This is a question for people who regularly read manga in a foreign language. For example, non-native English speakers reading English scans (like myself). Or people whose first language is not Japanese, reading manga in original.
I haven't thought about this until my English teacher asked me about my learning methods. She was surprised, because she knew I didn't learn much, and yet I received good results on my tests. And then I realised that it's mostly thanks to manga
Reading manga in a foreign language is easier than reading a book - if you're not sure what a sentence means, you can always guess it from the picture. Manga is mostly about dialogues, so you can find many nice expressions to use in conversations with people. Also, manga is a great source of interesting vocabulary, because there are so many different kinds of it. For example, after reading Eyeshield 21 I could explain the rules of American football in English
So, do you think that your language has improved since you started reading manga? Did it stay the same? Or maybe it got worse (because of these bad quality translations with many mistakes)? Of course, if you read manga in your own language and you think that it was changed by it, feel free to reply, too
Sorry about this overly long topic
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Does reading manga help you improve your language?
From User
Message Body
Member
1:02 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 761
Member
1:09 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 60
I'm a non-native English speaker too, and I'm pretty sure I improved my English by reading manga. Although I don't think my grammar got any better, I learned a lot of new vocabs.
Post #414870
the fork of truth
Member
1:14 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 254
When I started reading manga online, i couldn't understand most of the things, but now that I'm used to it, I think that it's even better than reading it in german (which is my first language), so probably I gained some skills in understanding, but not in expressing. of course there were new words that I learned, but I still feel like having a great lack in expressions.
In general I do think that i learned lots of new vocabulary with english manga. just my grammar is getting horrible. Recently I'm doing so many stupid mistakes... but I wouldn't blame it on reading english manga, of course. It's just that my english doesn't improve that much anymore, maybe I'm at my limit.
________________
There's nothing to see here. Proceed with what you were doing or throw rainbows at random pedestrians.
In general I do think that i learned lots of new vocabulary with english manga. just my grammar is getting horrible. Recently I'm doing so many stupid mistakes... but I wouldn't blame it on reading english manga, of course. It's just that my english doesn't improve that much anymore, maybe I'm at my limit.
________________
There's nothing to see here. Proceed with what you were doing or throw rainbows at random pedestrians.
Post #414872
insomniac Kagehime
Member
1:17 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 2707
My grades in English went straight to the top since i read scanlations. I´m above the level of a terminal student XD
I am the living dictonary of my class XD
________________
currently reading: Nyotai-ka
please support me
I am the living dictonary of my class XD
________________
currently reading: Nyotai-ka
please support me
Member
1:36 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 267
Totally! I think I learned English faster just because I wanted to read manga- couldn't believe bookstores allowed anyone to read stuff without even buying it when I first came to US
?
Member
1:49 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 228
Yup. I definitely learned many new words by reading manga.
________________
Does not compute.
________________
Does not compute.
Post #414877
Raw
Member
1:49 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 874
Nope
Most of the time the grammar in mangas are really poor
________________
No one gives a shit what trite garbage you write here.
Most of the time the grammar in mangas are really poor
________________
No one gives a shit what trite garbage you write here.
Post #414881
nope, I don't think so..
________________
]
I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"
________________
]
I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"
Member
2:22 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 64
Yes.. various words ^^
Like monopolize.
I thought it meant a game of monopoly,
saw the word used in Fruits basket,
went wtf, googled up the word...
yeah.
________________
Let's just say Tarot Cards rule.
Like monopolize.
I thought it meant a game of monopoly,
saw the word used in Fruits basket,
went wtf, googled up the word...
yeah.
________________
Let's just say Tarot Cards rule.
No.
I am rather sure that translators can't think
up phrases complicated enough for me to be
abashed.
I am rather sure that translators can't think
up phrases complicated enough for me to be
abashed.
Lol, no way. Manga definitely does not equal literature.
________________
________________
Quote from LawX
You are like the dense main character in a shoujo manga.
Quote from Crenshinibon
And you will murder someone one day, pika. If you're my daughter.
Member
2:34 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 486
2:34 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 486
You can definitely learn words by reading manga, it just depends on what you read.
Member
2:36 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 1
2:36 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 1
Quote from secretdesires
Nope
Most of the time the grammar in mangas are really poor
Most of the time the grammar in mangas are really poor
Seriously...
Member
2:47 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 28
2:47 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 28
I think it depends on your own level. It helped me a lot with vocabulary when I started and gave me confidence to start reading novels and later, complex literature.
And now it's the same with japanese, with manga I'm learning more kanji and casual expressions. Stuff I can't learn with study books.
And now it's the same with japanese, with manga I'm learning more kanji and casual expressions. Stuff I can't learn with study books.
Member
2:49 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 153
2:49 pm, Oct 11 2010
Posts: 153
No, English is too easy in manga. I need to start reading raws and German scanlations.
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