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I understand what you're saying, and it's something I always strive to do but never achieve. But I love to learn, and hopefully one day I'll be as good a writer as you . I agree that writing changes you, as does reading something as deep as your story.
One of my old teachers wondered whether learning to manipulate a language to its fullest potential actually sacrifices some of your creativity. I still haven't answered the question to myself; is it worth it?

16-Aug-2010 01:29:39

Thanks, but I don't really consider myself a good writer, lol. People are too generous here. Personally, I never thought of it this way, as English is my second language, manipulating it to the fullest just hasn't crossed my mind, hehe.

16-Aug-2010 01:33:28

In my opinion, anyone able to write in a foreign language is a great writer. At school, we have the option of learning either French, Spanish or German after 3 years of learning both French and Spanish. I know the basics of both languages, and I'm sure that in an average conversation in either language it would take me a few seconds to put together a sentence. All I really want to learn is Japanese, though .
You're a better writer than I am, by far. I think that learning a second language gives you much perspective on your first language, and you can advance in terms of both languages due to that perspective.

16-Aug-2010 01:41:17 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2010 01:42:31 by [#KY3I78CSC]

Haha, but it's different though. English is so very easy to learn but difficult to excel (Goodness, 13 tenses?)
Really? I learned French in my secondary school. Japanese...why, what's good about it? They base their language on Chinese...

16-Aug-2010 01:55:23 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2010 01:56:36 by Englishkid62

I really have no idea why I want to learn Japanese... maybe it's because of the anime .
I prefer to think that there are only 3 tenses, and the rest are in my imagination.
It's 2 in the morning and I don't feel tired a bit...

16-Aug-2010 02:03:33

It's 2 in the morning here too, lol. Maybe. Japanese are famous for their anime.
English has, at least at the top of my head, Simple Past, Simple Present, Future, Past Continuous, Present Continuous, Future Continuous, Past Perfect, Present Perfect, Future Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous, Future Perfect Continuous, Subjunctive, Conditional...
15. - at least those are the tenses I can use.

16-Aug-2010 02:07:34 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2010 02:14:34 by Englishkid62

This is possibly the most interesting discussion I've ever had...
It hurts to look at those tenses. Or maybe it will hurt to look at those tenses. Gah! So confusing! I find that trying not to pay attention to the tense usually helps you use them better.
I always remember to pick up my Japanese learning book late at night, but fall asleep before I have chance to. I would like to learn a language to the extent that I can actually think in it. Language itself amazes me, not because of the communication aspect, but because of the complexity of even the simplest form.
Or maybe it's learning that is so fascinating...
I'm getting all philosophical. That's a funny word, try repeating it as fast as possible .

16-Aug-2010 02:20:01 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2010 02:21:02 by [#KY3I78CSC]

Haha, I can't say grammar or tenses are my passions but I do have to keep them in mind when I write. So maybe not knowing them in the first place would've been better - ignorance is bliss - they do give me a headache but hey, some grammarians argued there could be as many as thirty tenses.
Oh really? I don't really think that a language could be learned from books, not to your extent anyway. I started learning English at about 3, but I wouldn't be able to think in it unless I'm living in a world full of English (UK), and be surrounded by English. It's not until you speak English, read English, listen to English every day, for years, that you can finally understand that language. It is so strange some times.
Not philosophical at all, lol.
(I also quite like learning things. I could have learned enough English to scrap by but it takes some active pursuing to be a writer ) It depends how much you want it.

16-Aug-2010 02:28:01 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2010 02:30:16 by Englishkid62

The book is only really a starting point until I get to the point where I have the choice to learn it at school (in around 2 years )
People are always complaining about having to go to school, but education is one of the best things about being young; as you get older, it gets harder to adapt and therefore harder to learn.
Now that you mention it, I know what you mean about having to be surrounded by a language to think in it... maybe I can still delude myself by surrounding myself with manga and anime.

16-Aug-2010 02:44:31

Really? You can choose to learn Japanese in school? Wow, unbelievable. At least there's no such option where I live. Do you like sushi too? I love them
I completely agree. I actually *like* school, or rather, *liked* school. I do feel getting dumber as I grow
Naw, you can't delude yourself. You need to be in a world where you're typing Japanese, speaking it, your parents talking to you in that language, as well as seeing Japanese road signs etc.

Either case, I claim the 500 post mark, which means, whenever it is ready, my next story *will* be released, likely to be later this month.
P.S. I'm going to bed. I just remembered I actually have to wake up for something tomorrow. Bye. It was nice talking to you

16-Aug-2010 02:53:02 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2010 02:53:36 by Englishkid62