|
 |
Language Families: First and foremost | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| hp230 Tetraglot Newbie TunisiaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3692 days ago 30 posts - 63 votes  Speaks: German, Arabic (classical)*, French, English | Message 1 of 23 15 November 2014 at 6:48pm | IP Logged | |||||
|
When someone is crazy about learning languages and it comes to pick up a new one, what would be better: going for a new language family, or for a familiar one?
In fact, learning a new language in a different language family would be certainly harder, but wouldn't it be more exciting? I think it would open large horizons not only on a certain type of symbols and sounds but actually on a whole other region of the world. For example, learning Russian would certainly make Ukrainian easier to follow, the same with French and Italian or Spanish. I'm learning German right now and I wonder what would be next? Would I go for Italian or Spanish or make a change and go for Russian/Japanese or why not Mandarin? What can you advice me guys? 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| tristano Tetraglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 4046 days ago 905 posts - 1262 votes Speaks: Italian*, Spanish, French, English Studies: Dutch | Message 2 of 23 15 November 2014 at 7:00pm | IP Logged | |||||
|
Follow your interests.
If you're interested in Dutch it would be easy for you if you have a good level of German. But if your dream language is Malayalam what is the point to study any other language? Study Malayalam. (said by someone who would like to study Mandarin, Persian and Icelandic and is studying every other languages but not them. Do the opposite of what I'm doing please :D) Edited by tristano on 15 November 2014 at 7:00pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| tarvos Super Polyglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member China likeapolyglot.wordpr Joined 4706 days ago 5310 posts - 9399 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish | Message 3 of 23 15 November 2014 at 7:03pm | IP Logged | |||||
|
Kiribatese. At least you'll be the first to write about it
6 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| hp230 Tetraglot Newbie TunisiaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3692 days ago 30 posts - 63 votes Speaks: German, Arabic (classical)*, French, English | Message 4 of 23 15 November 2014 at 7:18pm | IP Logged | |||||
That's the point, I want to study all the ones I mentioned above (along with Turkish, Persian and many other ones) but I don't know with which should I start :). 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Luso Hexaglot Senior Member Portugal Joined 6060 days ago 819 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, French, EnglishC2, GermanB1, Italian, Spanish Studies: Sanskrit, Arabic (classical) | Message 5 of 23 15 November 2014 at 8:46pm | IP Logged | |||||
|
Ahlan bika.
I have a suggestion for you: why don't you go for a Berber language? That would be amazing. It is not only exotic, but I'm sure you must be able to find resources in Arabic. If you choose it, I'll follow your log, since it's on my dream list. 3 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| hp230 Tetraglot Newbie TunisiaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3692 days ago 30 posts - 63 votes Speaks: German, Arabic (classical)*, French, English | Message 6 of 23 15 November 2014 at 11:17pm | IP Logged | |||||
Well that would be so original; actually I am from Tunisia and we have a lot of Berber speakers in the south of the country,but it's not a studied language as it's the case in Morocco, Mali or Algeria for example, it's in fact a whole culture (Al Amazighia) that is going to extinction unfortunately. I personally find the idea so wild and probably not feasible in the near future. But I don't exclude the possibility that some day I'll learn the Berber language (it's part of my national history that I'm proud of). 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| holly heels Groupie United States Joined 3885 days ago 47 posts - 107 votes Studies: Mandarin | Message 7 of 23 15 November 2014 at 11:21pm | IP Logged | |||||
|
I read on this forum somewhere that Dr. Arguelles recommended that every multilingual should have one of each of 4 types of languages in their repertoire besides their native one.
If I remember correctly, the first one should be a "heritage" language...someone of Irish descent could learn Irish. The second one should be a major, if not an international language fairly closely related to the learner's native language...a native French speaker could learn Spanish or English. The third one should be a major language in another more distant branch of the learner's language family...a native English speaker could learn Russian or Hindi/Urdu. The fourth one should be a world language completely outside the learner's family...a native English speaker could learn Japanese or Mandarin or Arabic. Easier said than done of course but I guess the recommendation is that language family should be a consideration when choosing a language, and sometimes the further away the better. 5 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Luso Hexaglot Senior Member Portugal Joined 6060 days ago 819 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, French, EnglishC2, GermanB1, Italian, Spanish Studies: Sanskrit, Arabic (classical) | Message 8 of 23 15 November 2014 at 11:38pm | IP Logged | |||||
Yes, I know a bit about Amazigh. Hence my use of the word "amazing" in my first post... ;) I also have a good friend from Tunisia (Siliana, to be precise). I knew you had Berbers in your country (the country shows in your profile). All in all, it was an educated guess. It's nice to know you cherish that part of your heritage. Maybe by learning it you can help in its preservation. It would be far more meaningful than choosing some far-fetched language on a whim. Maybe in the future, as you say. Meanwhile, I wish you luck with your choice, whatever it may be. Welcome to the forum. 4 persons have voted this message useful |
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
