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| Journeyer Triglot Senior Member United States tristan85.blogspot.c Joined 6866 days ago 946 posts - 1110 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish, German Studies: Sign Language | Message 41 of 58 15 March 2007 at 10:41pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
Ow, that stings. ;-) Grammar is perhaps my single favorite part of language-learning. Seriously, though, I think your ideas are good ones, and I like how you give ideas for learners, but then you leave enough space for them to figure out what the best method for them as individuals is. A friend of mine asked me a similiar question about how to learn Spanish, and for better or for worse I gave her a very specific method to follow, but also told her that if it doesn't work, it might simply be because she learns differently than I do. Regarding grammar, it is only a part (albeit a very significant one) of a language. In my method, which I'm just starting out on actually, I try to master the grammar before I really start reading. I don't mean to have a perfect grasp of it, but in my opinion a mastery or fluent grasp doesn't have to mean perfect, for most people at least who are aimed at communicating on a high level. For the first couple of weeks, grammar *is* my main focus, but afterwards, when I'm in the process of reading or acquiring vocabulary in general, it is not so much. I just want to be there enough so that while I'm reading or creating sentences to help me learn the words, I can recognize what I'm seeing. Anyway, that's what I wanted to say, and it ended up being a little longer than I thought it would. :-S Edited by Journeyer on 15 March 2007 at 10:43pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Linguamor Decaglot Senior Member United States Joined 6616 days ago 469 posts - 599 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, French, Norwegian, Portuguese, Dutch | Message 42 of 58 16 March 2007 at 2:02am | IP Logged | ||||||||
Some people enjoy grammar. If this is the case, there is no reason not to study the grammar of a language for the intellectual satisfaction it provides, in addition to any contribution it might make to actual proficiency in the language.
There is really no sharp distinction between grammar and vocabulary (or structure and lexis). It is more insightful to speak of the lexicogrammar of a language. Edited by Linguamor on 16 March 2007 at 2:13am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Journeyer Triglot Senior Member United States tristan85.blogspot.c Joined 6866 days ago 946 posts - 1110 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, German Studies: Sign Language | Message 43 of 58 16 March 2007 at 4:52am | IP Logged | ||||||||
I'm not quite sure what you mean about the fuzziness of distinction. In my mind, I tend to put things into boxes (which doesn't always work in this rather unboxable world), so I guess the always a distinction between grammar and vocabulary, the difference between, say, bones and the circulatory system of a lifeform (in that both are nessesary, but both are quite unique from one another)...I tend to make quite a bit of anaologies. I'm just curious what you mean because I've never heard this before. Thanks! Edited by Journeyer on 16 March 2007 at 9:59am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Linguamor Decaglot Senior Member United States Joined 6616 days ago 469 posts - 599 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, French, Norwegian, Portuguese, Dutch | Message 44 of 58 16 March 2007 at 9:57am | IP Logged | ||||||||
Grammatical patterning is inseparably bound up with lexis (vocabulary). There's a brief explanation here under Grammar and Lexis. www.philseflsupport.com/grammar_issues.htm Edited by Linguamor on 16 March 2007 at 9:58am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Roger Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6590 days ago 159 posts - 161 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, Indonesian | Message 45 of 58 16 March 2007 at 10:42am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Vinnie, with the 'TY improve your Italian' I have found the same problem, but however, you can use this to your advantage and look upon it as a challenge. I understand most of the text anyway, but hopefully it will help my speaking and listening skill's when I get to them.
Linguamor, a question if you don't mind my asking? How long did it take you to learn all those languages? And do you intend to learn anymore? you must be really really proud that you can speak that many languages, when im struggling with just one. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Linguamor Decaglot Senior Member United States Joined 6616 days ago 469 posts - 599 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, French, Norwegian, Portuguese, Dutch | Message 46 of 58 16 March 2007 at 12:31pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
I've been learning languages for the last twenty years. The first languages I started learning were French and Spanish, then Italian and the Scandinavian languages. I learned these to an advanced level several years ago. I learned Modern Greek to a tourist level, and studied Ancient Greek and Latin at university. Then I decided to learn German and Portuguese, and more recently Dutch. I don't intend to learn any more languages. All my languages are either Romance or Germanic languages, so I don't feel that it is really that great an achievement. Edited by Linguamor on 16 March 2007 at 2:22pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7013 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map | Message 47 of 58 17 March 2007 at 5:03am | IP Logged | ||||||||
It's a great achievement regardless of the language family since you've obviously devoted much time, effort and dedication to perfecting so many languages...just my humble opinion though! 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Journeyer Triglot Senior Member United States tristan85.blogspot.c Joined 6866 days ago 946 posts - 1110 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, German Studies: Sign Language | Message 48 of 58 17 March 2007 at 5:13am | IP Logged | ||||||||
I completely agree. I suppose some people take the approach that they are doing it for fun, not to really achieve greatness, so to them the achievement isn't really the point. I'm not saying that was your approach, Linguamor, rather just my two cents. I would love to have accomplished what you have, and hope to someday. :-) 1 person has voted this message useful |
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