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Learn Spanish fast – find similarities between English and Spanish words

Admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:33:00 +0000

Finding similarities between the Spanish words you are learning and English words in your vocabulary is one of the most effective ways of expanding your knowledge of the new language. When you start learning Spanish, many of the words you come across from lesson one look similar in both languages, or even identical: individual, mineral, hora, presentar, teléfono, momento, electrónico, radio, recomendar, salmón, limón, apartamento and countless more. Those will be easy to learn and to remember, and a great boost to your motivation. In my experience both as a Spanish teacher and as a student of foreign languages, what is even more encouraging is finding less obvious connections between words in both languages. For instance, have you noticed that the Spanish word for ‘beef’ and ‘cow’ (vaca) has the same origin as the English word ‘vaccine’?; or are you aware of how many English words share their origin with the Spanish numbers: unity (uno), duo (dos), trio (tres), quartet (cuatro), sexagenarian (seis), September (seven), octopus (ocho), November (nueve), December (diez)?Once you have seen those similarities, you are more likely to remember the new Spanish words without effort because your brain works by making associations. If you have ever tried to learn lists of Spanish words without context or associations you will know what a hopeless endeavor that is. That is why I always teach Spanish vocabulary to my students by connecting the new words to other words they already know. Even if you have only just started learning Spanish, making those connections will be one of your greatest allies. They will save you precious time and energy, and will transform the learning process into a game and an enjoyable challenge. The problem, however, is that if you are a beginner, or even if you have already reached an intermediate level, finding similarities between English and Spanish words might not always be easy. A good Spanish language course, however, should point at those similarities, as well as guide you through the most efficient vocabulary learning techniques. To show you how much faster you can learn new Spanish words by associating them to other words you are familiar with, here are twenty-five everyday Spanish words. In brackets I have given you the English translation and on the right is the English word of the same origin as the Spanish:lavadora (washing machine) – lavatorymicroondas (microwave) – undulatecongelador (freezer) – to congealbebida (drink) – beveragecaña (small beer) – canecopa (glass) – cupmanta (blanket) – mantlevino (wine) – vineyardtinto (red [wine]) – tinctureterraza (balcony) – terracemarisco (shellfish) – marinaquerer (to want) – to querycarne (meat) – carnivoreprimero (first) premiercasa (house) – casinotener (to have) – tenantantes (before) – antenatalequipaje (luggage) – to equiphabitación (room) – cohabitationlavaplatos (dishwasher) – lavatory, platemandar (to order) – mandateordenador (computer) – orderencantado (delighted) – enchantedlibre (vacant) – libertycarta (menu) – cartographyCan you connect other Spanish words you know to English words of the same origin? What about ‘pasillo’, ‘fumador’, ‘último’, ‘pescado’, ‘suavizante’, ‘sombrilla’?

lnague vaca

Learn English Online to Speak in the Global Language

Admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:33:12 +0000

If you are planning to learn English online, then you have made the best decision of your life. The English language has become the universal language, being spoken in all the countries across the mother planet. The rising popularity of the internet has created this small village called the globe, and the global language is none other than English. There are numerous online resources imparting English language learning.
Advantages of Online Learning
Online learning of a language, especially English offers many distinct advantages. First and foremost is the fact that online English learning can be self-paced and self-directed. When you start to learn English online, you need not adhere to a specific time schedule of classes. Moreover, you may choose from many methods and techniques available. This also means that the student is free to select the most appropriate technique of learning based on her skills, interests and needs. Last but not the least, the cost of learning is very low compared to those in conventional methods of learning. In short, if you are planning to learn English online, you save your precious resources in terms of time, money and efforts.
Contents of Online Learning
English language, presumed to be one of the richest languages, offers a wide variety of items to learn. Assuming that you are at an intermediate level to learn English online, the syllabus will be different from those at basic and higher levels. In general, the online learning of English language starts with the alphabet and numbers. Once the student has mastered these, she is exposed to words (the vocabulary) and composition. The arts and literature come towards the highest end of the hierarchy.
Boston English Language Institute offers many courses in the English language stream. These certification courses vary from one to eight months. Belford University offers a bachelor’s degree in English and English Literature for those having work experience of four years. Ellis College at New York offers an online Bachelor’s degree. Their focus is on preparing students to face challenges in the professional world. Other universities offering three year Bachelor programs in online English are U of Southern New Hampshire, U of Illinois, American Military U, and Fort Hays State U. Getting notes or teaching material is easy – you get it through the internet in the form of workbooks, test papers, tutorials (video and audio).
You can start to learn English online in different ways. You may choose to subscribe to free and paid online courses teaching online English language. You may also opt for purchasing ebooks and CD’s that you can study offline. However, you must remember one thing all the time – not to forget to complete the exercises given at the end of each chapter. This not only tests your gained knowledge, but also offers a new punch of motivation for you to learn English.
Online learning of the English language can be a wonderful experience. You will suddenly find yourself in the middle of the world with your first steps in learning English. Such is the prowess of the English language.

Learning English Software – The Easiest Way To Learn English?

Admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:37:14 +0000

English is a global, universal language. More and more people study English or use it on a daily basis in their online communication or business environment. Many individuals from non-English speaking countries are triggered to study English from beginning of their education. There’s a high demand in experienced English teachers worldwide. In order to improve their job perspectives, many want to learn English or are learning English right now. It grew to the most important language worldwide. To learn English on the computer is a very common strategy and English learning software one of the most convenient ways to improve its English writing, reading or communication skills. It really pays off when you learn English in school from a very early age so that you can practice and make it a routine speaking, writing and expressing yourself. It’s also easier to grow a vocabulary if you learn it when you’re young. But it’s never to late to write good grammar. For all those who are willing to extend their knowledge and enrich their writing skills, learning English software is the way to go. There are many different English learning programs available online, some more and others less interactive. Important for such an English learning solution, is that it’s fully packed with features and features sports a grammar and creative words database. The instant feedback-mechanism make it easy to understand written errors in an instant way. If you are stressed from work and don’t have the luxury of time writing your reports, presentations, emails, letters, etc. , such software serves as your own personal editor and proofreader in case you need help to check on your writings and or someone’s else work. It can fix grammar errors, check spelling, check sentence structure and punctuation, enrich your text by adding additional adjectives and adverbs and find synonyms that would best fit your sentences. Learning English software is a cool and professional way to learn English and gives you the power to instantly write error-free. In writing, good pieces of written work are all an employer needs to see in order to give you a job. In cases where a potential employer asks you to send a written manuscript as part of the interview, using the English writing software can greatly improve your chances of impressing them. There is also education fellowships granted on the merits of your written work. To beat the competition that such offers attract, you would have to be very good in your work. This in turn calls for the use of English writing software for the English speakers and either the grammar software or the English grammar software for writers is using English as a second language. English learning and writing software gets now used by many corporate executives, HR professionals, sales and marketing managers worldwide. In these times it’s very important to have a good grasp of English. Not just to communicate well on-the-job, but also to meet and interact with new people, foreigners or friends-to-be. It’s an international and global language, spoken by billions of people and the universal language used in business, banking and online communications. English is not easy to master, but easy to learn. If you aren’t on track yet, you should go for it. It’s connected with practice, but to practice is most of the times an action that pays out over time.

Learning English – What Are the Benefits?

Admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:34:10 +0000

Learning English can be one of the most beneficial decisions an individual can make to further a business career. Each year, innumerable negotiations and business proposals were conveyed in English resulting in billions of dollars of business. Learning English immediately raises your earning potential, and puts you on the “fast track” toward a higher income. Unfortunately, learning English is not a simple task. In fact, many language experts consider English one of the hardest languages to learn, especially once the individual fluently speaks another language. This is because the sentence structure is often much different from other languages, and those people who seek to learn English may have a hard time understanding how each sentence should be properly structured in English. The truth of the matter is that most information worldwide is exchanged in English. Many citizens of foreign countries speak English as a second language. This helps to communicate with tourists, as well as during business meetings. In countries all over the world, English is often spoken fluently, or at least basically understood. If you plan to travel, you may also want to consider learning English. Because so many countries across the world are fluent in English, the language has become the accepted standard of communication for tourists. Learning the language will help you not only to navigate a country, but also to hail a cab and find your way around an airport. Learning English through software allows you to learn the language from professors and experts who know the language “inside and out. ” There is no better way for you to receive training using so many tested techniques from so many experts in the field. Using software will also enable you to compare your skills with road maps provided throughout the program, and to learn at your own pace – something a classroom environment will never be able to accomplish. As any seasoned writer knows, the key to becoming a successful and well-known author is to target as many potential readers as you possibly can. One of the best ways writers can accomplish this task is by expanding their potential readership around the world. By learning to read and write in fluent English, writers across the globe can tap into an enormous market with readers eager to see what international writers are writing about. Learning to write properly in English can be a seemingly daunting task. The complex web of grammar rules, unique spellings, and difficult cultural translations can make it nearly impossible for many people to learn the English language on their own. Many people turn to books, audiotapes, and videos to help them tackle the English language challenge, but a vast majority fail soon after they begin. In order for a language learning program to be successful, it is important that it is comprehensive, interactive, and responsive. These three vital traits will ensure that the user of the program is able to immerse themselves in the language, and learn properly through the trials and errors of their language experiences. Below this post, you will find links to several programs designed to help you master the English language and expose your writing to the English-speaking world. The software is easy to access, simple to use, and proven effective at teaching one of the world’s most complex languages. Learning the English language with our software allows you to work at your own pace, while keeping in close contact with experienced educators who will be offering feedback as your progress through the program. The interactive aspect of the software is one of its best features, and ensures that you are prepared to continue your advancement of the English language.

Adjust Your Own English Communication to Meet Other Language Levels

Admin — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:34:44 +0000

I first moved to a non-English speaking country almost 30 years ago. I did not know how much I would change my own way of communicating. My own English. And it has really changed. The Difficulties Of A Non-Native English SpeakerI think most people who learn English as a second language go through more adjustments in learning English as a foreign language than English speakers learning a second language. Foreigners often tell me English is an easy language to learn. It should be. There is just so much of it around. On the radio, the internet and very often in the workplace. Foreigners think English is easy. But there is a variety of English communication. There is a big step in thinking you know a language and in being a good communicator. Good cross-cultural communication takes some adjustments. Both parties need to make an effort in finding a common understanding. The Native English Speaker’s JobWhen a native English speaker is in a foreigner’s home country, often the native English speaker does most of the adjusting. If the native English speaker has traveled before, this usually happens naturally. He instinctively knows how to make it easy for his foreign listener. Non-native English speakers do not always realize how much the English speaker will adapt his conversation to make it easy for him. English speakers adjust their communication in several ways to make it easier for non-native English speakers: Slang Strong accents Different dialects or country specific vocabulary Awkward grammar Difficult vocabulary Different communication stylesThe Adjustment ProcessI can easily forget the years of adjusting my conversation I went through. This is what I remember I did: Pay attention constantly to make sure everyone understands the same thing. Backtrack the conversation as soon as a little doubt came up or if I was surprised by any reaction or remark Explained I was tired, when I was and finding the effort too much. I remember feeling as if I was doing all the effort in making the conversations work. I remember being surprised at many misunderstandings. I was also surprised at how and why they happened. Everyone has their own perceptions of their cross-cultural communication. There is no right or wrong. There are only effective and enriching cross-cultural exchanges. Native-English speakers communicating with non-native English speakers are in a situation with many different and uncontrollable perceptions. Some perceptions are based on the person or culture, and others on workplace specific conditions. It is important for native-English speakers to remember to adjust their own English communication during their first cross-cultural encounters. Practice Makes Productive Cross-Cultural CommunicationIt takes practice to smooth over the hurdles caused by these communication differences. The more conversations you have with non-native English speakers the more you pick up receptive, productive and interactive cross-cultural communication skills. Seasoned English speaking international professionals end up constantly using a reduced vocabulary. They have to adapt to so many different language levels. This makes it very easy for their non-native English-speaking partners to understand them. The non-native speakers feel flattered. This reinforces their opinion that English is a very easy language to learn. I have lived in a non-English speaking country longer than I have in my native English speaking home. Adjusting my own communication is permanently on automatic. My own day-to-day English is very simple and direct. I rely on creating pictures with words to get specific points across. Sometimes I get frustrated at limiting my own vocabulary. That’s when I hunt down stimulating conversation, or reading. And even writing. Language is important. How you use your language to communicate with others is also important. Adjusting your English communication to meet the language levels of others is part of an effective communication process. Are you committed to speeding up your international sales cycles?Learn how to combine cross-cultural marketing tools and international sales strategies for faster sales. Join us on the International Sales Road MapWould you like to develop your international business? Are you a beginner at international sales and marketing? Read the Beginners Guide Discover Your International Business

Choosing the Best Online Method to Learn the English Language

Admin — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:33:09 +0000

Learning or improving upon a second language is no longer confined to rote learning audio cassette tapes or out of date computer language programs on cd-rom that look like they were created in the late 1980’s. People around the world are slowly starting to visit online language websites that cater to a diverse set of creative teaching methods largely integrating web 2. 0 technologies that create an environment of collaboration and sharing amongst its users. Methods that didn’t exist 10 years ago are now available to millions of language learners across the world. Not only do these new methods promise convenience, they also promise access to new and improved materials for online use. Online language learning is now being considered by students around the world and one of the up and coming methods is learning online using voice and video in order to communicate with a tutor. An online voice chat is kind of like talking to your tutor over the phone except it’s over the Internet and you have access to a webcam while you use a variety of online materials to help learn. Tutors are no longer tied to a specific region or city in the world but rather wherever there is an Internet connection. Students who normally don’t have access to a teacher now have access to a teacher. When considering which method of online learning is right for you, you should consider a variety of factors to determine the best option. · Ease of Use· Price (if there is one)· Availability· Reputation and Quality of ProductThese are only some of the factors you should think about before choosing an online solution to your English language learning needs. Ease of use is really all about the website or product and how easy it is for you to use. Is there a help section, frequently asked questions and should these not solve your problem how easy is it to contact a real person either through email or by telephone. Online connectivity vs. offline connectivity refers to being able to use the program or website when you are not connected to the Internet. Price is usually a very important factor for most people when making an involved purchase that could easily cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Don’t confuse the lowest price with the best offer by any company selling you an education related learning experience. Everybody has heard the saying before “you get what you pay for,” so just be aware of this great advice before you choose the cheapest language help out there. Availability can be a very important factor if you are using live video and voice chat online English lessons which would probably require you to schedule your lesson times well in advance. Most new companies offering this type of live video and voice chat service will have several teachers available with many choices of times to make it very easy to schedule weekly lessons with a tutor. Reputation and quality of product can be checked by visiting the better business bureau (assuming the company you are interested in is using their services) or by asking a friend if they have heard about any good companies or by a referral from someone you trust. Another method which is often overlooked is asking the company for a list of emails of clients who have used their service before. If the company is well established you can even ask for a list of other students in your area or region. Any company who is not willing to give you the names of students should be passed by unless they are restricted due to legal reasons as the last thing you want to do is pass up a great company to learn online English with. Choosing the right online English language solution today is more about convenience than anything else, so sometimes it may be best to go with the company offering the higher price. The Internet can suit about any learning style that you can possibly think of. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and talk with friends and ask them what they are doing to help them learn. About the Author Marc Anderson is the General Manager of an online English language learning company called TalktoCanada. com that helps companies of all sizes and individuals around the world learn English online using voice chat and a webcam with experienced native English tutors. If you would like to learn how live online English lessons can help you or your company please visit TalktoCanada. com today and find out how you can improve your online spoken English.

How to Learn English As You Write – The Easy Way!

Admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:43:16 +0000

Writing software is not traditionally a tool for teaching English language skills. However, as these types of applications have matured through the years, they are increasingly becoming useful tools not just for fashioning your written documents into shape, but for helping you improve you master the language as well. How exactly does it perform as a language learning software? See, every time you run a document through an English writing software, it analyzes it and points out erroneous portions, instantly letting you see weaknesses in your language skill set. As it points our mistakes and provides advice on how you may fix them, it’s serving as a teaching tool, almost like a private tutor of sorts. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it’s probably a better learning platform than many courses, simply because you’re developing the language skills in an applied manner. If you’re an ESL speaker currently taking a language course, using a writing software when you practice at home is bound to do more good for you than watching hours of English television or reading a chapter of a grammar book. Think back to when you were studying Math, for instance. Did you learn more from listening to a teacher, observing your classmates or solving the problems yourself while getting direct one-on-one feedback on your solutions? I’d venture a guess that the third of those options offered the best results when it came to lessons that you actually remember and seamlessly integrated into your skillset. In many ways, an English writing software is akin to hiring a private tutor, except its infinitely cheaper and more convenient. A powerful vocabulary usually takes time and experience to build. While that holds true for most folks, it doesn’t mean you can’t help accelerate the process a bit along the way. These practical tips should help you develop a robust vocabulary store faster than your average English learner. 1. Derive relationships Words based on a common theme or concept are easier to memorize than those with no concept to tie them together. Most vocabulary lessons found on language learning software are structured this way for a reason – they work exceptionally well. 2. Write it down Writing, for some reason, has a way of imprinting words into your consciousness. Instead of just reading words off a page, try putting them to paper yourself – the effect can be downright amazing. 3. Use your creativity Employ your creative side and relate words to drawings, photographs, dance moves or whatever art form feels most natural to you. This can create a relationship that will help you pull out the right words at just the right time – most of the time, anyway. 4. Find relevance Study words that carry a certain relevance to certain areas of your life. If you’re into basketball, for instance, words that relate to the game will usually prove easier to memorize than words often used in engineering pursuits. Whatever hobby, life event or situation carries meaning for you, use them to your advantage in vocabulary-building. 5. Be reasonable Your vocabulary is not going to go from zero to hero in one day. As such, set reasonable goals that you can succeed in to build your confidence. That will prove 10 times better than failing over and over while trying to pursue unrealistic ideals.

Learning English Online

Admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:38:49 +0000

There are many ways in which you can learn the English language online. Learning English online is of great help especially for people who wants to go abroad for the sake of their studies or for their jobs. There are many ways in which you can study English. But the online courses which have emerged are of great help since they offer comprehensive courses. In these courses the beginner gets to know about the basics of the language and can analyze the language with the skills imparted to them by online tutorials. Therefore in recent times, most people prefer the online courses than the rest. Get help from tutors: The best way to study English is to take the help of tutors who teach English. They will come to your house and teach you. From some experienced people you can take help and study the language in the best way. Watching foreign movies (English) helps a lot: : Another way in which one can grasp the language is by watching the English movies. When you see the people in the movie expressing their emotions in some foreign language then you will gradually learn that language (English here) very easily. Story book is recommended by online English tutorials: : Reading a lot of story books can help. This is because of the fact that when you are truing to read anything in a foreign language (and especially a story), then it is extremely easy to learn that language. Reading story books is also recommended by the online English tutorials. Recommended newspaper reading: : Reading newspaper is also of great help since you get to know about the world and also your own country from the newspaper. It is much like thinking in English, a foreign language. When you start thinking in English you will learn this language very quickly. Exams help to understand where you stand: : Give exams in English. Online courses offer this help and you can actually test your skills and the knowledge that you have obtained so long by giving the test. The online schools actually offer these tests. When you give the test then you get to know more about the language. Language skills are polished and sharpened: : Pronunciation and language skills: when you study in an online school you get a clear idea about the language and the pronunciations. In English pronunciations are of great importance. When you study from an online school, your language skills are polished and sharpened.

Chinese Is Most Toughest Language For Most Of The English Speaking People

Admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:53:28 +0000

Learning Mandarin can be a enjoyable and can be a very beneficial skill. Learning Chinese language is utmost imortant in this modern world. The Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. If you study chinese language, you will have a lot of options to get the employment in several fields like manufacturing, teachingand travel industry. As there are a lot of chinese communities in the westren countries, the employers are giving extra priority to chinese people . With Asian economies growing considerably, learning Chinese significantly improves your chances of victory in job markets dealing with these economies. More over, learning chinese is more fun too. Even if your just a casual traveler, learning it can also be beneficial since a good number of the sign boards and instructions in China are purely written in Chinese, though the appearance of English signs is increasing. It will positively help while speaking with taxi drivers and order foods . Studying Chinese is one step to joining the ranks of the businesses elite oriented toward the growing China market. Chinese is one of the eminent languages of the world. Learning Chinese is, as it is all over the western world, part of a world-class educationWe will have numerous professional ways to learn chinese language wherein it takes more investment and time. So its important to vary your income to insure that you boost your language learning experience. English speaking people discover more difficulty in learning chinese language. Choosing the right tactic is of course vital and that can make learning the language a relative cake walk or much more tough. Take supreme care about pronunciation and accent while learning chinese languageStudying Chinese doesn’t require costly personal tutors. Better you take the precautions of not paying extra money for the tutors. Learning Chinese will take more time and it is an evolving process. While you can’t learn the language overnight, you can find resources that may give you an edge time wise and easily the amount of effort you exert . A crucial challenge to bear in mind is that of vocabulary. Pimsleur method is the greatest one among all other methods to learn Chinese very hurriedly . The most valuable ones were those who made sure to present new vocabulary first. If you take the Mandarin Chinese, The script will paly key role in learning the language. Then a story using this new vocabulary in conjunction with previously learned vocabulary was presented. In terms of audio only programs, a mixture of excellent courses are available.

Should English be Declared the World’s Official Common Language?

Admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:32:55 +0000

by Philip Yaffe
Anyone who has travelled outside his own country is aware of the thrill—and frustration—of dealing with foreign languages.
The thrill comes from the fact that the languages are foreign. When you hear people speaking differently from you, and see newspapers, magazines, posters and other written materials that look different from what you are used to, you know you have actually gone somewhere.
The frustration also comes from the fact that the languages are foreign. If you really need to say something to someone who doesn’t understand you, or need to read something you don’t understand, frustration is inevitable.
The solution, of course, would be a common language that everyone would understand, everywhere in the world.
Implementing such an idea wouldn’t mean anyone losing his or her native tongue. A Frenchman would still speak French, a German would still speak German, a Chinese would still speak Chinese, etc. However, in addition to their native language, they would also speak “X”, the common language that would allow everyone to communicate with everyone else, no matter where on the planet they might be.
English to a large extent already fulfils this role; however, this has come about by historical accident, not by conscious design. If we really want a worldwide common language, some international body (the United Nations?) would first have to designate it, then diligently work so that everyone on the planet could learn it.
My native language is English; however, I also speak French, used to speak Swahili, and have a working knowledge of Dutch, German, and Spanish. The purpose here is not to promote English as the world’s official common language, but rather to establish some ground rules for selecting such a language.
What makes a language easy to learn?
I believe we can all agree that the official common language should be easy to learn. But what does this mean? If your native language is French, Chinese might seem to be unconquerable. Likewise, if your native language is Chinese, you might find French equally daunting. The fact is, whatever your native language is, certain aspects of any other language are likely to make it appear impossibly difficult.
So, is there an objective way of determining how easy a language would be to learn—for everyone?
This would have to be determined by the concerted efforts of linguists, psychologists, socialists, educationalists, etc. I have no such expertise, but I do have experience. So to get things started, I would like to propose a fundamental criterion for answering this question and see how well English stacks up.
Facility Principle
What you don’t have to do is always easier than what you do have to do.
In other words, the less you have to think about in speaking and writing a language, the more rapidly you will learn it and the fewer mistakes you will make.
English scores very well against this criterion, because its basic grammar lacks most of the complexities that characterise many other languages. Here are a few examples.
1. Gendered nouns
Many languages, and virtually all European languages, have different classes of nouns, often called “gendered nouns”. For example, in French a noun can be either “masculine” or “feminine”. In German a noun can be either “masculine”, “feminine”, or “neuter”. Swahili in fact has four classes of nouns (no, the fourth one isn’t homosexual!). To speak properly, you must learn the gender of each noun individually, which is not always obvious.
English doesn’t have this problem. English can be considered to have only one class of nouns—all neuter.
2. Gendered articles
Each gendered noun is associated with a gendered article. To speak properly, you must put the correct article with the correct noun. For example, in French “le livre” = the book (masculine), but “la lampe” = the lamp (feminine). It would be quite incorrect to say “la livre” or “le lampe”. In English, the definite article is always “’the”; it never changes.
Likewise, “un livre” = a book (masculine), but “une lampe” = a lamp (feminine). In English, the definite article is always “a”; it also never changes.
3. Gendered adjectives
Languages with gendered nouns usually have gendered adjectives. To speak properly, you must correctly associate the adjective with the correct noun. For example, “pain frais” = fresh bread, but “viande fraîche” = fresh meat. It would be quite incorrect to say “pain fraîche” or “viande frais”.
In English, adjectives (like nouns) are all neuter and never change, i. e. both “frais” and “fraîche” = fresh
4. Multiple plurals
Certain languages consider it insufficient to indicate a plural only once, so they have multiple plurals. For example, “le grand livre” = the big book, but “les grands livres” = the big books. It would be quite incorrect to say “le grand livres”, i. e. without making both the article and the adjective plural as well.
English has neither plural articles nor plural adjectives. “The” is always “the” and “big” is always “big”. They never change.
5. Verb classes
Many languages have different classes of verbs. Correctly using a verb depends on knowing its class. French, for example, has at least three verb classes, indicated by distinct endings on the infinitive (mang-er = to eat, prend-re = to take, cour-ir = to run). The ending of each individual verb must be learned; otherwise, mistakes are inevitable.
English has only one class of verbs. All infinitives are indicated by “to” (to run, to jump, to sleep, etc. ); mistakes are impossible.
6. Regular conjugations
Certain languages have many more conjugated verb forms than does English. For example, in the present tense you would say: I, we, you, they eat; he, she, it eats. Thus, there are only two conjugated forms (eat, eats). In French there are five conjugated forms and in Spanish there are six.
In the future tense you would say: I, he, she, it, we, they will eat. Thus, there is only one conjugated form (will eat). Spanish still has six conjugated forms, but now so does French. Similar disparities exist in the past tense, and virtually all other verb tenses.
7. Irregular conjugations
Irregular conjugations are common in many languages; however, there are exceptions. Swahili verbs are perfectly regular. If you know the conjugated forms of just one verb, you know the conjugated forms of all verbs.
English, of course, does not have this enviable facility; however, compared to many other languages, its irregularities are few and far between. For example, English is perfectly regular in both the present and future tenses.
The present tense is always formed by removing “to” from the infinitive and adding the appropriate pronoun: to come = I come, he/she/it comes, we come, you come, they come. The future tense is always formed by removing “to” from the infinitive and adding “will”: to come = I will come, he/she/it will come, we will come, you will come, they will come.
French and Spanish are highly irregular in both of these tense, as well as many others.
Does the relative simplicity of basic English grammar give it the inside track to becoming the world’s official common language? Absolutely not! Along with its undeniable attributes, it also has a number of significant drawbacks.
The most obvious one is English spelling, which is far from being phonetic. This means the same sound can have several different spellings (here, hear; there, their; break, brake; clean, keen; said, bed; height, kite; who, blue, new, etc. ). French, of course, is much worse than English in this respect; however, German, Italian and Spanish are much better. And Swahili is perfect. In this language, if you can say a word, you can spell it. End of story.
The second major drawback is pronunciation. Most people, and certainly those who have yet to master another language, are unaware of how seriously difficult correct pronunciation in their own native language could be for a foreigner.
English, like many other languages, is cursed with a tonic accent. “Tonic accent” simply means that certain syllables are given more stress than others. For example, “difficult” is pronounced “dif*-fi-cult”; the first syllable carries the tonic accent. It could just as easily be pronounced “dif-fi*-cult”, which is what Spanish prefers. Or even “dif-fi-cult*”, which might be the preference in some other language.
If your native language has a tonic accent, you have grown up with it, so you may not fully appreciate what a burden it really is is. However, when you try to learn another language, the difficulty becomes evident.
The tonic accent will not always go where you think it should (based on your language), so you will constantly be mispronouncing. Worse, if you put the tonic accent on the wrong syllable, your interlocutor might not understand what you are trying to say at all.
Are there any languages with no tonic accent? There may be many, but French is the only one I know.
Technically, French does have a tonic accent, but it is very hard to hear it. For example, in English we say “un-i-ver*-si-ty”. In French, this is “un-i-ver-si-té”, with each syllable being given essential the same stress. Likewise with “rest*-au-rant”, which in French is simply “rest-au-rant”. And so on. Thus, you never have to guess where the tonic accent should go, so you can never make a mistake.
As we have seen, based on the Facility Principle (what you don’t have to do is always easier than what you do have to do), English has a lot to recommend it. However, this is only one criterion. In searching for the best common language for the world, the experts will probably come up with many more. How well English would fare against these additional criteria can only be guessed at.
Editor’s Note
Philip Yaffe is a former reporter/feature writer with The Wall Street Journal and a marketing communication consultant. He currently teaches a course in good writing and good speaking in Brussels, Belgium. In the “I” of the Storm: the Simple Secrets of Writing & Speaking (Almost) like a Professional, his recently published book, is available from Story Publishers in Ghent, Belgium (storypublishers. be) and Amazon (amazon. com).
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