Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

General discussion about learning languages
Easily_confused
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Re: Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

Postby Easily_confused » Wed May 17, 2017 6:56 pm

If anyone is interested in Scots, then I recommend 'The Broons' and 'Oor Wullie'- both published in the Sunday Post here in Scotland. They bring out annuals for both at the start of every year and you can get them via UK ebay. There's also Tintin and Asterix now in Scots.
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Easily_confused
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Re: Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

Postby Easily_confused » Wed May 17, 2017 6:58 pm

reineke wrote:
Werner.


What on earth is Werner about?! I see the pictures on Amazon.de but it looks insane!
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Re: Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

Postby s_allard » Thu May 18, 2017 5:31 am

For Québécois French, I think the best graphic works are the Paul series by Michel Rabagliati: Paul à la campagne, Paul à Québec, Paul dans le métro, Paul a un travail d'été, etc.

In passing, I would take issue with the wording of the title of the thread. I would have said "...learning spoken language." While comics/graphics novels are a good way to learn elements of the spoken language because they are very rich in dialogues, they do not have a monopoly on real language. All the many manifestations of language are real. Non graphic novels and newspapers are full of real language. The language of a letter I receive from the government is very real although it is not my everyday language. Is there any kind of language that is not real?

I would also like to point out that, as realistic or natural-sounding as these dialogues can look, they are not real. They only seem realistic but they are essentially artificial renditions of the spoken language. To get the real thing, one has to listen to transcripts of conversations between native speakers. This can be an eye-opener. In fact, I find that youtube can be in general much more useful than graphics novels for learning the spoken language.
Edit: corrected some typos
Last edited by s_allard on Thu May 18, 2017 10:32 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

Postby Tristano » Thu May 18, 2017 9:58 am

I find it a brilliant method to learn colloquial language and idiomatic expressions, so a good complement.
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Re: Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

Postby s_allard » Thu May 18, 2017 10:42 am

LeCon wrote:...
Obviously all language is real but this isn't a philosophical discussion. 'real' clearly refers to language as spoken between people. A government letter or a high-brow news article isn't how people really communicate between themselves on a regular, normal basis. I'm more talking about how you would speak to someone in the street, in a bar, at school or college, at work, when socialising or relaxing. Real language. Just like if you use inversion all the time like teachers teach, you will sound funny in France because hardly anyone ever uses it when speaking in natural, informal conversations. And even in 'formal' situations. I bought my car and the dealer wasn't using inversion even though it was all professionally set up in a plush office and we were his clients. Real language.

....

I'm going to start a separate thread on the question because this is an interesting question of correct terminology.
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Re: Comics/Graphic novels as a way of learning real language

Postby Tristano » Thu May 18, 2017 12:20 pm

LeCon wrote:
Tristano wrote:I find it a brilliant method to learn colloquial language and idiomatic expressions, so a good complement.

You got any favourites ?


Yes, Donald Duck. Just because I like it.
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