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Post by Ivan Kolev on Sept 24, 2016 23:30:27 GMT
Well, they're easier for native English speakers as more than half of the entire English vocabulary is from Romance languages (~25% is Latin and ~25% is French). However, that doesn't mean that Romance languages are "Lower Tier" to everyone. Before I delve into my inner language nerd, might as well clarify some stuff: Romance Language: -Derives from Latin (Called Romance due to Latin being the Roman language) Languages include: -French -Portuguese -Spanish -Italian -Catalan -Romanian Germanic Languages: -Derives from Proto-Germanic (The original language of barbarian tribes in ancient times) Languages include: -German -Norwegian -Swedish -Dutch -English -Afrikaans -Danish Now, English is technically a Germanic language, but it's more of a frankenstein language, borrowing words, syntax, etc. from all sorts of languages. Linguists have found a multitude of different language vocabulary and grammar in the language, but a few are more important than others, specifically: -German -Latin -French -Greek Now, over half of English vocab is from Romance languages, which obviously leads to a large amount of cognates in these languages. German comprises about 25% of all English vocab, but Germanic words are more used for common speech, while Romance words are more often used for more 'sophisticated' vocab (Of course, if you count pastry shop or teacher as more sophisticated). Obviously, as these languages comprise ~75% of all English vocab/grammar, it makes sense why these would be easier for us than Semitic languages or Turkic languages. Internationally speaking, however, Romance languages are actually fairly difficult I believe, and I definitely know Germanic ones are fairly difficult. Just a message that anything that is deemed easy is only easy for a specific group of people or an individual.  I find German semi-difficult, it could be to the fact that German is my first foreign language i am learning, and that i have heard your first is always the hardest. Is that true? Well, someone who has more successful ventures in learning a multitude of languages such as The Light Bringer or Erich von Manstein would probably help you with this answer more, but based on my experience: My first foreign language that I learned was French, starting in 7th grade. Fairly difficult initially, and keep in mind that my teacher was a good teacher (Both personality wise and educationally wise). My second foreign language is Latin, which I started Freshman year in High school. This was a LOT easier, but that could be because I personally feel Latin is easier than French. Now, if you tie in all the ones that I have tried, then yes, first one is definitely hardest according to my experience, as Italian and Romanian were far easier to understand than French initially was (All though Portuguese was harder), Romanian definitely because by that point I had knew a lot of French/Latin as well as a hint of Italian, all of which are in the same Romance language group as Romanian. All in all, the first language barrier may be tough to break, but once you do, it becomes far easier to learn following languages, especially if you learn languages within the same language family (So learning French would help with Italian, learning German would help with Dutch, etc. etc.). Of course, however, if you're really motivated to learn a language, nothing should stop you from trying to understand and learn it |
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Post by Ivan Kolev on Sept 24, 2016 23:34:35 GMT
I also just want to say that you're better off learning a language you are interested in than learning one which is useful. Because while, for example, Catalan may not be important with business or trade or whatever, if you're interested with the language and want to learn more about it, you will be more dedicated to it and thus less likely to stop studying it. Learning languages take time, time which is valuable. You don't want to waste time learning a language you don't want or care much about learning.
That being said, some languages like Mandarin and English are very important and very useful.
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Post by Frederick the Great on Sept 24, 2016 23:42:34 GMT
I speak Latvian(native), Russian (first foreign), English (2nd foreign), German (third foreign) (I need more practice there),learning French, Lithuanian, Estonian, Spanish and Italian. Dont the Baltics speak the same laguange, are yiu making an I joke No they don't. The same as the Balkans don't speak one language although they have very closely tied histories they have their own languages however I'm pretty sure they are similar. |
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Post by Stonewall Jackson on Sept 24, 2016 23:50:16 GMT
I also just want to say that you're better off learning a language you are interested in than learning one which is useful. Because while, for example, Catalan may not be important with business or trade or whatever, if you're interested with the language and want to learn more about it, you will be more dedicated to it and thus less likely to stop studying it. Learning languages take time, time which is valuable. You don't want to waste time learning a language you don't want or care much about learning. That being said, some languages like Mandarin and English are very important and very useful. We are required by the board of education to learn a foreign language. I am a sophmore in highschool and i'm learning German. I've mentioned before that my highschool has 4 available languages; Spanish, French, German and Latin. I love German culture and i took it as that was what i was most interested in (would have learned it anyway outside of school). But like anything, I learn best when i am not forced to learn (might seem weird). Like i love to read, but if i am forced to read a book for school i generally lose interest, even if it is a book i like. So for German class, I find it learn better when i study on my own leisure. But I do find it hard to locate good resources to study from outside of class. So i guess what i am asking is, what did you use to help you? (If anything) |
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Post by Ivan Kolev on Sept 25, 2016 0:24:39 GMT
I also just want to say that you're better off learning a language you are interested in than learning one which is useful. Because while, for example, Catalan may not be important with business or trade or whatever, if you're interested with the language and want to learn more about it, you will be more dedicated to it and thus less likely to stop studying it. Learning languages take time, time which is valuable. You don't want to waste time learning a language you don't want or care much about learning. That being said, some languages like Mandarin and English are very important and very useful. We are required by the board of education to learn a foreign language. I am a sophmore in highschool and i'm learning German. I've mentioned before that my highschool has 4 available languages; Spanish, French, German and Latin. I love German culture and i took it as that was what i was most interested in (would have learned it anyway outside of school). But like anything, I learn best when i am not forced to learn (might seem weird). Like i love to read, but if i am forced to read a book for school i generally lose interest, even if it is a book i like. So for German class, I find it learn better when i study on my own leisure. But I do find it hard to locate good resources to study from outside of class. So i guess what i am asking is, what did you use to help you? (If anything)I just kind of absorbed the information given to me. I find that learning and remembering information is easy, yet having to remember patterns or equations are much more difficult, which is why learning history and English are easier for me than math. Unfortunately, I dont have any tips for you  |
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Post by Stonewall Jackson on Sept 25, 2016 0:27:47 GMT
I just kind of absorbed the information given to me. I find that learning and remembering information is easy, yet having to remember patterns or equations are much more difficult, which is why learning history and English are easier for me than math. Unfortunately, I dont have any tips for you It's cool. I also find History very easy, (taking AP U.S Right now) but foreign language more difficult. But German is easier this year than last year if anything, becoming more familiar i suppose |
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Post by Desophaeus on Sept 25, 2016 2:07:33 GMT
Hmmm... tips...
I have once met a man who speaks 8 languages fluently (from very different language families, no less!). I asked him what was the optimal way on acquiring a new language. He said something to this effect: "Learn it like a baby! A baby is exposed to a language by associate words with objects in a vibrant and visual way that will stick to the baby's mind better than merely memorization."
He said "Yeah, I buy things like cutesy baby word flash cards and baby books."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2016 4:00:57 GMT
I speak Latvian(native), Russian (first foreign), English (2nd foreign), German (third foreign) (I need more practice there),learning French, Lithuanian, Estonian, Spanish and Italian. That's a lot. Is it hard learning so many at one time? Each is different to learn, somethingds comes easily, some hard |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2016 4:07:20 GMT
I speak Latvian(native), Russian (first foreign), English (2nd foreign), German (third foreign) (I need more practice there),learning French, Lithuanian, Estonian, Spanish and Italian. Dont the Baltics speak the same laguange, are yiu making an I joke No we don't, Estonians speak in Finnugre language, Latvians has the least influenced Baltic language, Lithuanians has it more influenced by Polish language, and Belorussians doesn't talk in Indoeuropean language anymore, they were slaughtered and made to speak Russian, so now they speak in a mix of 2 languages. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2016 4:10:45 GMT
Dont the Baltics speak the same laguange, are yiu making an I joke Similar, I'd assume like how Portuguese and Spanish are very similar but definitely different enough to be considered separate languages. Nope, its like English and German, you can understand some things, but it is different enough to make you understand like 20% from the other language |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2016 4:15:01 GMT
Well, someone who has more successful ventures in learning a multitude of languages such as The Light Bringer or Erich von Manstein would probably help you with this answer more, but based on my experience: My first foreign language that I learned was French, starting in 7th grade. Fairly difficult initially, and keep in mind that my teacher was a good teacher (Both personality wise and educationally wise). My second foreign language is Latin, which I started Freshman year in High school. This was a LOT easier, but that could be because I personally feel Latin is easier than French. Now, if you tie in all the ones that I have tried, then yes, first one is definitely hardest according to my experience, as Italian and Romanian were far easier to understand than French initially was (All though Portuguese was harder), Romanian definitely because by that point I had knew a lot of French/Latin as well as a hint of Italian, all of which are in the same Romance language group as Romanian. All in all, the first language barrier may be tough to break, but once you do, it becomes far easier to learn following languages, especially if you learn languages within the same language family (So learning French would help with Italian, learning German would help with Dutch, etc. etc.). Of course, however, if you're really motivated to learn a language, nothing should stop you from trying to understand and learn it The more you learn, the easier it comes, all you need to talk fluently is practice, if you have it it goes fast and easy, you can speak in some language if you live in country where you can talk in it, you can learn it in 1-3 months |
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Post by Tito on Sept 25, 2016 7:29:58 GMT
Bosnian Serb Croat Montenegran are bassicly one same laguange but there are some diffrent words and dialects.
I myself cannot speak russian but I can understand some of the words and you can understand then what the russian is talking about
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Post by Bismarck Jr on Sept 25, 2016 11:44:06 GMT
I wouldn't recommend learning German or English to anyone who isn't fluent in a Germanic language, as they are very hard to master.
German might be easy to learn at first, but when you get into the longer, and more "German" words such as:
"rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz"
You'll be in for a ride.
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Post by Jean-Luc Picard on Sept 25, 2016 15:47:43 GMT
I wouldn't recommend learning German or English to anyone who isn't fluent in a Germanic language, as they are very hard to master. German might be easy to learn at first, but when you get into the longer, and more "German" words such as: "rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz" You'll be in for a ride. Learning English is pretty necessary these days. |
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Post by Napoleon Bonaparte on Sept 25, 2016 16:11:46 GMT
I wouldn't recommend learning German or English to anyone who isn't fluent in a Germanic language, as they are very hard to master. German might be easy to learn at first, but when you get into the longer, and more "German" words such as: "rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz" You'll be in for a ride. Learning English is pretty necessary these days. English should honestly be the second language of every non-native English speaker. |
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