Learning a new language can be challenging, whether it is learning new grammar or trying to perfect accent - but it is such a rewarding experience when you hit those milestones- Like a full conversation with a native, or even just being able to understand a sign-post in a different country.
What are the biggest problems you have come across when learning new languages? What are your most positive experiences?
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Its all in the accent
When attempting to perfect a new language, the pinnacle achievement is that of acquiring a genuine accent to go with it. Some accents, like the Australian for example, stand out quite significantly where as other accents, like a softly flowing Irish accent- are more subtle and harder to detect by those who do not know how. In truth, there are a vast amount of different accents, in every language. I can think of at least 9 different types of French accent, just of the top of my head.
Let us take a quick look at the British and American accents. Both are English (although there are those that disagree) but they sound drastically different. The reason for this is that they are spoken using different areas of the mouth. Americans don’t distinguish so much between different sounds and speak with the back of the mouth and the nose, where as the Brits speak with the front part of the mouth and the tongue, carefully articulating each sound.
It is really very normal to have an accent, as an accent is merely the way in which we use our mouths to pronounce words. The best way to pick up an accent is to “reverse engineer” it. Listen to a native speaker speaking your language and listen to the accent they have. For example- When English is your native language and you wish to learn how to speak German- listen to how a German person speaks English. You will notice that they speak very much with their breath- paying particular attention to letters “s” and “z”- When next speaking German, do the same and you shall find your accent improved.
The best way to pick up a genuine accent is to learn from a native speaker. Get in touch with Just Languages and give it a try.
Let us take a quick look at the British and American accents. Both are English (although there are those that disagree) but they sound drastically different. The reason for this is that they are spoken using different areas of the mouth. Americans don’t distinguish so much between different sounds and speak with the back of the mouth and the nose, where as the Brits speak with the front part of the mouth and the tongue, carefully articulating each sound.
It is really very normal to have an accent, as an accent is merely the way in which we use our mouths to pronounce words. The best way to pick up an accent is to “reverse engineer” it. Listen to a native speaker speaking your language and listen to the accent they have. For example- When English is your native language and you wish to learn how to speak German- listen to how a German person speaks English. You will notice that they speak very much with their breath- paying particular attention to letters “s” and “z”- When next speaking German, do the same and you shall find your accent improved.
The best way to pick up a genuine accent is to learn from a native speaker. Get in touch with Just Languages and give it a try.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Land of Pharaohs
As many of you will be aware, Egypt, land of the Pharaohs, is currently going through great political and social upheaval. Hosni Mubarak, President of the 30 years has been accused of tyranny and corruption and there has been a call from the Egyptian people and the international community for him to step down.
Egypt, or more accurately the Arab Republic of Egypt has a rich history and a vibrant culture. Almost every school child in the world is taught about the pyramids, the sphinx and the Nile. The country's history is ingrained in pop culture with films like “The Mummy” and conspiracies like “Was the curse of Tutankhamun responsible for the sinking of the Titanic?”. Furthermore, considering it is a Muslim county, it is remarkable that part of Christian teaching involves learning a little of Egypt's history and culture.
So what is the fate of this magnificent country now? Well that is a question that seems to be in heavy contention. Even now in Tahrir square, thousands of anti-Mubarak supporters face off against thousands of pro-Mubarak supporters. Despite the promise the he will not stand for another term, Mubarak is beset on all sides by people calling for his immediate resignation.
Whatever happens, the next year in Egypt will be interesting ones- It will be amazing place to visit with a beautiful culture to immerse yourself in. And of course, one of the best ways to understand a different culture, is through its language.
Now, I know it rather difficult to find good Arabic tutors in the UK, I have found Just Languages to rather reliable.
Egypt, or more accurately the Arab Republic of Egypt has a rich history and a vibrant culture. Almost every school child in the world is taught about the pyramids, the sphinx and the Nile. The country's history is ingrained in pop culture with films like “The Mummy” and conspiracies like “Was the curse of Tutankhamun responsible for the sinking of the Titanic?”. Furthermore, considering it is a Muslim county, it is remarkable that part of Christian teaching involves learning a little of Egypt's history and culture.
So what is the fate of this magnificent country now? Well that is a question that seems to be in heavy contention. Even now in Tahrir square, thousands of anti-Mubarak supporters face off against thousands of pro-Mubarak supporters. Despite the promise the he will not stand for another term, Mubarak is beset on all sides by people calling for his immediate resignation.
Whatever happens, the next year in Egypt will be interesting ones- It will be amazing place to visit with a beautiful culture to immerse yourself in. And of course, one of the best ways to understand a different culture, is through its language.
Now, I know it rather difficult to find good Arabic tutors in the UK, I have found Just Languages to rather reliable.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Open Doors
I honestly find it a little scary that there is so much xenophobia in the UK today. I think it so sad that the majority of this is caused by a lack of cultural understanding. It is generally not considered cool to be well informed about different cultures; there is this attitude of “My way or no way” which is only going to limit cultural integration in the long run. For example, with the advent of “Terrorism” in the UK there has been a massive wave of Islamaphobia- even boiling down to the little things. I mean it is so easy pick up on differences and focus on them that we often fail to notice the similarities and commonalities. I have had discussions with friends in the past on the difference between Islamic societies and those of other parts of the world and inevitably the topic off “the rules” rears its ugly head.
In one particular discussion we were talking over the concept that our western culture and that of Islamic nations will never be able to understand each other, that there is a different system of logic and reason and the two are fundamentally irreconcilable. The examples given were thus; not being allowed to drink alcohol or eat pork. In discussion the point was made to me that there was no logical reason that is comprehendible to a person created from a western culture for this personal limitation.
I refused to agree with the crux of my friend’s argument, yet those two examples stayed in my head for sometime after. Try as I might, I could not think of logical reasons why these would be forbidden- other than being bad for your health in the case of alcohol. To try and find an answer to this, I decided to ask a Muslim friend, and this is what he said “Well it is quite simple really. You know that Islam is a religion that was founded in the Middle East? Then you will also know that most of that area consists of desert. Pork is an incredibly salty meat, and it was important that the nomadic people kept all the water they could, and as salt draws out moisture, it was banned. In the same way- alcohol dehydrates you quite severely, which is something very dangerous in such a hot climate”.
This helped my understand a great deal more and showed me that it is so easy to jump to inaccurate conclusions when you are uninformed- even if generally, you are an incredibly open minded person. So be proud of learning about other cultures. Be proud of learning new languages. Open your doors to the rest of the world and they will let you in.
A nice little semi-related link is The Language Learners' Declaration of Independence
In one particular discussion we were talking over the concept that our western culture and that of Islamic nations will never be able to understand each other, that there is a different system of logic and reason and the two are fundamentally irreconcilable. The examples given were thus; not being allowed to drink alcohol or eat pork. In discussion the point was made to me that there was no logical reason that is comprehendible to a person created from a western culture for this personal limitation.
I refused to agree with the crux of my friend’s argument, yet those two examples stayed in my head for sometime after. Try as I might, I could not think of logical reasons why these would be forbidden- other than being bad for your health in the case of alcohol. To try and find an answer to this, I decided to ask a Muslim friend, and this is what he said “Well it is quite simple really. You know that Islam is a religion that was founded in the Middle East? Then you will also know that most of that area consists of desert. Pork is an incredibly salty meat, and it was important that the nomadic people kept all the water they could, and as salt draws out moisture, it was banned. In the same way- alcohol dehydrates you quite severely, which is something very dangerous in such a hot climate”.
This helped my understand a great deal more and showed me that it is so easy to jump to inaccurate conclusions when you are uninformed- even if generally, you are an incredibly open minded person. So be proud of learning about other cultures. Be proud of learning new languages. Open your doors to the rest of the world and they will let you in.
A nice little semi-related link is The Language Learners' Declaration of Independence
Think Languages
I love language. I love to speak. I love to write. I love to listen. I am one of those irritating people who correct your grammar while you are still speaking. I know this hypocritical of me, my own grammar is far from perfect but this is hardly surprising. “An amateur’s enthusiasm does often go hand in hand with hypocrisy” - quoted from me, just now. I spend so much of my time looking through other language blogs like The Linguist and The English Blog, that I thought it was about time I created a blog of my own.
And so, this blog is my tribute to all things linguistic. In the coming months or years or decades, I will be posting articles on many things from poetry to Portuguese to grammar to German. If you have the language-love-bug too, you may find this of interest. I do certainly hope you will.
And so, this blog is my tribute to all things linguistic. In the coming months or years or decades, I will be posting articles on many things from poetry to Portuguese to grammar to German. If you have the language-love-bug too, you may find this of interest. I do certainly hope you will.
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