しあわせ

I’ve started making my Kanji Notebook.

The first week has seen me gather a lot of the basic data I want, some of it imported using XLST such as Kanjidic, some of it input by hand, some from tab separated files.

So I have the data on all the kanji I could want. I decided only to import the data I was interested in so many of the dictionaries and Heisig didn’t make the cut, nor did Spanish, French, Korean or Chinese. I might import this data later and allow it to be toggled on and off. One of the many reasons I’m doing this is that current dictionaries don’t display want I want how I want or give far too much information.

The radicals were only given as a number so I needed to make a table of the radical names and sub-classify a number of them. Then I needed to input an index from Basic Kanji Book vols 1 and 2 by Chieko Kano. I also put in an option to override Kanjidic’s keyword (too often derived from Heisig and too ambiguous) and use your own keyword or one from the Kanji Learners Dictionary if you input it using the index number for ease of lookup.
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As can be seen from the above certificate I passed 9th grade in the Kanken test. やった！
I was reasonably confident however. Although I can be a little proud of my achievement it only puts me on a par with a below average seven year old, with knowledge of 240 common kanji. However I can say that the knowledge is native level. I can read the onyomi, kunyomi and tokubetsu readings and write them by hand, not just put an English keyword to them.
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I read an interesting document about the new JLPT specifications for the test starting in 2010 from the Japan Foundation.

Considering the search terms people use in Google these points are a big departure from the old test:

There are no plans to publish collections of complete copies of tests administered in past years.

and

The goal of learning Japanese is not to memorize vocabulary, kanji, and grammar, but to become capable of using them as a means of communication. The new test is to measure both “Japanese language knowledge, including vocabulary and grammar,” and “the competence required to perform communicative tasks using language knowledge.” Therefore, we determined that it is not appropriate to publish “Test Content Specifications” which includes the lists of vocabulary, kanji, and grammar.

and

Failure to exceed the minimum acceptable score in any scoring sections will result in a fail for the entire test, even if your total score is above the minimum acceptable score.

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Long ago before I started learning Japanese, FileMaker Pro was one of my favourite programs. Then I started spending most of my time on Japanese and FileMaker was sidelined, especially as it didn’t support Japanese characters at that time. It’s interesting though, I get the same fun from learning Japanese as I did when I solved a problem using FileMaker.

Lately I’ve taken a look at the Kanjidic2 XML file. I’d like to do a little more than a standard dictionary search. The various sites and standalones don’t quite do what I’d like. I’d like to be able to pull out the data for which JLPT2 kanji are also Grade 4 for instance. I’d like to add my own notes, set up my own cross references, link it to Kradfile, link it to websites, get rid of the most annoying Heisig definitions (old-boy for 君 springs to mind). I have ideas for kanji learning I’d like to integrate. Although I wonder if I won’t have Yet Another Japanese Dictionary Reader in what is already a crowded market.

Anyhow to start to do this I need to put it into a database. FileMaker is the only real candidate to do what I want easily. Read the rest of this entry »