Learning a new language becomes easier when it is similar to a language you already know. For example, Mandarin Chinese, being vastly different from English, posed a challenge for me. However, learning Russian and Czech first made it easier for me to pick up Ukrainian and Polish. The key is the level of relation between the languages.
Similar Languages Have Their Challenges Too
When I visited Portugal for the first time, despite already knowing Spanish and making some effort to learn Portuguese, I struggled to communicate effectively. The locals would often switch to English when they realized I couldn’t understand Portuguese well. Transitioning from Spanish to Portuguese was not as straightforward as I had expected.
In my initial attempt to learn Portuguese, using traditional methods, I didn’t make much progress. It was only when I focused on comprehensible input, listening and reading extensively in contexts of interest, that I began to grasp the language better.
Moving from Spanish to Portuguese required dedicated effort, especially in terms of pronunciation. Gradually adapting to the new language through immersive input was crucial in my language learning journey.
Factors that Influence Language Difficulty
Motivation plays a significant role in overcoming language learning challenges. Even languages that seem easy can become difficult if there is a lack of motivation to learn them.
Apart from motivation, objective factors contribute to the difficulty of learning a language:
1. Writing System
Languages with alphabets familiar to the learner, like the Latin alphabet, are generally easier to grasp compared to those with more complex writing systems. The learning curve is usually slower for languages with unfamiliar writing systems.
2. Vocabulary
Languages with less common vocabulary and fewer similarities to other languages can be more challenging to learn.
3. Grammar
Languages with intricate grammar structures, like Slavic languages with case endings and verb aspects, pose additional complexity compared to languages with simpler grammar rules.
4. Pronunciation
Languages with tonal aspects, like tonal languages, may require extra time and practice to master pronunciation. However, with dedication, learners can achieve accuracy.
5. Politeness
Different languages have varying levels of politeness and speech patterns based on social relationships. Languages like Japanese and Korean exhibit distinct speech variations depending on the context.
Learning Japanese can initially seem challenging, but my personal experience with the language taught me that by trying to stay neutral in my speech, I gradually began to naturally adapt to the appropriate level of politeness. It’s important for learners to not be afraid of making mistakes, as native speakers understand that non-natives may struggle with politeness levels, especially in the beginning stages of learning. By simply paying attention to the language and being exposed to it regularly, learners will naturally pick up on these language nuances.
Ultimately, our motivation and the time we dedicate to learning a language will determine how easy or difficult it is for us. Having access to engaging content that interests us, such as listening and reading materials, can greatly impact our language learning journey and overall success.
If you’re looking to learn a language through content that you love, consider joining LingQ today for a personalized and effective language learning experience.
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