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POLL: Hardest language to learn
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    nailan posted on Aug 08, 2010 4:41:05 PM - Report post
     
    Learning a language as an adult strongly depends on the learner's native language. Therefore it is meaningless to make a universal ranking of difficulty. For example, a native English speaker will learn Frisian - and vice versa - much more easily than a native Japanese speaker would. In general, the closer the second language is in relation to vocabulary, sounds, sentence structure, culture, and other factors to the learner's native tongue and culture, the easier acquisition will be. This "proximity" of the target language is not necessarily a function of genetic relationship but may also be polyphyletic, such as a chance similarity of phonology. English speakers often consider Spanish to be very easy to learn, for example, even though Spanish is not the closest relative of English. Differences in phonology are often insurmountable for the learner, and will be apparent in an accent in non-native speakers even after many years of proficient use of the learned language.
    Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself

    Nature is not human hearted

    Knowing others is intelligence;
    knowing yourself is true wisdom.
    Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power

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    nailan posted on Aug 08, 2010 4:47:32 PM - Report post
     
    If taken literally, the hardest languages for outsiders to learn would be those that are currently unknown by outsiders, for example, Sentinelese. Sentinelese is completely unattested, and no Sentinelese have had significant contact with outsiders for several centuries, so it cannot be learned anywhere but on North Sentinel Island. However, it is illegal for anyone to visit the island, and fishermen accidentally visiting have been killed by the Sentinelese
    Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself

    Nature is not human hearted

    Knowing others is intelligence;
    knowing yourself is true wisdom.
    Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power

    To see things in the seed, that is genius
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    zorrodude posted on Aug 08, 2010 6:51:49 PM - Report post
     
    My professors say English is one of the hardest to learn because of all the slang terms.
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    Al-pucino posted on Aug 09, 2010 1:37:37 AM - Report post
     
    I think that English is easy to learn on a basic level, but I think it's really hard to be fluent in.

    I remember trying to learn Icelandic ages ago from a friend and gave up within the first minute of it. That language is just....wow.
    A simple 24-year-old boy.

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    HonestGamer posted on Aug 09, 2010 3:32:13 AM - Report post
     
    Chinese Mandarin. I have some chinese friends, and they leave with my mind confused.
    Life is best for those who enjoy it, difficult for those who analyze it and worst for those who criticize it.
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    ebiPrm posted on Aug 09, 2010 5:07:56 AM - Report post
     
    Assembly!
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    ACE
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    latios_power posted on Aug 09, 2010 8:48:57 AM - Report post
     
    quote:
    originally posted by Nic_Durron

    quote:
    originally posted by latios_power

    Hebrew is easy, maybe I say that because it's close to Arabic, I heard Arabic is hard to learn for foreign people, I'd go with Japanese from that list.

    Japanese isn't too terrible if you're dedicated. I know a few people who've successfully learnt it, including the characters.

    I actually judged from characters and Animes. LOL

    ~King of Dark~
    â™®C.0.Wâ™®
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    My torrential pain will be your unspeakable suffering
    Your days are numbered
    Don't fear the end
    Pray for it
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    My thirst for vengeance
    WILL NEVER DIE

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    The_Golden_2 posted on Aug 09, 2010 10:07:28 AM - Report post
     
    Japanese.
    -----/\-------\O/ OMG SHARK IN THE WATER!!!

    /--\
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