Ok I get what the comments say about strategy. I didn’t lay out a specific strategy because I had in mind that by talking about the differences and similarities among these languages one would develop a personal strategy based on which language in a set of related languages is the most important for them to start with. For example, I started with Nepali because I began trekking there in 1985. Then later I began to study Hindi and recently Bengali, noting the differences and similarities. Furthermore, 50 minutes is not enough time to go into a lot of detail about how to use the knowledge of one or more languages in a group to learn the others. The intent was more to raise awareness of how these languages are related. I restricted myself to Asian languages that I have actually studied and use to various degrees. Really, I must admit my strongest motivation was to share my love for these languages.
The comparisons of Asian languages and not only is also a strategy. 16 years ago, because I wanted to learn Sanskrit and Hindi/Urdu I've read a book : "Gramatica comparata a limbilor Indo-Europeene - Compared Grammar of Indo-Europeen languages " by Theofil Simenschy that opened my eyes, explaining what is a language family and showing how easy it is to learn another language based on vocabulary and phonetic changes in a language family in the entirely Indo-Europeean area. Today I try to use my Japanese Kanji knowledge for Mandarin ( and in the near future for Cantonese , Korean, etc. ) 10 + languages, but the list is endless...
40:23 Hindi & Nepali aren't writing systems though, the writing system or the script is called Devanagari & it's not identified with any particular languages since many major languages use it.
Please note what I explained above. By becoming aware of the similarities and differences between the languages in a certain group one can develop a personal strategy based on need and interest (i.e. which language in a group to choose first).
Please note what I explained above. By becoming aware of the similarities and differences between the languages in a certain group one can develop a personal strategy based on need and interest (i.e. which language in a group to choose first).
Very interesting, Tim! This is exactly the kind of stuff I've been trying to research and know more about. Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions? Do you have a favorite Asian language to speak/hear? Which Asian country/culture (of those that you talked about in this talk) seems the most warm, friendly, and open minded (in your personal opinion)? For a native English speaker interested in several Asian languages, which (in your opinion) would be the least difficult to learn to speak and understand (completely disregarding reading and writing)? Thanks for all the information!
@@peytonsawyer562 If I may respectfully disagree as an academic who works in an Asian Languages and Cultures Programme and who has also spent big chunks of time studying the first ten languages mentioned here (no Tamang or Sherpa) and works professionally with Korean and Indonesian, far from it. I'd rank (coming from English as a native language) Korean close to being the most challenging of all for speaking and oral comprehension. I've found that a general rule of thumb has been that each month in country for Indonesia has been equivalent to six in Korea. You can, of course, consult the US Dept. of Defense guidelines for difficulty, which rank Korean, Japanese and Chinese at the top, but that factors in reading and writing, which have their own complexities. The language that most kicked my butt for speaking and listening has definitely been VN and less because of the tones than its fiendish vocalic system and the significant variation through the country. I found understanding people extremely challenging and as for my speaking--forget it, nobody got what I was trying to say for anything but the most simple of utterances. (At least reading was a lot easier, and having had KJC beforehand, I could usually make out a lot of what a text passage was about....). Tim, if you read this, thanks--have been enjoying listening to the talks you have available on YT and hope to cross paths with you some day. Also an avid trekker and have spent almost six months walking in the Himalayas....
Please note what I explained above. By becoming aware of the similarities and differences between the languages in a certain group one can develop a personal strategy based on need and interest (i.e. which language in a group to choose first).
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Ok I get what the comments say about strategy. I didn’t lay out a specific strategy because I had in mind that by talking about the differences and similarities among these languages one would develop a personal strategy based on which language in a set of related languages is the most important for them to start with. For example, I started with Nepali because I began trekking there in 1985. Then later I began to study Hindi and recently Bengali, noting the differences and similarities. Furthermore, 50 minutes is not enough time to go into a lot of detail about how to use the knowledge of one or more languages in a group to learn the others. The intent was more to raise awareness of how these languages are related. I restricted myself to Asian languages that I have actually studied and use to various degrees. Really, I must admit my strongest motivation was to share my love for these languages.
Thanks for the clarification. I too, share a love for Asian languages.
The comparisons of Asian languages and not only is also a strategy. 16 years ago, because I wanted to learn Sanskrit and Hindi/Urdu I've read a book : "Gramatica comparata a limbilor Indo-Europeene - Compared Grammar of Indo-Europeen languages " by Theofil Simenschy that opened my eyes, explaining what is a language family and showing how easy it is to learn another language based on vocabulary and phonetic changes in a language family in the entirely Indo-Europeean area. Today I try to use my Japanese Kanji knowledge for Mandarin ( and in the near future for Cantonese , Korean, etc. ) 10 + languages, but the list is endless...
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40:23 Hindi & Nepali aren't writing systems though, the writing system or the script is called Devanagari & it's not identified with any particular languages since many major languages use it.
Half-way through and haven't heard any strategies. Good info though.
Please note what I explained above. By becoming aware of the similarities and differences between the languages in a certain group one can develop a personal strategy based on need and interest (i.e. which language in a group to choose first).
Nice and informative video. Misleading title
Agreed. See my comment lol.
Please note what I explained above. By becoming aware of the similarities and differences between the languages in a certain group one can develop a personal strategy based on need and interest (i.e. which language in a group to choose first).
When will sign ups for the next polyglot conference be?
Very interesting, Tim! This is exactly the kind of stuff I've been trying to research and know more about. Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?
Do you have a favorite Asian language to speak/hear?
Which Asian country/culture (of those that you talked about in this talk) seems the most warm, friendly, and open minded (in your personal opinion)?
For a native English speaker interested in several Asian languages, which (in your opinion) would be the least difficult to learn to speak and understand (completely disregarding reading and writing)?
Thanks for all the information!
@@peytonsawyer562 If I may respectfully disagree as an academic who works in an Asian Languages and Cultures Programme and who has also spent big chunks of time studying the first ten languages mentioned here (no Tamang or Sherpa) and works professionally with Korean and Indonesian, far from it. I'd rank (coming from English as a native language) Korean close to being the most challenging of all for speaking and oral comprehension. I've found that a general rule of thumb has been that each month in country for Indonesia has been equivalent to six in Korea. You can, of course, consult the US Dept. of Defense guidelines for difficulty, which rank Korean, Japanese and Chinese at the top, but that factors in reading and writing, which have their own complexities. The language that most kicked my butt for speaking and listening has definitely been VN and less because of the tones than its fiendish vocalic system and the significant variation through the country. I found understanding people extremely challenging and as for my speaking--forget it, nobody got what I was trying to say for anything but the most simple of utterances. (At least reading was a lot easier, and having had KJC beforehand, I could usually make out a lot of what a text passage was about....). Tim, if you read this, thanks--have been enjoying listening to the talks you have available on YT and hope to cross paths with you some day. Also an avid trekker and have spent almost six months walking in the Himalayas....
The Bengali word for book "Kitab" is a direct loanword from Arabic
Yes, and it is used in many languages in Asia, Nepali, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay ...
The Bangali word for book is not Kitab, it is বই "boi"
Those are not strategics, just mere comparisons of Asian languages. Good info though, but if u seek a learning guide just skip it
Please note what I explained above. By becoming aware of the similarities and differences between the languages in a certain group one can develop a personal strategy based on need and interest (i.e. which language in a group to choose first).