How come when i use the "official" Japanese i learned and try to hear the anime japanese and its different?

EX:

"formal" (i called it official above): 1- ichi 2 - ni 3 -san

I heard something different in the anime so.... yeah


are the anime characters speaking a different dialect or what?

Japanese have lot of counters, so maybe that's why.

For just counting it's ichi, ni, san etc

When counting people it's hitori, futari, sannin, yonnin etc
Counting things: hitotsu, futatsu, mitsu etc

So Japanese counting is kinda hard. There are special counting words for pretty much anything.

Also there's slang and stuff to account for. Depending in the type of anime it is, dialects may be used or something like that. A common dialct used is the Kansai-ben one. (See Azumanga Daioh! They have a character that nicknamed based on that she's from the area that speaks that dialect)

don't forget as stated above that there are some foreigners that can speak english alot more proper than alot of the english people. this is because when they learn the language they learn the formal and proper way of speaking where as because we know it all we tend to shorten words down and use slang to replace alot of words. in the same manner the japanese do the same

oh thanks... so .... this would be kind of hard to learn wouldn't it?
do you think ill need a personal instructor?
I have a japanese learning program which i think is somewhat better than Jap. Online..., but i think its all formal. So how is it possible to learn this slang? (going to Japan? lol dont have money and time...)

speaking to real Japnese people?

Just search for a few slang Japanese dictionaries. Yonekawa's Beyond Polite Japanese (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/4770027737/sr=8-1/qid=1154289852/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9718843-0331860?ie=UTF8) would be a good start (emphasis on start)

That's pretty much it. Japan is very hierarchical and densely layered and this is reflected in the language. They use different sets of terms depending on who they talk to (talking to the CEO requires extremely polite language while talking to a social equal would use language on a middle level and the basest language is reserved for enemies, particularly those below you). Actually, it's not that different from English, where the language seen in legal documents, scientific papers, or Literature contrasts greatly with slang.

oh i see .. thanks

what books or progrmas should i buy or get to start learning?

Ive heard about japanese for busy people... any other ones you would recommennd?

Kodansha's Kanji Learner's Dictionary, Lonely Planet's Japanese Phrase book (for the absolute min on hand handbook), and a Japanese Language Teacher.

Learning Japanese on your own is not a good thing. Seek out a good tutor or teacher.

And this has offically turned into the Japanese thread that has become lost in the Everyday Chatter fora...

well kinda yeah,....I do know a community college nearby but there are only 2 japanese courses and i dont think anyone has enrolled + its a bad schedule ...(so it will interfere with my daily schedule)...