Where can I find sources for Japanese language research in anime?

[dpcollier128]

I'm doing a research presentation and I need to find at least two sources for this presentation. I need to make a comparison between the use of the Japanese language in real culture and the use of the language in popular anime. Can anyone point me in a good direction? They need to be reputable sources.

[dpcollier128]

*ahem*

[LadySage]

I don't know if anyone has actually done a study on it. You can try academic journals and databases - are you a college student? Most schools have a subscription to some sort of database like JStor.

[ProfessorWashu]

"Mangajin", a do-it-yourself Japanese language tool, was a magazine released in English-speaking countries to teach the Japanese language through the use of manga images. It is out of circulation (last I heard) but a company called the Wasabi Brothers is working on a revival. If you look to them, you'll probably be able to get SOMETHING. Compare its teachings to those of a standard Japanese language textbook, and you ought to have something. I used "Genki" for my textbook, which is easy to use and not written completely in Japanese, as some textbooks are.

As to anime, that's a little trickier. First, you'd already need to be able to differentiate between English and Japanese (i.e. you'd need to be fluent in both) or you'd need someone who is fluent to listen for you. I suppose you could just compare slang useage in anime with that of real life (you'd be surprised at the differences.) Any anime would do if you wanted to do that. I recently saw a subbed preview for an anime called "Ramen Fighter Miki" which used some serious slang. I'd also say that "Gals!" is a good one (called "Super Gals!" in America), as the whole purpose of the anime itself is to describe an aspect of Japanese culture.

Put these suggestions together, and you've got at least 4 sources now.

I hope this helps, and sorry if it doesn't.

[dpcollier128]

Well, the presentation was last week. It's a little bit too late. Those sources seem good, though... I might even check a couple of them out, just for my own learning experience. Thanks for the suggestions.

[ProfessorWashu]

No problem. Sorry I couldn't help. May the intel help you in the future. (I know it's helped me.)