Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The 7 Most Difficult Languages to Learn
Words trivia ^ | 09/21/2024 | unknown

Posted on 09/21/2024 9:58:18 AM PDT by sopo

Finnish is known for its challenging grammar and vocabulary, which can be daunting for learners. It features a complex system of cases—15 in total—which can change the endings of nouns based on their function in a sentence. Additionally, Finnish is a language isolated from other European languages, so there are few cognates for English speakers to rely on.

Nevertheless, Finnish is a language worth learning for its unique position in the world. Finland boasts a high standard of living, stunning natural landscapes, and a rich cultural history. Learning Finnish can enhance your experience if you plan to travel or work in Finland, allowing you to connect more deeply with its people and culture.

(Excerpt) Read more at wordstrivia.com ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: arabic; basque; epigraphyandlanguage; finnish; finnougric; godsgravesglyphs; hungarian; japanese; korean; language; languages; mandarinchinese; omniglot; proficiency; russian; vietnamese; wboopie
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last
The list of difficult to learn languages seems to correlate well to math proficiency. of course, this article relates to non-native speakers, but the discussion of mandarin, other character written languages at least superficially relates to the question of why those kids do better in math proficiency, with this wstern language also seeming to correlate.
1 posted on 09/21/2024 9:58:18 AM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: sopo

https://finlandabroad.fi/web/eu/current-affairs/-/asset_publisher/cGFGQPXL1aKg/content/finnish-students-high-performers-in-pisa/384951


2 posted on 09/21/2024 9:59:46 AM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

For a certain demographic in our society, it seems it proper English is the most difficult language to learn.


3 posted on 09/21/2024 10:00:45 AM PDT by Hammerhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

ebonics has always thrown me. although I admit I haven’t tried to learn it.


4 posted on 09/21/2024 10:03:40 AM PDT by xoxox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

I can’t believe Portuguese is number 1.


5 posted on 09/21/2024 10:04:30 AM PDT by nwrep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/pisa2022/mathematics/international-comparisons/

Sorry for the firewall on # 2 , it wasn’t there when i first accessed it


6 posted on 09/21/2024 10:06:25 AM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nwrep

Somebody hacked my post.


7 posted on 09/21/2024 10:07:07 AM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sopo
My son got his degree in Mandarin from UC Davis.

Very, very difficult.

8 posted on 09/21/2024 10:12:49 AM PDT by Lizavetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

1. Mandarin Chinese
2. Arabic
3. Japanese
4. Hungarian
5. Korean
6. Finnish
7. Russian

Real score by me.
1. English
2. Mandarin Chinese
3. Russian
4. all the rest


9 posted on 09/21/2024 10:13:55 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

10 posted on 09/21/2024 10:14:28 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo

“The list of difficult to learn languages seems to correlate well to math proficiency. of course, this article relates to non-native speakers, but the discussion of mandarin, other character written languages at least superficially relates to the question of why those kids do better in math proficiency, with this wstern language also seeming to correlate.”

I don’t think the good math scores in the countries with the “difficult to learn languages” correlates to their languages.

I think the correlation is to their social emphasis on good math skills and how THAT works in their education system.


11 posted on 09/21/2024 10:15:02 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xoxox
ebonics has always thrown me. although I admit I haven’t tried to learn it.

She can help....


12 posted on 09/21/2024 10:16:04 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sopo

I have some proficiency in Hungarian, as I grew up around older relatives who spoke it. As was noted in the article, it’s a tough language to learn from scratch.

And now a joke about learning Hungarian:

Rosetta Stone has finally put out a two-part Hungarian language course. Part 2 has the actual lessons. Part 1 lists all the reasons why you shouldn’t try to learn Hungarian.


13 posted on 09/21/2024 10:22:50 AM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
Luckily Hungarians can use phrasebooks...


14 posted on 09/21/2024 10:24:13 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: sopo

Assembly language was rough.
Basic fixed a lot of Fortran.


15 posted on 09/21/2024 10:25:41 AM PDT by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sopo
Nevertheless, Finnish is a language worth learning for its unique position in the world.

Um.... how many native Finnish speakers are there? Less than ten million. And ninety-five percent of them speak English, and probably German. And a good number Russian too. So I disagree with the premise.

In my personal experience, Czech was impenetrable. I only learned 'Good Day' and 'Please' and 'Thank You'.

16 posted on 09/21/2024 10:27:26 AM PDT by Rummyfan ( In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wuli

The earlier post of the video from Malcolm Gladwell ends up with his contention that it is ancient agricultural practices, namely rice cultivation , that is the cultural determinant of better task-oriented concentration. I would disagree, i would see young students having to bear down and concentrate on learning the myriad of characters in those written language would correlate with math learning. The scores of world standing in math proficiency is shocking to me with Israel ranking far below U.S.


17 posted on 09/21/2024 10:28:15 AM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan

Once you learn a Slavic language, whether Russian, Czech, Polish, etc. it’s fairly easy to pick up the others.

Poles say that Slovak sounds like a baby speaking Polish.


18 posted on 09/21/2024 10:29:01 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: sopo; Rennes Templar; null and void
Finnish is known for its challenging grammar and vocabulary, which can be daunting for learners. It features a complex system of cases—15 in total—which can change the endings of nouns based on their function in a sentence. Additionally, Finnish is a language isolated from other European languages, so there are few cognates for English speakers to rely on.

That would certainly explain why the Finnish are the fed up people who finally said, "Enough already!" 15 cases? How much more are they supposed to take?

The fact that Å is a common letter in Swedish while having no native use in Finnish has led to it being used as a concise symbol for the Swedish language in Finland, as in this campaign to rid Finnish schools of Mandatory Swedish. The phrase reads "Away with enforced Swedish".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85

The list of difficult to learn languages seems to correlate well to math proficiency.

And just like that, a tenth of a nanometer is tossed away, as if it's nothing of significance. 🤓

19 posted on 09/21/2024 10:30:20 AM PDT by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

At least the Czechs use the Roman alphabet.


20 posted on 09/21/2024 10:31:00 AM PDT by Rummyfan ( In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson