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This is really slick! I really appreciate you having Japanese as a language choice. I've been dying to hone my japanese skills with AI in lieu of reading gramm

This is really slick! I really appreciate you having Japanese as a language choice. I've been dying to hone my japanese skills with AI in lieu of reading grammar/vocab books etc. I definitely intend to use your product more, because it is definitely scratching that itch! A couple of things that might help me personally would be the ability to cancel my current response and redo it, as frequently I will stutter or pause on a thought and wish I could restart over. In that same vein I would love to see the output of what I'm saying in real-time. If only to gauge and understand what the application "thinks" I'm saying and to potentially correct and miscommunications from spoken input. I would also love the chance to role play or have the tool help me learn contextual role playing. For example in Japanese keigo is a skill I just haven't mastered. I would love a tool to help put me in positions where I need to use keigo, and then be corrected where I'm failing. Regardless, this is absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing! You're awesome :)

cwbuilds 3y ago
Thanks - glad it's useful for your Japanese. Do you like it being in the Japanese writing system or would you prefer phoenetical English? Wasn't sure which to do on that one. Thanks for the feedback. The processing point has come up a couple of times so I'll definitely be adding that, and I'll look into doing some contextual scenarios. If your language is good enough, you could try prompting it to act as, eg a waiter in a restauraunt, but that's far from ideal for beginners! Sure - realtime transcription makes a lot of sense. I'll look into it.
- GenericDev 3y ago
  Oh! I didn't know that. I'm really new to how to interact with AI. I'll try that out. Please please please keep it in Japanese. Phonetic english for Japanese is awful. Hiragana only for Japanese is really not ideal. The current output is absolutely perfect. Also, I think it's really cool I don't need an account to try that out. Very cash money of you.
  - cwbuilds 3y ago
    Ahah hear you loud and clear - no phoenetical words. Of course - hope it continues to help you learn!
- drdaeman 3y ago
  Absolutely, please keep Japanese output the way it is - it's the only approach that makes sense. Romanization loses a lot of information and makes things harder (except possibly for the absolute beginners), not easier. However, it'd be extra cool if there'd be an option to display furigana - in case user had forgotten or doesn't know some particular kanji. Or maybe just throw an option to replay the audio.
  - cwbuilds 3y ago
    Got it. Will learn about those and see what I can do.
- midoridensha 3y ago
  >Do you like it being in the Japanese writing system or would you prefer phoenetical English? Wasn't sure which to do on that one. Please do NOT use romaji. I honestly hate it when language-learning apps try to force romaji on me; it's not useful for learning the language. The written language in Japan is Japanese (hiragana/katakana/kanji), not romaji, so I just find it a distraction. Part of learning the language is learning to read it, not just to talk in it, and being forced to read it in its native script is far more useful than latin transliteration. That said, having furigana for unfamiliar kanji is really helpful too.
  - cwbuilds 3y ago
    Got it. Thanks for the feedback.
- csa 3y ago
  > Do you like it being in the Japanese writing system or would you prefer phoenetical English? Definitely Japanese writing system. Thanks. Amazing tool. Fwiw, if you’re looking to monetize, you may want to try to get a contract with the DoD. I would start with special operations (lots of money and urgent mission/training needs), and then move on to the Defense Language Institute. Oral proficiency interviews (OPIs) are part of the qualifying standard, and everyone wants more practice.
  - cwbuilds 3y ago
    Thanks for the kind words. That sounds like an interesting idea. Any chance you have a contact? Am UK-based so imagine it would be hard to get a meeting with the DoD from here. If so, I'd obviously be incredibly grateful, and here's my email: chris@prettypolly.app Thanks again, Chris
- thunderrabbit 3y ago
  definitely Japanese writing system. Thank you!
  - cwbuilds 3y ago
    Got it, thanks!
- anigbrowl 3y ago
  nthing the consensus here - it's very good as-is, even though I maxed out my conversational ability fairly quickly. The only changes I would make are to the UI, clicking the start and stop listening button feels awkward. Perhaps make it so you can click, talk, and release the button. And perhaps the option to select a few different voices. Also intrigued to see where you go with Anki integration. Excellent work, you should feel very proud of what you've built so far.
  - cwbuilds 3y ago
    Yes - Anki integration is one of the things I'm keen to do next. I'm convinced that any good language learning app needs spaced repitition. Got it. Thinking of making it possible to control the mic by holding the space bar, although that wouldn't work for mobile obviously. What devices were you testing it on if you don't mind me asking?
    - anigbrowl 3y ago
      I've just tried it on my desktop. I probably wouldn't use this mobile.
      - cwbuilds 3y ago
        Cool, thanks for getting back
- majikandy 3y ago
  Both. But perhaps also hiragana/katakana option too, like children’s book do when there is a kanji. Full on kanji is beyond me and I don’t expect to be able to pick it up just by seeing it in these conversations
csa 3y ago
> For example in Japanese keigo is a skill I just haven't mastered. Other than very common scenarios like introductions, spare yourself the headache. If you are a diplomat or something similar, understanding it might be useful, but using it can be a minefield (e.g., you better know the hierarchy of everyone around you so that you use the appropriate language). > I would love a tool to help put me in positions where I need to use keigo In most if not all cases, if you find yourself in a situation that keigo is both standard and expected, one of two things will likely be true: 1. You will have been selected based on your ability to use keigo (e.g., customer facing roles that use keigo like banks). 2. There will be one or more people in your organization who will make sure you know what you need to know. Most non-native speakers I have known who try to learn keigo use it in really unnatural and sometimes awkward ways. I have known three people who “got it right”, and maybe a fourth. All are super fluent in “normal” Japanese and are lifelong students of the language. 1. Currently a professor of Japanese. PhD in Japanese from U Hawaii. 2. Polymath Cambridge grad who worked for Cambridge University Press. It was not uncommon for Japanese people to whisper to me about how freakishly good his Japanese was, especially when speaking about formal or technical topics. 3. Power nerd who went deep into the Japanese sword drawing martial art (iaidou). Also a professor. 4. Just a guess, but HN’s patio11 is probably good at keigo. I would listen to anything he has to say about the topic over anything I say.
- Tainnor 3y ago
  Somebody wants to learn a language properly and you're saying "don't bother". I don't get it.
  - vore 3y ago
    It's a matter of priority - you can get by fine without using keigo, and instead of learning all the weird intricacies of keigo you could go learn something more practical for day-to-day use first (even native Japanese speakers complain about keigo, e.g. use of manual keigo). Teineigo is perfectly sufficient in everyday use. To put it another way, it's a bit like trying to to learn about how to write in the style of a judicial opinion when you're still learning how to talk to someone at the bar.

cwbuilds 3y ago

Thanks - glad it's useful for your Japanese. Do you like it being in the Japanese writing system or would you prefer phoenetical English? Wasn't sure which to do on that one. Thanks for the feedback. The processing point has come up a couple of times so I'll definitely be adding that, and I'll look into doing some contextual scenarios. If your language is good enough, you could try prompting it to act as, eg a waiter in a restauraunt, but that's far from ideal for beginners! Sure - realtime transcription makes a lot of sense. I'll look into it.

GenericDev 3y ago
Oh! I didn't know that. I'm really new to how to interact with AI. I'll try that out. Please please please keep it in Japanese. Phonetic english for Japanese is awful. Hiragana only for Japanese is really not ideal. The current output is absolutely perfect. Also, I think it's really cool I don't need an account to try that out. Very cash money of you.
- cwbuilds 3y ago
  Ahah hear you loud and clear - no phoenetical words. Of course - hope it continues to help you learn!
drdaeman 3y ago
Absolutely, please keep Japanese output the way it is - it's the only approach that makes sense. Romanization loses a lot of information and makes things harder (except possibly for the absolute beginners), not easier. However, it'd be extra cool if there'd be an option to display furigana - in case user had forgotten or doesn't know some particular kanji. Or maybe just throw an option to replay the audio.
- cwbuilds 3y ago
  Got it. Will learn about those and see what I can do.
midoridensha 3y ago
>Do you like it being in the Japanese writing system or would you prefer phoenetical English? Wasn't sure which to do on that one. Please do NOT use romaji. I honestly hate it when language-learning apps try to force romaji on me; it's not useful for learning the language. The written language in Japan is Japanese (hiragana/katakana/kanji), not romaji, so I just find it a distraction. Part of learning the language is learning to read it, not just to talk in it, and being forced to read it in its native script is far more useful than latin transliteration. That said, having furigana for unfamiliar kanji is really helpful too.
- cwbuilds 3y ago
  Got it. Thanks for the feedback.
csa 3y ago
> Do you like it being in the Japanese writing system or would you prefer phoenetical English? Definitely Japanese writing system. Thanks. Amazing tool. Fwiw, if you’re looking to monetize, you may want to try to get a contract with the DoD. I would start with special operations (lots of money and urgent mission/training needs), and then move on to the Defense Language Institute. Oral proficiency interviews (OPIs) are part of the qualifying standard, and everyone wants more practice.
- cwbuilds 3y ago
  Thanks for the kind words. That sounds like an interesting idea. Any chance you have a contact? Am UK-based so imagine it would be hard to get a meeting with the DoD from here. If so, I'd obviously be incredibly grateful, and here's my email: chris@prettypolly.app Thanks again, Chris
thunderrabbit 3y ago
definitely Japanese writing system. Thank you!
- cwbuilds 3y ago
  Got it, thanks!
anigbrowl 3y ago
nthing the consensus here - it's very good as-is, even though I maxed out my conversational ability fairly quickly. The only changes I would make are to the UI, clicking the start and stop listening button feels awkward. Perhaps make it so you can click, talk, and release the button. And perhaps the option to select a few different voices. Also intrigued to see where you go with Anki integration. Excellent work, you should feel very proud of what you've built so far.
- cwbuilds 3y ago
  Yes - Anki integration is one of the things I'm keen to do next. I'm convinced that any good language learning app needs spaced repitition. Got it. Thinking of making it possible to control the mic by holding the space bar, although that wouldn't work for mobile obviously. What devices were you testing it on if you don't mind me asking?
  - anigbrowl 3y ago
    I've just tried it on my desktop. I probably wouldn't use this mobile.
    - cwbuilds 3y ago
      Cool, thanks for getting back
majikandy 3y ago
Both. But perhaps also hiragana/katakana option too, like children’s book do when there is a kanji. Full on kanji is beyond me and I don’t expect to be able to pick it up just by seeing it in these conversations

csa 3y ago

> For example in Japanese keigo is a skill I just haven't mastered. Other than very common scenarios like introductions, spare yourself the headache. If you are a diplomat or something similar, understanding it might be useful, but using it can be a minefield (e.g., you better know the hierarchy of everyone around you so that you use the appropriate language). > I would love a tool to help put me in positions where I need to use keigo In most if not all cases, if you find yourself in a situation that keigo is both standard and expected, one of two things will likely be true: 1. You will have been selected based on your ability to use keigo (e.g., customer facing roles that use keigo like banks). 2. There will be one or more people in your organization who will make sure you know what you need to know. Most non-native speakers I have known who try to learn keigo use it in really unnatural and sometimes awkward ways. I have known three people who “got it right”, and maybe a fourth. All are super fluent in “normal” Japanese and are lifelong students of the language. 1. Currently a professor of Japanese. PhD in Japanese from U Hawaii. 2. Polymath Cambridge grad who worked for Cambridge University Press. It was not uncommon for Japanese people to whisper to me about how freakishly good his Japanese was, especially when speaking about formal or technical topics. 3. Power nerd who went deep into the Japanese sword drawing martial art (iaidou). Also a professor. 4. Just a guess, but HN’s patio11 is probably good at keigo. I would listen to anything he has to say about the topic over anything I say.

Tainnor 3y ago
Somebody wants to learn a language properly and you're saying "don't bother". I don't get it.
- vore 3y ago
  It's a matter of priority - you can get by fine without using keigo, and instead of learning all the weird intricacies of keigo you could go learn something more practical for day-to-day use first (even native Japanese speakers complain about keigo, e.g. use of manual keigo). Teineigo is perfectly sufficient in everyday use. To put it another way, it's a bit like trying to to learn about how to write in the style of a judicial opinion when you're still learning how to talk to someone at the bar.