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Linguaholic

wander_n_wonder

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  • Currently studying
    French, Japanese, Mandarin
  • Native tongue
    Filipino
  • Fluent in
    English, Filipino

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  1. The word certain words look when you write or type it definitely is a good sign to look at if you are unsure if you are spelling it correctly or not. I think it's because of our capacity to look at words as an "image" and just like any image that we see, if there's something different or weird in the way it is angled, we will definitely recognize it. Most words are not really recognized by our brain as letters, it's actually taken in as a whole image.
  2. I find it very relaxing when I study on my bed while lying down. I would listen to my audio lessons and then read the book at the same time. I find it to be quite effective because then I don't get disturbed by the discomfort that I feel when sitting on my desk chair for a long time. Also, it helps me really stick to my goal of studying a new language at least 30 minutes each day because I just do it right before I sleep.
  3. Yeah, my friend's speech therapist said the same thing. The structure of the mouth, especially the palate, has a significant effect on the way we form sounds and pronounce words. It's not just about knowing how to pronounce something. However, I also think that with enough practice or training, this can be resolved and people can eventually learn how to adapt to certain languages. Maybe there will just be more effort needed in training for those who are not biologically predisposed to say a certain type of language.
  4. I do notice that in the US, there's quite a significant amount of foreigners who live in there, but do not really speak English at all. I notice it more common in areas like Chinatown, Japantown, etc. It's like they are still in their own country and since most of their neighbors and the people in their small community would speak Chinese or Japanese or any other local language, they don't see the necessity to actually force themselves to learn English. I think if it personally works out for them then there is nothing wrong, but overall, I think it's not a good idea not to endeavor to learn the universal language.
  5. I think it all depends on the personality of the person talking as well as the situation. If you see that the person actually appears rather strict, then just make assumptions that he will not be willing to talk. Also, if it's a public place that does not encourage loud discussions, then maybe it's also not a good option to engage in conversations. It really all depends on the context.
  6. Russian will always be difficult for me. The accent sounds very strong and forceful and it's a combination of different consonants that are pronounced all at the same time. I think Russian is even more difficult compared to French. Also, I've heard of Danish before and it sounds rather difficult as well. I think it is somewhat similar to Russian in terms of force of speech.
  7. Yeah, there are times when it actually feels more liberating when you get mad using your mother tongue. It just feels like you are able to say and express everything you'd like to say. Also, there are certain expressions in other languages that are not as precise as in your mother tongue. And only when you are able to say these expressions that it feels like you've exhausted your anger.
  8. Different languages have different rules and syntax and that's just how Spanish is. It's really not good to be comparing between languages as that's makes learning even more complicated. There is no such thing as a more superior language that other languages should pattern from. Yes, English is considered the universal language, but it remains to be that other languages have their own rules that is independent of the English language.
  9. When speaking, you have less time to process what you want to say. Unlike with writing, you have more time to formulate what you'd like to write down, and when you've already written it down, you still have an opportunity to see it and even change it if it's incorrect. In other words, the process of writing is much longer compared to speaking and you get more opportunity to actually correct yourself in writing.
  10. I think when a baby is just beginning to talk for the first time, that's when it's really best to teach them other languages beside the mother tongue. That age is when children are like a sponge, they just absorb so well everything that they see or hear. I have a friend who did that to their daughter and she basically knows how to speak fluent Danish already before she turned 3.
  11. British accent will always be very elegant to my ears. I really love how some syllables sound so airy and less forceful. It's very calming to the ears. I specifically love how Kate Middleton speaks. You can really tell from the way she speaks that she is very well educated and comes from a good family. I've never encountered any British speakers so far who sounded loud and noisy. They always sound so polished, respectful, and formal.
  12. If I am not very familiar with the language yet, I would not dare to use it over the telephone. There can be a lot of miscommunication there. First of all, if you are the speaker, you have to consider the fact that over the telephone, they can not see your mouth movements and expression. And so, if you happen to have mispronounced something, it will be difficult for them to guess what you are really trying to say.
  13. I think it would be difficult to get involved with someone who speaks a different language, especially if that person does not speak a common language between you two. Communication is very important in any relationship and if you don't have a medium by which to communicate, it's impossible to develop a relationship. Also, you must take into consideration how you would also relate to the person's family or relatives, especially if they also don't speak any common language. It's just going to be hard, unless you both exert effort to learn each other's languages.
  14. It's more likely because they have been used to an alphabet which pronounces R in a different way. Also, for those who are English speaking, they may also have a hard time pronouncing the letter R, particularly if they are not able to move their mouth in the right way to produce the right sound. Compared to other vowels, pronouncing R requires more muscle movement and some people may just tend to be lazy and skip that letter altogether. This can be corrected through speech therapy or simple practice.
  15. Well, that's how their alphabet sounds like. It should not be compared to English because English has their own alphabet as well. In general, J is really pronounced like an H or sometimes it's even a silent J and you just pronounce the next letter as if it's the first. Spanish in general is less complicated compared to other European languages, but you need to pay attention to those letters which are supposed to be silent letters.
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