"Today I came across an interesting article on Overlearning, via Polyglottery,
which argues that it’s better to learn a relatively small amount
thoroughly than to try to learn as much as possible of a language.
The author’s main point is that some language learners don’t repeat
words and phrases enough before moving on to the next ones. This
results in them half-knowing quite a lot, but unable to produce what
they know smoothly and fluently.
A better way is apparently to repeat things many times, then
practice using them with native speakers as frequently as possible. In
this way, you are able to produce words and phrases without conscious
thought - they just flow out when you need them.
The author also says that you can pick up the grammar by learning
how to use words and sentence patterns in various situations. You may
not know why a particular inflexion is needed, but you will be able to
apply it when necessary.
This makes a lot of sense to me and sounds similar to the Pimsleur method."
From Telegraph.co.uk: "Psychologists have discovered that people take on the characteristics of foreign nationals when they switch into their language...The results showed that English-speaking Americans are typically more
conscientious, agreeable and outgoing than native Mexicans, but also
less neurotic."
It's always nice to find words in another language that are really similar to the same word in another language you know (They're called cognates). However, you have to be careful when words look or sound like a word you know but really aren't. There is a short article about false cognates(False friends) on Omniglot:
"When learning a foreign language, you sometimes encounter false
friends: words that sound like words in your native language, but which
don’t mean the same thing. For example, the French word sensible means sensitive, not sensible. The French for sensible is prudent or sage. A Rathaus is not a home for German rats but a town hall. The Irish word for food, bia, sounds like beer - but beer is beoir or leann. The word pan
means bread in Spanish and Japanese, and sir or mister in Polish and
Ukrainian. And remember not to try to borrow books from a French or
Portuguese librairie, a Spanish librería or an Italian libreria - these words all mean book shop. A library is a biblioteca in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, and a bibliothèque in French."
There's a great site called Lyrikline.org which has poetry from many different languages in text and read by the author. If you're into poetry or you just want to practice a new language, be sure to check it out.
Omniglot has a post about listening to music in a foreign language with some good comments: "Listening to songs in languages you’re studying, learning what they
mean and how to sing them are great ways to practise various language
skills.
One of the first things that got me interested in Portuguese,
Spanish, Irish and Scottish Gaelic was listening to songs in those
languages. This also helps to sustain my interest in them. Since I
started learning Welsh I’ve also become a big fan of Welsh language
music. Before that I was only vaguely aware that there was a Welsh
language music scene - it’s a bit like discovering a whole new country.
I quite like some Mandarin and Cantonese music as well."
The Times has an interesting article about how baby babble can be gramatically correct: "According to one linguist, babies are born with the capacity to learn any language, but this plasticity withers as they concentrate on their mother tongue. Charles Yang, of the University of Pennysylvania, argues in a new book that babies are born with the templates for all languages in their brains, and that the underused templates are gradually discarded. In The Infinite Gift: How Children Learn and Unlearn the Languages of the World , Professor Yang suggests that “nature proposes, and nurture disposes”."
Welsh-speaking cyclists have been left baffled - and possibly concerned for their health - after a bizarre translation mix-up.For instead of a road sign telling them to dismount, the Welsh translation informs them that 'bladder disease has returned'.
The temporary sign, placed in front of the roadworks at Barons Court roundabout between Penarth and Cardiff, correctly says 'cyclists dismount' in English, but says 'llid y bledren dymchwelyd' in Welsh.
Owain Sgiv, an officer for the Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, explained: 'Roughly translated, llid y bledren dymchwelyd means bladder disease has returned.
Omniglot has a small article on motivating yourself to learn a language:
"Motivation is very important when learning a language, or indeed anything else. Without motivation it’s difficult to continue studying for very long.
An enthusiastic teacher or tutor can really help, as can learning materials at the right level, i.e. one that stretches you, but not much. Setting yourself targets and goals, and rewarding yourself when you achieve them can also help. Another good way to motivate yourself is to spend time studying the language in a country or region where it’s spoken.
Way back in 1988 when I first tried to teach myself languages, I found it very difficult to continue studying for more than a few weeks. My lack of motivation was the main reason. Since about 1998 though, I’ve been studying various languages more or less continuously. Motivation seems to come more easily to me these days.
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For instead of a road sign telling them to dismount, the Welsh translation informs them that 'bladder disease has returned'.
