i was wondering if you can read manga [japanese] just by learning the basic japanese grammar, kata, hira and basic kanji [1945 jouyou kanji characters] XD

japanese grammar is surprisingly easy to learn. i think the most important is how to use verbs since they are the very core of the language XD and now i'm learning the jouyou kanjis. is it enough though? i wonder if manga uses more than these [i'm planning on being a translator btw XD]

Limits are there to be ignored and be broken eventually by someone else
-Kyon, Live A Live, The Wavering of Suzumiya Haruhi

in today's world, if you're not moe, you can't get a decent job
~Harunobu Madarame, Genshiken

[img]http://i52.tinypic.com/105xw7k.png[/img]

If you just want to read a manga to get the gist of the story, then it is suffice to know basic grammar & basic kanji and to have a good dictionary.

1- If you're planning to become a translator, then first and foremost you need to know the language you're translating to. (If you're doing J-E) Oftentimes you'll end up having to decide between a beautiful engRish or a grammar-nazi English, or somewhere in between.

2- Learn your basic kana properly. Katakana so and n, katakana tsu and shi, hiragana ro and ru, hiragana me and nu often end up making the translator look like an idiot.

3- Learn the basics of kanji properly - they'll take you a long, long way. You don't need to know all 1945 jouyou kanji by heart as long as you know how to look up the kanji in a good dictionary.

4- Know your limits and know when to ask for help. If you're not sure, have the decency to seek for a second or third opinion.

5- Use logic and common sense.

6- Most manga do not use the "standard textbook Japanese". They use colloquial Japanese.
Some manga not only use colloquial Japanese, they use dialects of Japanese. This is where points #4 and #5 become more important. If you've looked up your good dictionary and your translation still doesn't make sense to you, get a second opinion.

7- Learn the Japanese culture and systems. It makes a difference to what the author writes and what he actually intends to say.

8- Don't underestimate your readers.
9- Respect your author.

• If you're translating professionally, then you owe your paying readers a quality work.
• If you're translating for free scanlation, then at the very least, you owe your team mates (your editor, your scanner etc) their time. Just because you're doing them a favour of free translations, it doesn't mean they deserve crappy translations.

10- Did I mention good dictionaries?

G'luck.