Question:
I'trying to find what makes a language difficult to learn i.e. why is it hard
to learn this language or the other one? Do you have any
"difficulty-criteria" in mind? Could it be the way to write ( for ex.
chinese)and/or the grammar (finnish, ungarish ...) and so one? I try to make
a list of those criteria.
Answer:
As a person who has learned, studied and taught languages for five decades,
I offer the following input:
I have found the greatest factor to be the learner's own language, and its
similarities to the target language. For example, speakers of German or
Dutch often find English relatively simply to master, due to the
similarities of syntax and shared word base. Similarly, speakers of
Italian, Spanish and/or Portuguese are able to make great progress quickly
in each other's languages. One can say the same thing about Finnish and
Estonian, which share a common phonological and cultural base, as well as
remarkably similar morphology, which often both makes these languages
relatively difficult for speakers of Indo-European languages, as well as
providing obstacles for their speakers.
The next greatest factor, I would suggest, is motivation, based on context.
A language learner in a foreign country, with a strong desire to acquire the
language because his success will determine whether he will be able to work
and thrive, or remain destitute, will make greater progress, all other
factors being equal, than one for whom this factor is absent.
Other important factors would include such things as: literacy level of the
learner, age of the learner, motivation provided at home by parents and
other influencers, etc.
I hope that you can gather from my remarks, that I would disagree with a
blanket statement like: "Tibetan is difficult". Such a statement could be
true for one learner, but not necessary for another. Difficulties, such as
different characters, or different inflections, are all relative and
learner-based, in my opinion.
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