shameless plug!).
I hope to use Japanese in my screenplay; that's why I'm studying Japanese. However, Japan really is an interesting country, and I also do like Yukio Mishima. For those reasons (Ed: and more) I want to learn Japanese. (This was a bit too long, wasn't it?) (Ed: This was, in fact, my longest journal entry. . . and the one with the lowest mark).
時々、友達は「ジェルミーさん、どうして日本語を勉強しているか」と言う。僕のほんとうのりゆうはばかです。だから、はずかしいので、僕は「日本語のぶんかはおもしろいです」や「日本はきれいな国家です」やよく言う。
でも、ほんとうは、書きたいです。たんべんしょうせつと本とえいがのシナリオが書きたいです。とくに。。。『セーラームーン』のえいがのシナリが書きたいです。ばかですね。僕は二十八さいでカナダの男の人です。でも、『セーラームーン』のえいがが書きたいです。
へんな物語です。十五年前くらい、『セーラームーン』のアニメはカナダに来た。僕とたくさんのカナダの子は『セーラームーン』を見てわすねた。そうして、僕は二千六年に、インターネットで『セーラームーン』のとくさつをはっけんした。そのテレビばんぐみで、女子学生は、せい服と色きさいにとんだかつらをきてたたかう事のふりを悪くした。すばらしくて楽しかったです。
その年、僕はぶん学のクラスもとうろくした。そのクラスで、『ゆうこく』と言うほんやくしたたんぶんしょうせつを読んだ。日本のさくしゃでうよくの三島由紀夫は『ゆうこく』を書いた。だから、日本のきょく右はみりょうくてきになった。きょく右は好きじゃないですが、みりょうくてきです。
『セーラームーン』ときょく右はへんなくみあわせですね。それにもかかわらず、二千十年にえいがのシナリオを書き事を始めた。シナリオの「しょう」は『kyletookabulletforme.blogspot.com』と言うブログにある。今までに、日本人がシナリオを読んだ事がない。日本人のいけんしりたいです。でも、したがきですので、シナリオはまだちょっと悪いです。
僕は、日本語をシナリオに使うので、日本語を勉強している。でも、日本はおもしろい国家です。そうして、三島もおもしろいですので、日本語を勉強します。（ちょっと長すぎるね。）
Translation:
"Japanese at the movies" October 15th (Saturday)
From time to time, my friends ask, "Jeremy, why are you studying Japanese?". My real reason is actually pretty dumb, so I usually say things like "Japanese culture is interesting" or "Japan is a beautiful country."
However, the truth is I want to write. I'd like to write short stories and books and movie screenplays. More to the point. . . I want to write the "Sailor Moon" movie screenplay. Yeah, it's stupid-- I'm a 28 year old Canadian man. Nevertheless, I want to write the "Sailor Moon" movie.
There's a weird story behind all of this. About 15 years ago, the "Sailor Moon" anime came to Canada. I-- along with a lot of other Canadian kids-- watched "Sailor Moon" and then pretty much forgot about it. But then, in 2006, thanks to The Internet I discovered the "Sailor Moon" tokusatsu (ed: tokusatsu is the name given to "Powers Rangers" style shows in Japan). In that TV show, schoolgirls dressed in sailor suits and donning colourful wigs (poorly) pretended that they were really fighting. It was amazing, and I enjoyed it.
That same year, I enrolled in a literature class. There, I read a short story called "Yuukoku" (Patriotism). "Yuukoku" was written by right-wing Japanese author Yukio Mishima. Because of "Yuukoku", I became interested in the Japanese far-right. That's not to say that I like them, but I do find them fascinating.
"Sailor Moon" and the Japanese right are a pretty strange combintion, no? In spite of this, in 2010 I began writing my screenplay. "Chpaters" from my screenplay can be found my blog, "kyletookabulletforme.blogspot.com." Nobody from Japan has read my screenplay yet. I'd like to know the opinion of a Japanese person. (Ed: Yes, I know exactly what this looks like. Shut up.) However, because it's a rough draft, the screenplay is still kind of bad. (Ed: See? See? It's not all shameless plug!).
I hope to use Japanese in my screenplay; that's why I'm studying Japanese. However, Japan really is an interesting country, and I also do like Yukio Mishima. For those reasons (Ed: and more) I want to learn Japanese. (This was a bit too long, wasn't it?) (Ed: This was, in fact, my longest journal entry. . . and the one with the lowest mark).
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Japanese Journal #4
二十二日（日曜日）
天気：はれ
プリンスジョージにおもしろくてしゃれた料理は少ないですがバンクーバーにその料理はどこにでもあります。
先週、バンクーバーへ行きました。僕は、一度でもアフリカ料理を食べた事ありませんので、母とおばといとことエチオピアのレストランで夕食に行きました。
レストランに切れ物がありませんでしたがさらの上に大きくてたいらではっこうしたサーラードーパンがありました。そのパンで食べ物をつかみました。私達はからいぶた肉と鳥肉とこひつじの肉野さいを食べました。私達はマンゴジュースも飲みました。おいしかったです。
今、アフリカ料理を食べた事があります。バンクーバーのレストランは楽しいです。
Translation:
In Prince George, there's little in the way of tasty, fasionable cuisine; in Vancouver, though, you can find it anywhere you look.
Last week, I went to Vancouver. Since I had never before eaten African cuisine, I decided to have dinner with my mom, aunt, and cousins at an Ethiopian restaurant.
At this restaurant, dinner was served without cutlery (ed: I originally wrote だいどころようひん, "kitchenware", instead of cutlery); instead, on top of our plate, there was a large, flat piece of fermented sourdough bread. We used this bread to pick up our food. We ate spicy [chunks of] beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and vegetables. We also drank mango juice. It was delicious.
Now, I can say that I've eaten African food. Vancouver restaurants are quite nice.
天気：はれ
プリンスジョージにおもしろくてしゃれた料理は少ないですがバンクーバーにその料理はどこにでもあります。
先週、バンクーバーへ行きました。僕は、一度でもアフリカ料理を食べた事ありませんので、母とおばといとことエチオピアのレストランで夕食に行きました。
レストランに切れ物がありませんでしたがさらの上に大きくてたいらではっこうしたサーラードーパンがありました。そのパンで食べ物をつかみました。私達はからいぶた肉と鳥肉とこひつじの肉野さいを食べました。私達はマンゴジュースも飲みました。おいしかったです。
今、アフリカ料理を食べた事があります。バンクーバーのレストランは楽しいです。
Translation:
In Prince George, there's little in the way of tasty, fasionable cuisine; in Vancouver, though, you can find it anywhere you look.
Last week, I went to Vancouver. Since I had never before eaten African cuisine, I decided to have dinner with my mom, aunt, and cousins at an Ethiopian restaurant.
At this restaurant, dinner was served without cutlery (ed: I originally wrote だいどころようひん, "kitchenware", instead of cutlery); instead, on top of our plate, there was a large, flat piece of fermented sourdough bread. We used this bread to pick up our food. We ate spicy [chunks of] beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and vegetables. We also drank mango juice. It was delicious.
Now, I can say that I've eaten African food. Vancouver restaurants are quite nice.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday Wire, Back by Popular Demand!
. . .yeah, I'm know. I'm sorry.
Here's the real one. Be warned, though: it's even more NSFW than usual.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Japanese Journal #3
九月二十五日（日曜日）
天気：雨
僕は食べ物と食べる事が好きです。和食も洋食も楽しいです。
金曜日、夕ごはんは母がいためたぶた肉とにたごはんでした。土曜日、昼ごはんは寿司とラーメンでした。そうして、夜、りょうしんは中か料理が好きなので、チャイナセールレストラーンでワンタンスープを食べました（僕も中か料理が好きですよ。）でも、一日の食事の中で朝食が一番じゅうようです。土曜日の朝、いためた卵とたまねぎを食べました。それはいい朝ごあんだったが、今日の朝、ホットケーキといちごとさとうを食べました。これはあまりよくないメニューです。
でも、食べ物はおいしくて色々ですので、楽しんですね。
Translation:
September 25th (Sunday)
Weather: Rainy
I like food, and I like to eat. I enjoy both Japanese and Western cuisine.
On Friday, I ate some of my mom's homemade pork fried rice. On Saturady, I had sushi and ramen noodles for lunch. Then, that night, because my parents like Chinese cuisine, we went to China Sail Restaurant and ate wonton soup. (I also like Chinese cuisine.) However, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Saturday morning, I ate fried eggs and onions. That was a pretty good breakfast, but this morning (ed: Sunday, Sept. 25th) I ate pancakes with strawberries and sugar. All in all, this menu wans't all that great. (ed: That last sentence was suggested by my Japanese teacher, possibly as a polite expression of humility. Or maybe she just wasn't all that impressed.)
Nevertheless, I quite enjoy the diversity and deliciousness of food. Don't you?
I'm trying make my translations a bit less literal -- my first two posts have shown me just how poorly the flow and structure of Japanese translates into English. Hopefully, my translations will sound less awkward as I go on.
Also, these journals do get more interesting. I promise.
天気：雨
僕は食べ物と食べる事が好きです。和食も洋食も楽しいです。
金曜日、夕ごはんは母がいためたぶた肉とにたごはんでした。土曜日、昼ごはんは寿司とラーメンでした。そうして、夜、りょうしんは中か料理が好きなので、チャイナセールレストラーンでワンタンスープを食べました（僕も中か料理が好きですよ。）でも、一日の食事の中で朝食が一番じゅうようです。土曜日の朝、いためた卵とたまねぎを食べました。それはいい朝ごあんだったが、今日の朝、ホットケーキといちごとさとうを食べました。これはあまりよくないメニューです。
でも、食べ物はおいしくて色々ですので、楽しんですね。
Translation:
September 25th (Sunday)
Weather: Rainy
I like food, and I like to eat. I enjoy both Japanese and Western cuisine.
On Friday, I ate some of my mom's homemade pork fried rice. On Saturady, I had sushi and ramen noodles for lunch. Then, that night, because my parents like Chinese cuisine, we went to China Sail Restaurant and ate wonton soup. (I also like Chinese cuisine.) However, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Saturday morning, I ate fried eggs and onions. That was a pretty good breakfast, but this morning (ed: Sunday, Sept. 25th) I ate pancakes with strawberries and sugar. All in all, this menu wans't all that great. (ed: That last sentence was suggested by my Japanese teacher, possibly as a polite expression of humility. Or maybe she just wasn't all that impressed.)
Nevertheless, I quite enjoy the diversity and deliciousness of food. Don't you?
I'm trying make my translations a bit less literal -- my first two posts have shown me just how poorly the flow and structure of Japanese translates into English. Hopefully, my translations will sound less awkward as I go on.
Also, these journals do get more interesting. I promise.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Japanese Journals #2
九月十七日（土曜日）
天気：はれ
今日、日本の学生とフォートジョージ公園へ行った。学生は五人だったので、いっしょに僕の車で行けなかった。それから、三人はバスで行った。でも、僕は公園のバスていのいちをしらなかったので、たいへんてはずかしかった。
九月十八日（日曜日）
天気：雨
母のオフィスを私達はかいぞうした。でも、母がのこぎりを使ったので、けむりを作って火さいほうちきをはっした。しょうぼうしは来た。
My Translation:
September 17th (Saturday)
Weather: Sunny
Today, I went to Fort Geroge Park with (a group of) Japanese students. Because there were five students, we couldn't go together in my car. Therefore, three of them (lit: three people) went by bus. However, I didn't know where the bus stops at the park were, which was troublesome and embarrassing. (lit: Because I didn't know where the park's bus stops were, it was both troublesome and embarrassing)
September 18th (Sunday)
Weather: Rainy
At my Mom's office, we (me and Mom) were doing renovations. However, because Mom was using a saw, smoke was created and a fire alarm was activated. Firemen came.
Babelfish Translation:
September 17th (Saturday) Weather: [re] It went to the student and the fort George park of today and Japan. Because the student was five, it was and the [tsu] did and could not go to the [yo] by my car. Then, three people went by the bus. So, as for me the bus [te] of the park to be, to do the [chi], because and others it was not, the serious [te] expectation oak you applied. September 18th (Sunday) Weather: Rain As for us the [u] it did or the office of the mother. Because so, the mother used the saw, making the [ke] excessiveness, fire occasion the [tsu] it did the one [chi] coming. It did and the [yo] [u] [bo] [u] did and came.
Okay, Babelfish isn't funny anymore. It's just sad.
天気：はれ
今日、日本の学生とフォートジョージ公園へ行った。学生は五人だったので、いっしょに僕の車で行けなかった。それから、三人はバスで行った。でも、僕は公園のバスていのいちをしらなかったので、たいへんてはずかしかった。
九月十八日（日曜日）
天気：雨
母のオフィスを私達はかいぞうした。でも、母がのこぎりを使ったので、けむりを作って火さいほうちきをはっした。しょうぼうしは来た。
My Translation:
September 17th (Saturday)
Weather: Sunny
Today, I went to Fort Geroge Park with (a group of) Japanese students. Because there were five students, we couldn't go together in my car. Therefore, three of them (lit: three people) went by bus. However, I didn't know where the bus stops at the park were, which was troublesome and embarrassing. (lit: Because I didn't know where the park's bus stops were, it was both troublesome and embarrassing)
September 18th (Sunday)
Weather: Rainy
At my Mom's office, we (me and Mom) were doing renovations. However, because Mom was using a saw, smoke was created and a fire alarm was activated. Firemen came.
Babelfish Translation:
September 17th (Saturday) Weather: [re] It went to the student and the fort George park of today and Japan. Because the student was five, it was and the [tsu] did and could not go to the [yo] by my car. Then, three people went by the bus. So, as for me the bus [te] of the park to be, to do the [chi], because and others it was not, the serious [te] expectation oak you applied. September 18th (Sunday) Weather: Rain As for us the [u] it did or the office of the mother. Because so, the mother used the saw, making the [ke] excessiveness, fire occasion the [tsu] it did the one [chi] coming. It did and the [yo] [u] [bo] [u] did and came.
Okay, Babelfish isn't funny anymore. It's just sad.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Japanese Journals #1
Today marks the end of INTS 221, the first of UNBC's two intermediate Japanese langauge courses. This is the third Japanese course I've taken-- I took UNBC's introductory Japanese courses (INTS 121 & 122) back in the 2009/10 semester to prepare for my trip to Japan. After a year-long hiatus, it was fun being back in Japanese-- I ordered food over a pay phone, wrote a recipe for Haluski dumplings, and made a mock commercial. I also met with two exchange students from Tokyo once a week as part of a language partnering program.
And in addition to all that-- and more to the point of this post-- I wrote weekly Japanese journals. Since it's been a long time since I've posted anything new (Jesus, how many of my posts have begun with those words?) and since I have that neat label "ニホンゴゴをしています" just sitting there waitng to be used, I thought I'd post up my Journal entries. Aside from corrections pointed out by my instructor, these will be the exact entries that I submitted in class. In addition to the original Japanese, I'll also include my own English translation (which I'll try to make as literal as possible) and, just for fun, an autotranslation from Babelfish.
Now, the problem with a posting stuff in Japanese is that most computers aren't set up to display Japanese characters. Every operating system and/or browser has its own way of changing language settings, so unfortunately I can't just tell you what I did to get Japanese support on my computer. Hopefully, these links will be of some help:
http://japanese.about.com/od/fonts/ss/setup.htm
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/sheaa/projects/genki/computer_support.html
http://thejapanesepage.com/beginners/japanese_on_computer
http://www.yesjapan.com/install_japanese/
With that (hopefully) out of the way, here's my first Japanese journal entry:
二千十一年九月七日(水曜日)
天気：はれ
今日、大学は始まった。（｢始まる｣は、「はじめまして」になりますか。）昨日、僕のコンピューターはびょうきになりましたので、今日、僕は、しあわせじゃなかったです。
九月十日(土曜日)
天気：はれ
コンピューターは元気ですよ。昨日、まあやさんとみなさんと会った。来週、公園へ行く。今日、 パーティーへ行った。にぎやかだった。
My Translation:
2011, September 7th (Wednesday)
Weather: Sunny
Today, university started. (Does "start" ("hajimaru") become "nice to meet you" ("hajimemashite")?) Because yesterday my computer became sick, today I was not happy. (Ed: I got a nasty computer virus around this time.)
2011, September 10th (Saturday)
Weather: Sunny
My computer is healthy! Yesterday, I met with Maya-san and Mina-san (Ed: My Japanese partners) Next week, we go to the park. Today, I went to a party. It was lively.
I didn't realize how primitive this stuff was until I translated it just now. Christ, I sound like a bloody five year old; usually, I sound at least thirteen or fourteen.
Finally, as promised, the Babelfish version:
2011 September seventh (Thursday) Weather: [re] Today, the university started. (“It starts”, “beginning,” it becomes? Because) yesterday, my computer became the rivet coming, today, happiness there was no I, is. September tenth (Saturday) Weather: [re] The computer is vigorous. It met yesterday, well and with everyone. Next week, it goes to the park. Today, it went to the party. It was bustling.
Oh, computers. You're so vigorous.
And in addition to all that-- and more to the point of this post-- I wrote weekly Japanese journals. Since it's been a long time since I've posted anything new (Jesus, how many of my posts have begun with those words?) and since I have that neat label "ニホンゴゴをしています" just sitting there waitng to be used, I thought I'd post up my Journal entries. Aside from corrections pointed out by my instructor, these will be the exact entries that I submitted in class. In addition to the original Japanese, I'll also include my own English translation (which I'll try to make as literal as possible) and, just for fun, an autotranslation from Babelfish.
Now, the problem with a posting stuff in Japanese is that most computers aren't set up to display Japanese characters. Every operating system and/or browser has its own way of changing language settings, so unfortunately I can't just tell you what I did to get Japanese support on my computer. Hopefully, these links will be of some help:
http://japanese.about.com/od/fonts/ss/setup.htm
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/sheaa/projects/genki/computer_support.html
http://thejapanesepage.com/beginners/japanese_on_computer
http://www.yesjapan.com/install_japanese/
With that (hopefully) out of the way, here's my first Japanese journal entry:
二千十一年九月七日(水曜日)
天気：はれ
今日、大学は始まった。（｢始まる｣は、「はじめまして」になりますか。）昨日、僕のコンピューターはびょうきになりましたので、今日、僕は、しあわせじゃなかったです。
九月十日(土曜日)
天気：はれ
コンピューターは元気ですよ。昨日、まあやさんとみなさんと会った。来週、公園へ行く。今日、 パーティーへ行った。にぎやかだった。
My Translation:
2011, September 7th (Wednesday)
Weather: Sunny
Today, university started. (Does "start" ("hajimaru") become "nice to meet you" ("hajimemashite")?) Because yesterday my computer became sick, today I was not happy. (Ed: I got a nasty computer virus around this time.)
2011, September 10th (Saturday)
Weather: Sunny
My computer is healthy! Yesterday, I met with Maya-san and Mina-san (Ed: My Japanese partners) Next week, we go to the park. Today, I went to a party. It was lively.
I didn't realize how primitive this stuff was until I translated it just now. Christ, I sound like a bloody five year old; usually, I sound at least thirteen or fourteen.
Finally, as promised, the Babelfish version:
2011 September seventh (Thursday) Weather: [re] Today, the university started. (“It starts”, “beginning,” it becomes? Because) yesterday, my computer became the rivet coming, today, happiness there was no I, is. September tenth (Saturday) Weather: [re] The computer is vigorous. It met yesterday, well and with everyone. Next week, it goes to the park. Today, it went to the party. It was bustling.
Oh, computers. You're so vigorous.
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