Nihongo De

Honestly I was planning on doing a different comic with no actual joke in it, but today was a very good day in Japanese class. I involved myself in the class and achieved my general goal of not actually doing the thing we're supposed to be doing by asking a grammar question that was both bothering me and completely outside the curriculum for the day.

So, a comic in Japanese! This is not without precedent. It also doesn't seem that unusual to present a monologue from the author in the word bubbles of random images, but I don't know why that--oh wait. Yes I do. I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or not to explicitly trace this strip's influences like that. Is it helpful to you?

So! Translation time! First, what I wanted it to say, and what it means through a Japanese lens:

Otto: I went to Japanese class today.
Puppy: Really?
Tess: Yes. But I don't know why. It sucks.
Ike: No way! If you go to class, you'll be able to speak Japanese! It'll make you smart!
The Buddha: But if I'd skipped, I could have eaten a homemade lunch.
The Gons: True dat!

And now, because this never doesn't amaze me, word-by-word:

Otto: Now-day Japan-language's class *DIRECT OBJECT* attended.
Puppy: Truth?
Tess: Yes. But, why is question, not-know. No-good is, hm.
Ike: No! Class *DIRECT OBJECT* attend-if/when, Japan-language of/in/at to speak experience *SUBJECT* be able, donchaknow!
The Buddha: But, class *DIRECT OBJECT* absent-if/when, home in/at me *SUBJECT* to make noon-food *DIRECT OBJECT* eat-able-was, but not.
The Gons: So it is!

Real comics soon? Maybe, maybe not.