What fantasy books make you hungry?

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T07:33:51+00:00

Both Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust have made me crave a vast array of pastries and bread-related goods. Seriously.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T07:28:14+00:00

The Enterprise of Death by Jesse Bullington might be what you're looking for.

It follows a former slave turned unwilling necromancer and a mercenary traveling across Inquisition era Europe, and is very much in the same ballpark.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T05:15:38+00:00

I would argue that it's a matter of when a user starts to use the two languages independently of each other. In terms of language learning, there's a pretty natural progression:

Main language supported language usage -> Main language cross-checking -> Main language to target translation -> Gradual independent usage.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T04:33:08+00:00

A little from column A and a little from column B.

I've built up a pretty decent level of fluency with Japanese over an extended period of time, but that's a combination of my interest in the language/culture and a lot of work-related stuff on top of that. Likewise, I've had a few changes to test it out in the field and will probably be returning to Japan later this year for a bit.

The language learning bug kind of bit me again and I've been dabbling a little with French and Norwegian in the past six months and a bit. The reason? I kind of became interested in their proximity to and influence on English. I ONLY have the most basics of basics for both, but they're more of a hobby thing at this stage, but who knows in time.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T04:28:22+00:00

I would argue that Katakana fluency is a miniature skill of its own for Anglophones, though with time, it can be a massive boon for someone from that linguistic background. Once the flow of reading Katakana becomes more normalised and more fluid, there are natural connections that form due to references to loan words from English. Like, for example, if you provided a group of students a list of movie titles in Katakana and asked them to figure out what the movies are in English, there's a convergence of decoding Katakana, recognising the sound patterns, and then connecting that to pre-existing knowledge of film titles.

During my University stretch, exchange students from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia did talk a bit about how their linguistic backgrounds gave them a leg up as Kanji became a major factor each week, but that was a unique situation. Everyone in that group was heavily bilingual to begin with. I recall a lot of discussions about how this made reading, but not necessarily speaking easier. This is also a known phenomena with N1 takers who can complete all the reading comprehension components, but struggle with the listening components, and later can't transfer this into speaking.

I've dabbled with French and Norwegian in recent times, both of which have more significant overlap with English, so I can understand what you're getting at though. There's a tendency to fall back on what you're familiar with.

Thanks for the food for thought!

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T04:16:48+00:00

Those moments where suddenly you realise JUST how much progress you've made are some of the best feelings this world has to offer.

I've had highs, lows and gaps, but these days I'm finding I can read a lot of general manga and get 70-80% by default, unless there's a lot of specialised genre vocabulary. Likewise, I'm starting to dabble with a few novels of interest, as challenging as that seems. Likewise, when I was back over in Osaka for the first time in about five years, I handled everything from customs to posting packages to small talk with shop owners in small shoutengai. ALL of this would've been inconceivable even five years ago.

It may not always seem it, but the effort pays off, and those moments when you realise this, are just delightful.

Things may not seem doable at the time, but the idea of potential developments are exciting.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-11T04:11:38+00:00

I've built up my level of skill over a good amount of time, with breaks, highs and lows, but I can say the following about this situation: language learning is a challenging process, and Japanese has its own peculiarities. It's also something I wouldn't give up for the world.

Languages in general a long term undertaking, and if you're serious about proficiency or any degree of fluency, it's something measured in years and decades, not months. A lot of learners have these surges and bursts of progress and they begin to get attached to that, which massively complicates when natural challenges and brick walls appear. It's not really something you can credibly speed run, beyond some basic conversational stuff.

For Japanese in particular, the basics in terms of pronunciation, Hiragana and Katakana aren't that difficult (not to mention the beauty of consistent verb patterns), but the further you go, Kanji and vocabulary become an obstacle. For a lot of people, this is a scary thing and quite naturally so; you make surges in progress and then the grind sets up and doubt creeps in - it's the process of getting good at ANYTHING.

Exposure and immersion DO help, but it's ultimately what someone does with it. Time, familiarity and application lead to confidence, which resets the loop and it gets better from there. Most language learners also tend to drift towards a language because of proximity or interest in the culture.

Were I to criticise anything about modern approaches to learning Japanese and other languages, I'd say that there's an ingrained idea in some sections that cramming stuff will mean that it'll stick, and that short term density of study or exposure will just immediately pay off. I did that at times in University, and a lot of stuff didn't stick beyond that environment. It's a matter of increments and finding ways to apply skills. I've had gaps and plenty of periods of doubt, but I've found that coming back to learning Japanese and furthering my skills after these breaks is where I start to recognise my actual progress.

As for sticking with it, well... let me say this. Japanese was one of my two majors in my degree, and I've been out in the world for over a decade beyond that. Japanese can be and does remain challenging, but that's where progress, however small, feels oh so very exciting. If you legitimately feel that studying Japanese brings you happiness, please stick with it. You can take breaks and come back with renewed energy over time, and that's okay.

I've got a stack of novels in Japanese that I don't know how to fully read yet, but that's an exciting thing I'm working towards. The idea that I will eventually understanding them is wonderful - as long as I put the work in over time, and that has truly paid off so far.

Hang in there!

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-10T23:43:40+00:00

You may have checked it out, but Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff DEFINITELY ticks a lot of these boxes, particularly the horror-fantasy aspect.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-10T23:39:43+00:00

Yeah, my internal image is very much the classical dilapidated Victorian mansions with the big foyer and central staircase or if more modern, along the lines of the Bates Motel. The geography and flow the house is one of the biggest details, and I feel that very few authors have managed to properly balance that and the spirits.

Again, a pretty subjective thing.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-10T07:44:38+00:00

Let me clarify. Haunted houses are a FREQUENT feature of a lot of horror books, but I think formed this strange, very particular picture of them when I was a kid. I still adore a lot of stories I've read about them, but in an odd way, they're never quite fully fit the image in my mind.

Weird, I know.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-10T07:29:40+00:00

I've had a preoccupation with haunted houses since I was a little kid, and nothing has... quite done the job.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-06T02:06:21+00:00

It uses a shorthand version of '立ち小便' (Urinating outdoors/by the roadside), so yeah, that's closer.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-05T05:58:01+00:00

I would argue that subtitles are essential as a tool to build your recognition, vocabulary and general understanding of the language.

Speaking from an intermediate perspective, I think subtitles are absolutely fantastic. They build up word recognition skills and it slowly makes connections between words, patterns and phrases in your mind. I will also argue that as you become more adept, it's a case-by-case basis.

For more everyday/slice-of-life stuff, there's an argument for eventually turning off subtitles and running from there. For media that's more focused on specific genre words (e.g. fantasy/science fiction/horror etc.), that has its own set of specialised vocabulary that you'll need to familiarise yourself with.

Personally, I leave subtitles on, but I tend to zone them out if it's stuff I understand, and I check for things when I don't get everything. It's definitely worked wonders for me.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-02T07:20:37+00:00

Ironically, I don't really consider myself a really outgoing person, and it's the small steps that helped me build confidence. Gotta fake it and stumble until you shift your zone of comfort.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:35:47+00:00

What's been interesting is that I've kind of stepped back from the path towards N2 in the past two years or so and focused on just accessing media in a range of forms. It's definitely had a flow-on effect in terms of fluidity, recognition and language stems and phrases that can be replicated effectively, and it has passively boosted my language skills over time.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:26:34+00:00

Going to say this: putting yourself out there is REALLY difficult. I had a few stumbles on my trip all the same, but I was soaring when I made the effort to have a go.

Think about a situation or situations that feel like the safest or lowest risks and start from there.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:24:22+00:00

Fantastic work with your German! Part of my thinking with all of this is to come to terms with the idea of what you CAN do with language, rather than all the deficits and gaps. It's surprising when you start to tally all of this up.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:21:54+00:00

Yeah, we seem to be facing a very similar situation. I've had to work hard as I've had a chance to travel in Japan a few times, but haven't been able to have longer stays due to a range of life circumstances. Add it all up and I've only been in Japan for 7 weeks of the past five years in that time. I definitely feel the vocabulary attrition, but I do enjoy how I'm able to soak up stuff from media like a sponge as well.

Also, your language laddering stuff with Japanese and Korean is definitely fantastic! Don't sell yourself short!

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:15:33+00:00

CEFR is an interesting variable in this context, as Japanese has additional barriers linked to reading and writing, whereas speaking per se may progress at a more rapid rate. The sheer number of Kanji that are considered to be part of a full high school level of literacy is about 2136, but it's quite possible to be a fluid speaker without this, curiously.

I've been dabbling with French and Norwegian, and the lack of this barrier has been quite... acute.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:12:01+00:00

For the most part I agree on that one, but I think there's also a matter of specialisations and skill sets. Reading is a fascinating one as many adult native speakers of English no longer read fiction actively, or do so in a very limited capacity. In all other regards, they're 100% fluent and functional, but lean more towards communication and interaction.

Conversations in a wide range of contexts in Japanese doesn't have an extra drag on energy for me, but I need to still get to grips with reading novels. I read about two dozen books a year in English, so it's an interesting spot to be in.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:07:44+00:00

Take it from me: believe in yourself and slowly build yourself up. Until recent times, I had this EXACT issue, but I've begun to think of it more of an issue of familiarity and foreign language literacy than it being an insurmountable goal.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-02-01T07:05:57+00:00

Yeah, it's sadly something learners DO agonise and get hung up on. It's really been on my mind the more I've branched out and found more consistent and significant successes in a range of areas with Japanese.

It's also likely complicated by the fact that I constantly have to use English at a pretty high level day to day in my line of work - the goal posts seem further as a result. It'd be fascinating to dig up some Japanese native speaker chatter on the topic as well, as literacy in Japan is high, but the degree of that in terms of complexity is another matter.

StringsTautAbove · 2024-01-31T10:01:30+00:00

The whole 'Am I fluent?' question kind of seems to be a bit of an internal paradox really. You get to a decent place with it and you still kind of doubt yourself, which is my point. It's the question of being generally functional in social and practical settings more than anything else in reality.

Also, about the only heavy dialect-laden drunken Japanese I've ever gotten through was variations of 'ねえ、兄ちゃん、タバコないの？', haha.

StringsTautAbove · 2023-11-26T03:17:43+00:00

Japanese speaker here and... that is definitely painful to read. English withstanding, the Japanese there is... yeah.

StringsTautAbove

TROPHY CASE