Hardest languages to learn as second languages
By Amanda
@mommyzhuuraan (217)
United Kingdom
August 2, 2018 3:22pm CST
Every once in a while, I think about languages and which ones would be hardest or easiest to learn as second languages. It makes me realize I'm glad English is my native language, because I think it's probably a really hard one to learn as a second one. It has multiple sounds for each vowel, a few consonants with more than one sound, a consonant that can also be a vowel, weird combinations of letters that make still more sounds, unnecessary silent letters like those in knife or thumb, and so many rules that it doesn't even follow it's not funny. I mean there are always exceptions, but English has so many of them that it can even be a headache for a native speaker. In fact, just earlier today I encountered a word I didn't even believe was a real word, but I looked it up in the dictionary and it was.
I've also noticed that very few people who speake English as a second language pronounce words correctly, often are uncertain how to say things, and use broken language. This isn't entirely their fault, and shows that they are at least trying, but it is a difficult language. I have no sympathy for those who don't even bother to try, and expect everyone else to bend over for them, but if someone genuinely makes the effort, it's cool.
So what do you think are the easiest and hardest languages to learn as second ones?
5 people like this
6 responses
@mommyzhuuraan (217)
• United Kingdom
2 Aug 18
Wow, that does sound like a handful. I think the pictographic languages would be hard too, at least writing and reading. Speaking might not be as hard though.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
2 Aug 18
@mommyzhuuraan , Believe me we are known as Italians of East for that musical language we have! By the way the language I mentioned there is my mother tongue!
1 person likes this
@mommyzhuuraan (217)
• United Kingdom
2 Aug 18
I hadn't thought of that. I've never heard it spoken aloud, but I imagine it's not easy.
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
3 Aug 18
@mommyzhuuraan No it isnt easy at all. My Mother Irish born spoke some but even she did not know all.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
2 Aug 18
I think that question depends on the person's native language. Germanic languages are usually considered easier for Native English speakers to learn because of the language's roots.
With that being said, Welsh is the easiest of the Celtic languages to learn because it's pronounced pretty much how it's spoken. There are some exceptions, and of course mutations are a pain to try to learn.
Any Chinese language would probably be the hardest for an English Speaker, and that's even considering the characters they use instead of letters.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
3 Aug 18
I find Portuguese to be impossible even though I am quite fluent in French.
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@mommyzhuuraan (217)
• United Kingdom
2 Aug 18
I took Spanish in high school but lost a lot because I didn't have anyone to practice with, but trying to pick it back up. Spelling is way easier than English, although remembering irregular verbs and like 5 different tenses for conjugations can be a handful, lol. I'm learning German now too and the grammer is easier than Spanish, but the spelling is trickier.
@TheHorse (220097)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Aug 18
@mommyzhuuraan Good for you. I suppose I'd really give it a shot if I woke up living in a foreign country.