Nataly Kelly: Adventures in Hyperpolyglottery: Inside the Mind of Extreme Language Learners. Admit it.
At one point or another, the words "Learn a new language," have appeared on your list of New Year's Resolutions. Like most resolutions made with the best of intentions, this one frequently fizzles out well before the year comes to an end. But speaking multiple languages is not uncommon -- it's the normal state for many human beings all over the world. So why is it so hard for people to achieve such a simple goal? As it turns out, learning languages is easier -- and more pleasurable -- for some folks than for others.
Who are these people, and why on earth do they learn so many languages? Culture, Not Biology, Shapes Human Language : 13.7: Cosmos And Culture. There's no language gene.
There's no innate language organ or module in the human brain dedicated to the production of grammatical language. There are no meaningful human universals when it comes to how people construct sentences to communicate with each other. Across the languages of the world (estimated to number 6,000-8,000), nouns, verbs, and objects are arranged in sentences in different ways as people express their thoughts.
The powerful force behind this variability is culture. So goes the argument in Language: The Cultural Tool, the new book I'm reading by Daniel Everett. The Pirahã are hunter-gatherers who live along the Maici River in Brazil's Amazon region. Culture, Not Biology, Shapes Human Language : 13.7: Cosmos And Culture. The wrong and right way to learn a foreign language - The Answer Sheet. This was written by linguist Stephen Krashen, professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, is an educational researcher and activist.
He has written hundreds of articles and books in the fields of second language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading. By Stephen Krashen In a recent issue of the Washington Post Express, Andrew Eil, a staffer who works at the U.S. State Department on international climate change, recommends that foreign language students start with “boot camp:” Study grammar very hard, drill vocabulary every day, and force yourself to talk. This regimen, he claims, put him in a position to develop high levels of competence in several languages; he now speaks Russian and French fluently and can converse in Mandarin and Kazakh. Most of us who have taken foreign languages classes that emphasize heavy grammar instruction and memorizing vocabulary would disagree with his recommendations, and so does the research.
Grammar Vocabulary Forced speech Sources: The Practice Of Not Knowing: A Third Method Of Foreign Language Learning. When learning a new language there are those things we need to know, those things we need to practice and a million other things we don’t know. 1.
Knowledge Is (Passive) Power Knowing something usually doesn’t take a lot of effort. Either I know, or I don’t. It’s the process of committing something to memory which is the difficult part. Let’s isolate this moment of knowing for a second, that instant after we have committed something to memory, before the (often) inevitable happens and we forget.
If I know that the Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, for example, then this information is stored somewhere in my cerebral cortex. In other words, the actual knowing is completely passive. Put more bluntly, knowing isolated parts of a language doesn’t equate with knowing a language. 2. Let’s face it, we’re not all equal. For example, when I was working as a language teacher for children and young adults, one of my assignments was to determine individual weaknesses and “patch up” holes. 3. How to Successfully Learn a New Language This Year. Learn Chinese. Chinese Pronunciation Pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese: Setting the Record Straight is a response to the glut of bad information on the harder points of the pronunciation of Mandarin.
Chinese Grammar Hurdles Chinese grammar poses learners with special challenges at each level. The Hobbit in Chinese, Pinyin, and English. Learn Chinese Website. Jordan: The Chinese Language(s) An Overview for Beginners Note: This essay should tell you more than you need or want to know about the Chinese language in general.
For the pronunciation of Romanized Mandarin, see the "Pronunciation Guide" on this web site. (Link) Outline 1. Related files on this web site Guide to Pronouncing Mandarin in Romanized Transcription (link) More Than You Want To Know About Chinese Tone (Link) More Than You Want To Know About Simplified Characters (link) 1. Mandarin. The most widespread Chinese language, known as "Mandarin" or Guānhuà 官話, is spoken in north, central, and west China. Cantonese or Guǎngdōnghuà 廣東話, sometimes also referred to as the Yuè 粵 dialects, spoken in Guǎngdōng province. Overseas Chinese normally speak dialects of Hokkien (Mǐnnán) or Cantonese. The English name "Mandarin" comes from the Portuguese. MYLO: a new way to learn languages. Chinese Tutor - Learn Chinese Fast! Duolingo.
Everything you need to know about studying Chinese but no-one will tell you. Are There Easy Languages and Hard Languages? Are There Easy Languages and Hard Languages?
G’day all! I know I don’t ask this question often enough but… Reading: The Witch Doctor of Language Acquisition. Author: Robert A.
Robles ‘What is the best thing I can do to master the language I’m learning?’ Fluent in 3 months – Language Hacking and Travel Tips — Unconventional language hacking tips from Benny the Irish polyglot; travelling the world to learn languages to fluency and beyond! What is the fastest way to learn a foreign language?