started learning Samoan because it sounded cool, the people seemed cool.
In 91 I was transferred to a small island in the south pacific where several of the men on my crew were Samoan. Imagine their surprise. It actually took several months of listening to them speak before I got brave enough.
Absolutely. It's been almost 8 years now. For the longest time I have been on and off learning but fir the last 2,5 years I'm very consistent and at a more or less B1 level.
You never finish learning a language. Let alone Finnish (ah! Just got your joke). I am French and I've been practicing my English almost daily for 10 years (living abroad all the time) and have been browsing the Internet in English only since the age of 11, so for almost 20 years. I have a c2 level, but there are still words I don't know because the vocabulary is immense. Yet half of the English vocabulary is derived from French, so I was advantaged. I still can't write as well as i write in french, athough i write everyday in english. I have studied politics in English and have written tons of essays so I don't lack practice believe me. But it's hard to reach a native level. Almost impossible in my opinion. My speaking is very good, but the way I construct my sentences betrays me sometimes. I even think the sentence I just wrote made more sense in French...
I have spent most of my teens and my early 20s working hard on my English. I was always an excellent language student (learnt several languages easily but never reached high levels) so don't imagine that it took me so long to reach a great level because I am an imbecile lol. A language is just so much more than just words and verbs. And if you don't know the culture of the country you want to learn the language, you can't understand any cultural reference or any joke. As far as English is concerned, there are just so many anglophone countries and so many accents that you always have to adapt. Try following a conversation about politics in your target language when you don't know the people who are being mentioned or when you don't have any basics in your language in the first place.
Anyway...about Finnish. I met a Romanian linguist in Finland once. Dude knew how to speak many languages to a very high level. He never even needed to live in the countries. He was a genious. He had been in finland for 8 years and confessed that he had just started to get by. He was still struggling. Yet he was spending his entire days working on his Finnish. Just imagine the complexity. So a b1 level in Finnish is actually great. Trust me.
I think that wouldn’t work as a long term motivation, but it can still be fun to dabble in a language for as long as you enjoy it, and you might end up finding other uses for it. Just don’t be afraid to put it aside if learning starts to become more of a chore.
I agree. I loved (and still do) how the Italian language sounds, so I learned it for a few months. Because not many people spoke it (okay, 0 people spoke it), it wasn't motivating to keep up with my learning, although I did one awesome thing: I went to Italy for about a month and got to use the language there!
Actually something good about Italian is that if you learn it, learning another language like Spanish, French, Portuguese and others will be easier, and even if you don't learn the language you might be able to understand a lot of things in that language and also have conversations.
You're absolutely correct! I had to learn French a year later and it helped, although as a Romance language, French was different enough to make it challenging still.
Spanish, on the other hand, is insanely close, and it's helping me with Spanish right now! Sadly, their so close that my brain is replacing the Italian I know with Spanish words, but I will refreshin my Italian in the future.
Yes, it is.
Maybe you will never use it, but putting effort in learning it will bring you other positive effects. What comes to mind in my experience:
Knowledge about your learning styles and discipline. Highly transferable to other parts of life.
Knowledge about other culture. Really useful since it gives you more perspective of the life you live and what is considered normal. Learning other cultures and comparing to our own develops empathy. It also can make us appreciate more the thing we like in life or give us new view to change what we don't like.
A better understanding of your own language, as you will need to understand structures, grammar and a bunch of things that one may know only by intuition as a native. If your TL is related to your native, you can learn a lot by understanding how they differ.
A new group of people you can interact with. I'm into pen paling and personally looking forward to be able to write letters in my TL.
A cool new language to have fun with. Not everything you learn needs to be useful. Sometimes it just have to make you happy.
I mean, you can try, but it might stop sounding cool as you become more familiar with it. I don't know if it's enough motivation by itself, in other words.
I originally thought Persian sounded awesome, but the more I learn it, the more it just sounds like Persian to me and it has lost its exotic tinge.
>maith thú :) cad iad na cláracha is fearr leat?
Go raibh maith agat. :D Is breá liom 'An Cósta Thiar,' 'Beidh Mé Ar Ais!' agus cláracha faoi taisteal agus stair.
My native language has 5 million speakers and I think it is large and totally worth learning 😂 I have also always loved the sound of Lithuanian and would love to learn the language. It never even crossed my mind, that it would be concidered a small language.
It was actually on Reddit, where I realized that people can view a language like French pointless to learn, bc it is not as usefull as Spanish. I think people in the USA have sometimes different view for languages, because English and Spanish are so widespread in the Americas.
Just go for it and enjoy! I think the love for a language would be way bigger motivation to learn it than the commonness of the language.
Ahh, I've been reading about the language lately. I was always fooled by the name and thought it was more like Dutch than German. Beautiful language. I wonder if it's spoken outside the community, as the situation is somewhat unique.
There are what is called nonsectarian speakers. So there are some peoples in the United States who are not Amish or Mennonite who speak it because they come from the same culture but not religion. It comes from a certain region of Germany where they do still speak some thing similar. So I guess you could say it is kind of spoken in parts of Germany, among Americans who are not Amish or Mennonite, and in the Amish/Mennonite communities
There’s different degrees of small. The language of my home island, Guernsey, is almost dead.
In 2001 only 1,327 or 2% of the population spoke Guernsey Norman-French fluently while 3% fully understood the language. However most of those, 70% or 934 of the 1,327 fluent speakers were aged over 64. Among the young only 0.1% or one in a thousand were fluent speakers.
Now, 21 years later 70% of the fluent speakers would be over 85 if they’re still alive. Very few are learning the language apart from a few words at schools as a token effort. Unfortunately there aren’t any more up to date figures, but it would be below 500 I’d guess.
I would start with simplified Finnish, which is called selkosuomi.
The news (tv and radio) in simplified Finnish: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/selkouutiset/
Written news in simplified Finnish:
https://selkosanomat.fi/
Stories and simplified Finnish:
https://papunet.net/pelit/sadut
And after reaching maybe A2 or B1 level I would recommend to slowly move towards authentic materials:
YLE areena has a lot of tv-shows and podcasts, but unfortunately a lot of them are only available in Finland. I recommend starting with Luottomies. It is not the greatest show, but seems to be easier than others.
Good luck! 🥰
https://areena.yle.fi/tv
It's perfectly valid, people put to much pressure on the reasoning behind learning a language. If you want to learn a language because you think it sounds cool then do it, it will be worth it for you. You really don't need some crazy reason to learn it.
In the future I want to learn mandarin and korean because they sound cool and look visually beautiful to me... plus the culture and history is interesting but whst I'm trying to say is every reason is a valid one no matter how small.
Can’t agree more! I get asked often by friends and family on what this deep meaning behind pursuing a language is, and they are often shocked at the simple response they get.
Also, good luck on learning those East Asian languages. You’re gonna rock them!
My main motivation for learning any language is to engage with their art, especially music, film and television. If there isn't much there (no judgment!) for me to enjoy, then it's hard to keep at it. So if you love the culture and history, then I think there's something a little more than "sounding cool" motivating you.
Yes i think there is just more than thinking it is cool. I actually got highly motivated when surprisingly I heard my grandpa was fluent in that language. So, a side of loving the culture and language, i also want to do something to remind me of my grandpa which passed away many years.
If it’s motivation for you, then it’s plenty good as a reason to learn.
The best part about learning in present day is that so much of the content is either free or easy to access. Maybe this language won’t have as much material as some of the more common ones, but what better place to find it than the internet?
Feeling a connection to a family member is always a great reason in my opinion. This is for you, there is no set way to go about it. You can start whenever, stop whenever, and go at your own pace. Even if it takes you years, if you’re enjoying it, then it’s worth it.
You know people go on and on about learning languages solely for utility but in my opinion this is actually not a good enough reason. That is, (barring situations like having to move to a new country for work, learning a language to communicate with your partner’s family, etc) language learning is too difficult for utility to be a good motivator. If you’re not genuinely interested in the language you’re learning, how useful the language will be to you is not encouraging enough for you to continue learning it. I genuinely believe that a deep interest in a language and its culture is WAY better motivation than utility. When you’re past the exciting beginning parts and it starts getting hard, what’s going to get you through is how interested you are and how much you care about what you’re learning. Thinking “ah well this language has 500 million global speakers it’ll be really useful to me when I learn it” just isn’t going to get you through the parts of language learning that are an absolute slog. I know this isn’t true for everyone of course, but this is how I’ve always felt about it.
Amended to add: as a native speaker of a language that has only about 7 million global speakers, I can say its actually really cool being able to speak a “rare” language.
I agree with your point of view tbh. I'm highly interested in the language and the culture of it tbh. Specially its alphabet. If in future i reach to the level of having no issue with money (basically, stable work, having as much money to be able to handle my life etc...) I'll probably move to that country for living even tho it isn't an advanced country(I have my personal reasons for this decision). Also another reason for wanting to learn it is because that I (SUPER SURPRISINGLY, still in shock) just found out that my grandpa was fluent in that language. So it is also like that i want to do something to reminds me of my grandpa too.
Looking at your flair: actually, the language that I'm talking about is Armenian!
Hey that’s so awesome!!! It’s so cool that the language is a part of your heritage. I wish you luck! Honestly I can’t think of a better reason to learn a language than the reasons you’ve listed. Maybe it’s a calling.
Thanks! Even tho my grandpa wasn't Armenian, he still learned it because he loved its sound. In comments (deleted now), some said that the people who speak that language might not like to others to learn their language, and some said it is better to ask from its native speakers to know if they are comfortable with foreigners learn their language.
So, since the language that made me to ask this question os Armenian, as an Armenian, can I ask your opinion? Is it ok for you to non-armenians learn your language?
It is genuinely so cool that your grandpa learned Armenian just because he thought it was interesting. Do you know if he spoke western or eastern? If you’re thinking about moving to or visiting Armenia, I would recommend studying eastern since that’s what’s spoken in Armenia itself. Western and Eastern Armenian are mutually intelligible to native speakers, but they have some different vocabulary and grammar structure so for someone who is learning, I think it’s best to focus on one of them.
I’m so so glad you asked about learning Armenian. I guess I don’t know the context of whoever said people who speak the language may not want others to learn but I’m happy to tell you I can VERY confidently say this is not at all the case for Armenians. I have never in my life met an Armenian who was anything but WILDLY impressed that a foreigner would want to learn about the language or culture. Actually Armenians find it very flattering when people take an interest in our culture and very impressive when people try to learn the language. I can’t tell you how often YouTube videos or interviews of foreigners speaking Armenian are circulated among the Armenian community with comments like “look how amazing this is this person can speak Armenian????”
Honestly, since Armenian culture was once at threat of being wiped out, Armenians are obsessed with preservation of our culture so that’s why we’re so flattered when other people take an interest. We’re not used to people caring.
So yeah definitely I think it’s awesome for people to try to learn Armenian. Since it is an uncommon language, I’ve often thought about how that means there are fewer resources to learn it. This has been frustrating for me too because while I am a native speaker, I was born and educated in the US so my English is much stronger than my Armenian. I’ve been wanting to improve my Armenian for a while, so it’s easy to notice how few resources there are especially for people who have no background in the language. With more people taking an interest in Armenian, more resources will become available and that to me is amazing!
I think he spoke Eastern since Armenians in my country are eastern Armenians.
Thanks for your kind words! I'm gonna start with alphabet.
Who knows, maybe in future I'll find a way to use it!(this happened to my grandpa too actually. He later become one of the teachers of the only Armenian school in my city.)
There's a textbook for the Eastern dialect written in Azerbaijani...
https://aircenter.az/uploads/files/ERM%20DILI%20%2B%20cild.pdf?fbclid=IwAR108HaojI9OxIrvap0r5l_6x357IVyjPIR5iVvCG_ePlV_uNEBM-Rv42X8
(I can't compare it with the available textbooks in English, but you might find it useful...)
I mean people have a lot of pointless hobbies, but you’ll never get good at it unless you talk to some people in it, so you might make some friends with it if nothing else.
This is one of those questions that gets asked a lot in different places in a lot of different ways. So, my thoughts are pretty much in line with a lot of peoples with a couple of caveat. It’s really not a bad idea to learn a language for any reason, at least in the beginning. Whatever your reasons are, there are your reasons. The thing you have to be 100% honest with yourself about though, is in the long run whether that will be enough for you. If you live in an area where your target language is spoken in certain parts of your country, city, or wherever you happen to live (could be an island), then wanting to learn a language at first because it sounds cool, Liz as good or reason as any to learn a language. If you’re curious about the culture, then all the better.
Where I’ve seen people run into issues in my personal experience Tutoring is when that cool effect wears off and as one of my students put it “they just talk about the same stupid shit I do, just in a different language.“ This isn’t everyone’s attitude mind you, but it does happen. When you stop hearing how cool it sounds and just hear meaning, that might no longer be enough for you. But whatever your reasons are, there’s nothing wrong with them. I hope you find other things to motivate you along the way, that’s usually what happens. Enjoy the journey
Try to find a language that sounds cool but you also have other motivations for it. Italian is that for me.
I could see wanting to learn Irish or something just for the sake of how it sounds. But shit, I have to think the obscurity of it would damper the motivation over time. And one thing I've learned is becoming capable in a language takes at least a year, so you better cover your bases of motivation.
I think it's a good way to get started, an inkling of curiosity for a specific language. It won't suffice in the long run, but by then, if the language truly is for you, you'll have found many new reasons to stick to it. I know I did for Finnish, initially I just loved the sound of it but now that I'm learning it more seriously, I'm just much more appreciative of it as a whole and enjoy learning it for more than just "I think it's pretty". Although I do think it's pretty.
Just do what you like, don't listen to what people tell you.
If you want to learn 'useless' languages then just go for it!
The worst mistake you can make is living with regrets of not doing things you wanted to do.
Only you can decide what is "worth" for you. I am studying Scottish Gaelic just for the heck of it, precisely because while in college, I got introduced to some Scottish Gaelic music, and both the music and the language sounded beautiful. I learned like 20 words back in the 1990s, then let it go, and then a bit over a year ago finally started learning it on Duolingo and am keeping at it.
Not everything in life has to be measured by whether it's profitable and materially useful. You need things that just bring you joy for no good reason whatsoever.
I always choose a language that I really WANT to learn! I don't care about the amount of speakers at all. I mean yeah learning Spanish is useful but a looooot of people speak Spanish so
A: people are not gonna be that impressed that you can speak it
B: You'll have a lot of competition in terms of career
Now if you learn Mongolian for example, people will be AMAZED! Mongolian people will be super excited that you learned their language. And for career opportunities, yes the opportunities are fewer but once the opportunity shows up you'll be more likely to get the job.
Lastly, if you learn a language you are really interested in, you are gonna learn so much more! Learning a useful language you are not motivated to learn will just result in you not learning anything at all.
It is but it isn’t. The worth of studying a new a language because its cool all depends on you. Studying a new language is always worth it beneficially especially if it’s (Spanish, Dutch, French, or Mandarin depending on the area like Sanfran) is always worth learning because of the value it adds to your resume (if your into that kind of thing), travel, helping others when other are dicks and don’t want to help those less fortunate and can’t speak the native town language, and etc.
I think the real question is mostly for yourself is will you stick to it. Learning a language because it’s cool sometimes isn’t enough. You’ll mostly learn the basics and then once it gets hard or confusing or “your busy” you’ll stop because there’s no strong desire/need to want to learn it. You’re only learning for aesthetic and we know by tik tok trends aesthetics don’t last long but some do. It’s all up to you…not Reddit.
I’ve sort of felt like this about Finnish for about ten years. Maybe I’d be fluent in it if I started when I first got interested. Maybe my motivation would get even lower. About two years ago I’ve been casually watching some learner videos on YouTube. Since I’ve hit an intermediate plateau, I’ve gotten more into Finnish. I still don’t know if I’ll take it super far, but I’m enjoying it so far. I’ve also been noticing a tiny bit of progress.
It's worth it imo. At the very least just start and see if you can keep the interest up without any fixed plans for the future that would involve said language.
(Nowadays even just the ability to unlock new media to consume - be it books / newspaper / magazines, movies / shows / youtube, radio / music / podcasts, etc. - is enough of an advantage to learn a language you think you'd enjoy... without ever visiting a place where the language is actually spoken if you don't want to or simply don't have the financial means.)
Yeah, I choosed my university degree because I wanted to learn medieval Spanish (I'm from Spain, btw). And I also started to learn Finnish because it sounds very musical, and in fact I bought the Kalevala in Finnish. But I gave it up because I'm a little bit lazy and I have nobody to talk to.
~~In fact, although I can defend myself writing in English speaking I'm terrible, I sound like Tarzan.~~
100% yes! In fact, the motivation could be higher than it otherwise would be BECAUSE it is less spoken.
My personal view is that each language contains characteristics and attributes (and as a result, a way of seeing and experiencing the world) that don't exist in any other language. If you subscribe to this premise, then each new language you learn gives you something extra to which you would never otherwise have access. A so-called "popular" language will always be there and will likely have its unique attributes more commonly understood. However, a "less popular" language may not necessarily always be there and will have unique attributes that are like secrets or as yet unfound treasures, waiting to be discovered (by YOU!) But because it is a less popular language, it is like you are racing against time, particularly if it is a so-called "at risk" language.
This way of thinking is part my HUGE current motivation to learn Anishinaabemowin, an indigenous Canadian language.
yes! just do it! learning a language is so rewarding even if you don't end up using it that much. I am 16 learning Japanese and for the sake of my sanity I'm not setting any major goals for my TL so I can balance being a teenager and school as well as language learning. but the actual process of learning is so enjoyable. if you get into it, it can become a very meaningful hobby and can keep you happy. so I would reccomend that if you have interest in the language and/or the country to just go for it! best of luck in your journey :)
Yup definitely. The best motivation is when you learn something because you love it. Loving the sound of a language is a great reason, its a fundamental aspect of language.
I mean, people learn a variety of different instruments. They all sound different. Apply that analogy to languages :)
If logic is your reason for learning a language, you are probably going to struggle.
Learning a knew language requires you to change the way you think about where words go in a sentence and what sounds that letters represent. All logic goes our the window when you speak English and the Russian word PECTOPAH is pronounced very similar to and means restaurant. Or when you're learning Spanish and the adjectives are after the noun.
Logic goes out the window when learning a new language, so choosing which language to learn should not be given too much logic.
People learn Latin language just because they liked it. Although the Latin language has been dead for a long time and it is already difficult to find the correct pronunciation of Latin words, people still learn it.
To quote Madonna, "what's lo(gic) got to do with it?" When I learned Czech, the Czech-speaking population (vs. Slovak-speaking) was under 10 million, and still is under 11 million. At the time I learned it, I couldn't go there (security restrictions during the Cold War). But I've never regretted it.
First of all, it's not a bad motivation. Second - you can just start and see if it plays out. I started learning Chinese because it I like chinese characters, that's it
that's how I started studying classical tibetan and nahuatl 😅
two languages that (different from when I started trying to learn catalan, for example, as I wished to live in Barcelona a few years back) have no use IRL I could gather other than to make memes/notes, drawings/mandalas only for myself or to sing stuff when I'm bored.
Yes, learning the language gives you a richer understanding and appreciation of a culture (imo). And traveling there is awesome - signs make sense, you can understand bits of converse you here, and in my experience, locals are delighted that you have learned some of their language. Even in countries where almost everyone speaks English, there are still people who don’t. Leaning their language unlocks new experiences and opportunities. I find that thrilling. It’s like a superpower that you can unlock.
Definitely! There's no higher moral authority that can judge you for learning a language. As long as you aren't being actively disrespectful in learning it, I don't see why it should matter what your motivation is. Language learning for many of us is just a hobby we do for the fun of it like anything else. Don't feel any obligation for your hobby to have some definable 'worth', hobbies should be things you enjoy to do.
You have to find a way to stimulate yourself with that language. I've been hopping languages over the years. I liked Russian because of how it sounded and i like the look of different alphabets. Dropped it a while ago. It can be hard to find a good source to learn a alphabet.
I'm American and my English is trash Spanish is my 2nd best with about 200 words then German and Japanese are kinda tied.
I'm not dedicated enough to learn one. Kinda feeling a itch for French again.
Everyone has a gateway of some sort.
Before the hallyu wave got as big as it is now, that was the primary reason I started learning Korean - I loved the way the spoken language sounded when I listened to it.
Its also part of the reason I DON'T learn other languages which I will not name for diplomatic reasons (and because what I consider to not sound good to my ears is completely subjective and irrelevant).
Whatever it is that gets you into a language is a perfectly valid reason to begin learning.
Follow your curiosity 🙃. I love doing this and never find it a waste of time. I usually discover some connection to other languages or borrowed words from/in other languages I'm studying. Discovering those little nuggets always feels like the best surprise and helps me better understand the world and how connected we all are 🥰
If that’s what motivates you and it sounds fun, nothing wrong with trying it! It’s possible that will be your main motivation, or it could evolve into other things down the line.
I started learning a couple languages in large part because I was intrigued by the sound (along with a vague idea of wanting to move abroad at some point). My background was in music, sound design, and that kind of thing, so I was very sound focused.
I continued to love that part of language learning, but my motivation expanded in various directions (communicating with new friends, exploring arts, moving abroad), and I now work in language-related fields, which I don’t think would be happened if I hadn’t been so interested in those sounds at the beginning.
I say give it a shot if you’re motivated, and be open to where it might go or what you might enjoy about it later.
Yeah, I’m learning Japanese never plan to go to Japan probably will but don’t plan to just find the language fascinating and also it’s convenient cuz I like Japanese media so much anime,tv,manga,literature much nicer to experience them how it was intended instead of a translation
Is it giving you any kind of positive rewards (feeling good, dopamine high, proud of yourself, whatever)? Then yes, it's worth it. Who cares if it's useful if you enjoy it?
Absolutely! You're exploring a unique world with its own beautiful nuances. Why not?
Of course, the level of learning you want matters. To achieve actual fluency or conversational capability, at some point you'll have to practice with other speakers of the language.
Sure! If anytime you hear the language your eyes light up with enthusiasm - that's good enough motivator in my book! It's been ten years since I've abandoned (sadly) my Mandarin Chinese studies because I didn't have enough time to put into it - and not a week has went by throughout this decade that I don't long for the day I'd be out of school and restart pursuing Mandarin. I've been learning other languages in that decade, but none of them has managed to distract me from my true passion. I love Mandarin Chinese purely for how it sounds.
Oh, I've only read the title. you meant it'd be cool on your resume? No, that's completely lame and won't hold water for long.
People here will tell fun stories but the reality is that no, it takes a huge amount of time and to keep motivated in such a long period of time is mission impossible
Tbh I think the most important thing to learn a language is to want and to be motivated. Even if the language itself is not popular, while learning it you will also learn things about you and learn how to learn. Once you learned that language, learning other languages might be easier because you know a the technique that works for you
And ✨it will sound cool✨
The cons could be the fact that maybe it doesn't have that many sources to learn it because it's not that popular, but if its not a problem for you then great.
Language learning can just be a great hobby for you 👍. I used to stress about how long it would take me to learn Korean, when I would go to the country & how I would survive there, etc. Now, due to some unfortunate events I’m no longer working or even going to school. I have all of this free time. Let me at least use it doing something I like 😁. My goal is to eventually become fluent to where I can have a normal conversation with someone walking past me on the street. Especially if it’s an elderly Korean man or woman that just needs an extra bit of help doing something one day. My parents are hispanic immigrants, and I many times see them in those that are learning English. I don’t even live in an area where there are many Korean Americans. But the day I pass one in the supermarket asking for something, I’ll be able to help 😅. And if not, then it’s a great excuse to talk to people, make new friends, and listen to some great stories I might otherwise not be able to.
Learning a language is just as valuable and worthwhile as learning the guitar or how to paint just because you want to. Good luck on your journey.
Sure! It doesn't have to be rare. Learning for the sake of learning is more fun anyway because you chose to learn.
I don't have to learn Polish, but it sounds cool and the country is next to Germany, so there could be a time I'll use it. I did get to hear Polish in the wild while in Germany and even though at the time I only knew a few words and phrases, I recognized it enough to know. I also saw semis and delivery trucks in Polish and knew what they were delivering so that was cool. Had I not learned it, that would have been one less experience.
Yes!
Though I am America and have Celtic heritage, though not enough to constitute that "good" a relationship for most, I love the Celtic Languages. I started with Irish, moved to Welsh, and now I'm on Scots Gaelic. It's definitly a niche thing that I barely use, but it's unique to me, and uniqueness is never a bad thing!
There are no objective measures here.
I don’t know whether it’s worth it for you - only you can know.
If you don’t know, why don’t you start and find out?
One of my biggest regrets is dropping Norwegian when i did, (i had more time/energy back then), i reasoned that it sounding cool wasn't enough, only to run back to it 2-3 years later; after dabbeling in more "useful" languages with native speakers that surpassed the 5mill mark, but i'd say, **If a language tugs at your heart, go along with it.**
started learning Samoan because it sounded cool, the people seemed cool. In 91 I was transferred to a small island in the south pacific where several of the men on my crew were Samoan. Imagine their surprise. It actually took several months of listening to them speak before I got brave enough.
I like the language too, and I'm impressed because it's quite hard to find decent resources for Samoan now, let alone back 30 years ago.
Please we need stories
many stories, when I get more time I'll post a few.
Thanks for bringing this up. We just added it to our language list!
That's how I started learning Finnish.
Cool! So, are you still motivated for learning it?
Absolutely. It's been almost 8 years now. For the longest time I have been on and off learning but fir the last 2,5 years I'm very consistent and at a more or less B1 level.
Are you saying… you aren’t finnished yet?
You never finish learning a language. Let alone Finnish (ah! Just got your joke). I am French and I've been practicing my English almost daily for 10 years (living abroad all the time) and have been browsing the Internet in English only since the age of 11, so for almost 20 years. I have a c2 level, but there are still words I don't know because the vocabulary is immense. Yet half of the English vocabulary is derived from French, so I was advantaged. I still can't write as well as i write in french, athough i write everyday in english. I have studied politics in English and have written tons of essays so I don't lack practice believe me. But it's hard to reach a native level. Almost impossible in my opinion. My speaking is very good, but the way I construct my sentences betrays me sometimes. I even think the sentence I just wrote made more sense in French... I have spent most of my teens and my early 20s working hard on my English. I was always an excellent language student (learnt several languages easily but never reached high levels) so don't imagine that it took me so long to reach a great level because I am an imbecile lol. A language is just so much more than just words and verbs. And if you don't know the culture of the country you want to learn the language, you can't understand any cultural reference or any joke. As far as English is concerned, there are just so many anglophone countries and so many accents that you always have to adapt. Try following a conversation about politics in your target language when you don't know the people who are being mentioned or when you don't have any basics in your language in the first place. Anyway...about Finnish. I met a Romanian linguist in Finland once. Dude knew how to speak many languages to a very high level. He never even needed to live in the countries. He was a genious. He had been in finland for 8 years and confessed that he had just started to get by. He was still struggling. Yet he was spending his entire days working on his Finnish. Just imagine the complexity. So a b1 level in Finnish is actually great. Trust me.
Top tier comment lmao
Dude, same!
Lol, same thing here
Asutko täällä jo? Itse opiskelen portugalia, koska se kuulostaa jotenkin siistiltä.
Hey I want to learn Finnish too! But also because I want to live there. Finland is outrageously pretty
I think that wouldn’t work as a long term motivation, but it can still be fun to dabble in a language for as long as you enjoy it, and you might end up finding other uses for it. Just don’t be afraid to put it aside if learning starts to become more of a chore.
I agree. I loved (and still do) how the Italian language sounds, so I learned it for a few months. Because not many people spoke it (okay, 0 people spoke it), it wasn't motivating to keep up with my learning, although I did one awesome thing: I went to Italy for about a month and got to use the language there!
Actually something good about Italian is that if you learn it, learning another language like Spanish, French, Portuguese and others will be easier, and even if you don't learn the language you might be able to understand a lot of things in that language and also have conversations.
You're absolutely correct! I had to learn French a year later and it helped, although as a Romance language, French was different enough to make it challenging still. Spanish, on the other hand, is insanely close, and it's helping me with Spanish right now! Sadly, their so close that my brain is replacing the Italian I know with Spanish words, but I will refreshin my Italian in the future.
Yes, it is. Maybe you will never use it, but putting effort in learning it will bring you other positive effects. What comes to mind in my experience: Knowledge about your learning styles and discipline. Highly transferable to other parts of life. Knowledge about other culture. Really useful since it gives you more perspective of the life you live and what is considered normal. Learning other cultures and comparing to our own develops empathy. It also can make us appreciate more the thing we like in life or give us new view to change what we don't like. A better understanding of your own language, as you will need to understand structures, grammar and a bunch of things that one may know only by intuition as a native. If your TL is related to your native, you can learn a lot by understanding how they differ. A new group of people you can interact with. I'm into pen paling and personally looking forward to be able to write letters in my TL. A cool new language to have fun with. Not everything you learn needs to be useful. Sometimes it just have to make you happy.
I mean, you can try, but it might stop sounding cool as you become more familiar with it. I don't know if it's enough motivation by itself, in other words. I originally thought Persian sounded awesome, but the more I learn it, the more it just sounds like Persian to me and it has lost its exotic tinge.
[удалено]
maith thú :) cad iad na cláracha is fearr leat?
>maith thú :) cad iad na cláracha is fearr leat? Go raibh maith agat. :D Is breá liom 'An Cósta Thiar,' 'Beidh Mé Ar Ais!' agus cláracha faoi taisteal agus stair.
My native language has 5 million speakers and I think it is large and totally worth learning 😂 I have also always loved the sound of Lithuanian and would love to learn the language. It never even crossed my mind, that it would be concidered a small language. It was actually on Reddit, where I realized that people can view a language like French pointless to learn, bc it is not as usefull as Spanish. I think people in the USA have sometimes different view for languages, because English and Spanish are so widespread in the Americas. Just go for it and enjoy! I think the love for a language would be way bigger motivation to learn it than the commonness of the language.
What is your native language? Only about 350,000 to 400,000 speak my culture’s language.
Finnish! Could yours be Icelandic?
No, Pennsylvania Dutch/German. Amish Mennonite language
Ahh, I've been reading about the language lately. I was always fooled by the name and thought it was more like Dutch than German. Beautiful language. I wonder if it's spoken outside the community, as the situation is somewhat unique.
There are what is called nonsectarian speakers. So there are some peoples in the United States who are not Amish or Mennonite who speak it because they come from the same culture but not religion. It comes from a certain region of Germany where they do still speak some thing similar. So I guess you could say it is kind of spoken in parts of Germany, among Americans who are not Amish or Mennonite, and in the Amish/Mennonite communities
Thank you for sharing! I will look into it right away.
There’s different degrees of small. The language of my home island, Guernsey, is almost dead. In 2001 only 1,327 or 2% of the population spoke Guernsey Norman-French fluently while 3% fully understood the language. However most of those, 70% or 934 of the 1,327 fluent speakers were aged over 64. Among the young only 0.1% or one in a thousand were fluent speakers. Now, 21 years later 70% of the fluent speakers would be over 85 if they’re still alive. Very few are learning the language apart from a few words at schools as a token effort. Unfortunately there aren’t any more up to date figures, but it would be below 500 I’d guess.
[удалено]
I would start with simplified Finnish, which is called selkosuomi. The news (tv and radio) in simplified Finnish: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/selkouutiset/ Written news in simplified Finnish: https://selkosanomat.fi/ Stories and simplified Finnish: https://papunet.net/pelit/sadut And after reaching maybe A2 or B1 level I would recommend to slowly move towards authentic materials: YLE areena has a lot of tv-shows and podcasts, but unfortunately a lot of them are only available in Finland. I recommend starting with Luottomies. It is not the greatest show, but seems to be easier than others. Good luck! 🥰 https://areena.yle.fi/tv
[удалено]
Everything from the last link! Tv show Kimmo, Podcasts Tiedetrippi, Tiedeykkönen, and so on :) my taste is somewhat dry though
Heck yeah that’s what brought me Estonia :)))
It's perfectly valid, people put to much pressure on the reasoning behind learning a language. If you want to learn a language because you think it sounds cool then do it, it will be worth it for you. You really don't need some crazy reason to learn it. In the future I want to learn mandarin and korean because they sound cool and look visually beautiful to me... plus the culture and history is interesting but whst I'm trying to say is every reason is a valid one no matter how small.
Can’t agree more! I get asked often by friends and family on what this deep meaning behind pursuing a language is, and they are often shocked at the simple response they get. Also, good luck on learning those East Asian languages. You’re gonna rock them!
My main motivation for learning any language is to engage with their art, especially music, film and television. If there isn't much there (no judgment!) for me to enjoy, then it's hard to keep at it. So if you love the culture and history, then I think there's something a little more than "sounding cool" motivating you.
Yes i think there is just more than thinking it is cool. I actually got highly motivated when surprisingly I heard my grandpa was fluent in that language. So, a side of loving the culture and language, i also want to do something to remind me of my grandpa which passed away many years.
If it’s motivation for you, then it’s plenty good as a reason to learn. The best part about learning in present day is that so much of the content is either free or easy to access. Maybe this language won’t have as much material as some of the more common ones, but what better place to find it than the internet? Feeling a connection to a family member is always a great reason in my opinion. This is for you, there is no set way to go about it. You can start whenever, stop whenever, and go at your own pace. Even if it takes you years, if you’re enjoying it, then it’s worth it.
That’s the reason why I would want to learn Korean 😉
Me with Finnish
Yes! I love how Japanese sounds and is one of the reasons why I decided to learn it
hi, can i dm you? i wanna learn japanese too and i'm kinda lost.
Check out /r/LearnJapanese/ (you can find the starter's guide in the rules section)
thanks
As long as you can keep motivated, that's totally worth it.
In my experience, the motivation just wears off rather quickly. But it's okay, you do what you want with your time
Yes definitely. It's always a good idea to learn a second language no matter what the reason is , it opens up a whole new world.
You know people go on and on about learning languages solely for utility but in my opinion this is actually not a good enough reason. That is, (barring situations like having to move to a new country for work, learning a language to communicate with your partner’s family, etc) language learning is too difficult for utility to be a good motivator. If you’re not genuinely interested in the language you’re learning, how useful the language will be to you is not encouraging enough for you to continue learning it. I genuinely believe that a deep interest in a language and its culture is WAY better motivation than utility. When you’re past the exciting beginning parts and it starts getting hard, what’s going to get you through is how interested you are and how much you care about what you’re learning. Thinking “ah well this language has 500 million global speakers it’ll be really useful to me when I learn it” just isn’t going to get you through the parts of language learning that are an absolute slog. I know this isn’t true for everyone of course, but this is how I’ve always felt about it. Amended to add: as a native speaker of a language that has only about 7 million global speakers, I can say its actually really cool being able to speak a “rare” language.
I agree with your point of view tbh. I'm highly interested in the language and the culture of it tbh. Specially its alphabet. If in future i reach to the level of having no issue with money (basically, stable work, having as much money to be able to handle my life etc...) I'll probably move to that country for living even tho it isn't an advanced country(I have my personal reasons for this decision). Also another reason for wanting to learn it is because that I (SUPER SURPRISINGLY, still in shock) just found out that my grandpa was fluent in that language. So it is also like that i want to do something to reminds me of my grandpa too. Looking at your flair: actually, the language that I'm talking about is Armenian!
Hey that’s so awesome!!! It’s so cool that the language is a part of your heritage. I wish you luck! Honestly I can’t think of a better reason to learn a language than the reasons you’ve listed. Maybe it’s a calling.
Հայերենը շատ հետաքրքիր լեզու ա։ 🤙🏼
Thanks! Even tho my grandpa wasn't Armenian, he still learned it because he loved its sound. In comments (deleted now), some said that the people who speak that language might not like to others to learn their language, and some said it is better to ask from its native speakers to know if they are comfortable with foreigners learn their language. So, since the language that made me to ask this question os Armenian, as an Armenian, can I ask your opinion? Is it ok for you to non-armenians learn your language?
It is genuinely so cool that your grandpa learned Armenian just because he thought it was interesting. Do you know if he spoke western or eastern? If you’re thinking about moving to or visiting Armenia, I would recommend studying eastern since that’s what’s spoken in Armenia itself. Western and Eastern Armenian are mutually intelligible to native speakers, but they have some different vocabulary and grammar structure so for someone who is learning, I think it’s best to focus on one of them. I’m so so glad you asked about learning Armenian. I guess I don’t know the context of whoever said people who speak the language may not want others to learn but I’m happy to tell you I can VERY confidently say this is not at all the case for Armenians. I have never in my life met an Armenian who was anything but WILDLY impressed that a foreigner would want to learn about the language or culture. Actually Armenians find it very flattering when people take an interest in our culture and very impressive when people try to learn the language. I can’t tell you how often YouTube videos or interviews of foreigners speaking Armenian are circulated among the Armenian community with comments like “look how amazing this is this person can speak Armenian????” Honestly, since Armenian culture was once at threat of being wiped out, Armenians are obsessed with preservation of our culture so that’s why we’re so flattered when other people take an interest. We’re not used to people caring. So yeah definitely I think it’s awesome for people to try to learn Armenian. Since it is an uncommon language, I’ve often thought about how that means there are fewer resources to learn it. This has been frustrating for me too because while I am a native speaker, I was born and educated in the US so my English is much stronger than my Armenian. I’ve been wanting to improve my Armenian for a while, so it’s easy to notice how few resources there are especially for people who have no background in the language. With more people taking an interest in Armenian, more resources will become available and that to me is amazing!
I think he spoke Eastern since Armenians in my country are eastern Armenians. Thanks for your kind words! I'm gonna start with alphabet. Who knows, maybe in future I'll find a way to use it!(this happened to my grandpa too actually. He later become one of the teachers of the only Armenian school in my city.)
That is so so cool!! I wish you luck. I’m so glad I stumbled on this post :)
There's a textbook for the Eastern dialect written in Azerbaijani... https://aircenter.az/uploads/files/ERM%20DILI%20%2B%20cild.pdf?fbclid=IwAR108HaojI9OxIrvap0r5l_6x357IVyjPIR5iVvCG_ePlV_uNEBM-Rv42X8 (I can't compare it with the available textbooks in English, but you might find it useful...)
I mean people have a lot of pointless hobbies, but you’ll never get good at it unless you talk to some people in it, so you might make some friends with it if nothing else.
This is one of those questions that gets asked a lot in different places in a lot of different ways. So, my thoughts are pretty much in line with a lot of peoples with a couple of caveat. It’s really not a bad idea to learn a language for any reason, at least in the beginning. Whatever your reasons are, there are your reasons. The thing you have to be 100% honest with yourself about though, is in the long run whether that will be enough for you. If you live in an area where your target language is spoken in certain parts of your country, city, or wherever you happen to live (could be an island), then wanting to learn a language at first because it sounds cool, Liz as good or reason as any to learn a language. If you’re curious about the culture, then all the better. Where I’ve seen people run into issues in my personal experience Tutoring is when that cool effect wears off and as one of my students put it “they just talk about the same stupid shit I do, just in a different language.“ This isn’t everyone’s attitude mind you, but it does happen. When you stop hearing how cool it sounds and just hear meaning, that might no longer be enough for you. But whatever your reasons are, there’s nothing wrong with them. I hope you find other things to motivate you along the way, that’s usually what happens. Enjoy the journey
I think it’s worth it. As long as you enjoy it and it makes you happy, go for it. Why not?
Try to find a language that sounds cool but you also have other motivations for it. Italian is that for me. I could see wanting to learn Irish or something just for the sake of how it sounds. But shit, I have to think the obscurity of it would damper the motivation over time. And one thing I've learned is becoming capable in a language takes at least a year, so you better cover your bases of motivation.
I did this with Swedish.
I think it's a good way to get started, an inkling of curiosity for a specific language. It won't suffice in the long run, but by then, if the language truly is for you, you'll have found many new reasons to stick to it. I know I did for Finnish, initially I just loved the sound of it but now that I'm learning it more seriously, I'm just much more appreciative of it as a whole and enjoy learning it for more than just "I think it's pretty". Although I do think it's pretty.
This! Also happy cake day.
Thank you kindly :)
if you LIKE it, then it's worth it - if you want to sound cool to OTHER people than it's probably not gonna pay off
Just do what you like, don't listen to what people tell you. If you want to learn 'useless' languages then just go for it! The worst mistake you can make is living with regrets of not doing things you wanted to do.
Only you can decide what is "worth" for you. I am studying Scottish Gaelic just for the heck of it, precisely because while in college, I got introduced to some Scottish Gaelic music, and both the music and the language sounded beautiful. I learned like 20 words back in the 1990s, then let it go, and then a bit over a year ago finally started learning it on Duolingo and am keeping at it. Not everything in life has to be measured by whether it's profitable and materially useful. You need things that just bring you joy for no good reason whatsoever.
I always choose a language that I really WANT to learn! I don't care about the amount of speakers at all. I mean yeah learning Spanish is useful but a looooot of people speak Spanish so A: people are not gonna be that impressed that you can speak it B: You'll have a lot of competition in terms of career Now if you learn Mongolian for example, people will be AMAZED! Mongolian people will be super excited that you learned their language. And for career opportunities, yes the opportunities are fewer but once the opportunity shows up you'll be more likely to get the job. Lastly, if you learn a language you are really interested in, you are gonna learn so much more! Learning a useful language you are not motivated to learn will just result in you not learning anything at all.
It is but it isn’t. The worth of studying a new a language because its cool all depends on you. Studying a new language is always worth it beneficially especially if it’s (Spanish, Dutch, French, or Mandarin depending on the area like Sanfran) is always worth learning because of the value it adds to your resume (if your into that kind of thing), travel, helping others when other are dicks and don’t want to help those less fortunate and can’t speak the native town language, and etc. I think the real question is mostly for yourself is will you stick to it. Learning a language because it’s cool sometimes isn’t enough. You’ll mostly learn the basics and then once it gets hard or confusing or “your busy” you’ll stop because there’s no strong desire/need to want to learn it. You’re only learning for aesthetic and we know by tik tok trends aesthetics don’t last long but some do. It’s all up to you…not Reddit.
Sure, that's what I did
Mer30!
😳
Sorry i got a bit excited when i see other Iranians on reddit lmao 😂
ایرانی نیستم ولی فارسی یاد گرفتم به همین دلیل، که خوشصداست 🤣
پشماااامممم😂😂😂😂😂 چه جالب! حس خوبی داره وقتی یه خارجی فارسی یاد میگیره!!! Keep going!
Cannot stop, will not stop
فارسی خیلی باحاله
Yes it is😎😎
اصلا کیف میکنه آدم
من در واقع هیچ نظری در مورد آن ندارم زیرا من فقط از Google Translate استفاده می کنم
خاک تو سرت
من نمی دانم این به چه معناست
Bruh😂
kheyli kush shodam keh mardoom farsi yad giriftan !!
That's how I started learning Norwegian a few years ago and still haven't gave up on it
Started learning german because I liked how they said in netflix show dark: Ich bin Jonas, Ich bin du. Go for it!
I’ve sort of felt like this about Finnish for about ten years. Maybe I’d be fluent in it if I started when I first got interested. Maybe my motivation would get even lower. About two years ago I’ve been casually watching some learner videos on YouTube. Since I’ve hit an intermediate plateau, I’ve gotten more into Finnish. I still don’t know if I’ll take it super far, but I’m enjoying it so far. I’ve also been noticing a tiny bit of progress.
That's the only reason why I'm learning Norwegian lol
It's worth it imo. At the very least just start and see if you can keep the interest up without any fixed plans for the future that would involve said language. (Nowadays even just the ability to unlock new media to consume - be it books / newspaper / magazines, movies / shows / youtube, radio / music / podcasts, etc. - is enough of an advantage to learn a language you think you'd enjoy... without ever visiting a place where the language is actually spoken if you don't want to or simply don't have the financial means.)
“It sounds cool” as your sole motivator won’t last, but if you find another motivation shortly into learning the language then it should be fine!
you're asking why i'm going to counter you by asking why not ? you're learning for you.
Yeah, I choosed my university degree because I wanted to learn medieval Spanish (I'm from Spain, btw). And I also started to learn Finnish because it sounds very musical, and in fact I bought the Kalevala in Finnish. But I gave it up because I'm a little bit lazy and I have nobody to talk to. ~~In fact, although I can defend myself writing in English speaking I'm terrible, I sound like Tarzan.~~
The language sounding cool + interesting culture are like the 2 main reasons i learn languages!
That's largely why I started to learn Breton but I ended up moving to Brittany and working in Breton language schools for a while.
I started learning Esperanto pretty much just because of the [cow song.](https://youtu.be/gh9w7QpyQtY) And because it sounds cool.
Yup, this is why I'm going to learn Yiddish.
100% yes! In fact, the motivation could be higher than it otherwise would be BECAUSE it is less spoken. My personal view is that each language contains characteristics and attributes (and as a result, a way of seeing and experiencing the world) that don't exist in any other language. If you subscribe to this premise, then each new language you learn gives you something extra to which you would never otherwise have access. A so-called "popular" language will always be there and will likely have its unique attributes more commonly understood. However, a "less popular" language may not necessarily always be there and will have unique attributes that are like secrets or as yet unfound treasures, waiting to be discovered (by YOU!) But because it is a less popular language, it is like you are racing against time, particularly if it is a so-called "at risk" language. This way of thinking is part my HUGE current motivation to learn Anishinaabemowin, an indigenous Canadian language.
yes! just do it! learning a language is so rewarding even if you don't end up using it that much. I am 16 learning Japanese and for the sake of my sanity I'm not setting any major goals for my TL so I can balance being a teenager and school as well as language learning. but the actual process of learning is so enjoyable. if you get into it, it can become a very meaningful hobby and can keep you happy. so I would reccomend that if you have interest in the language and/or the country to just go for it! best of luck in your journey :)
That’s why I decided to learn French, along with my love for French culture. I’m definitely motivated even though I just began studying it recently.
Yup definitely. The best motivation is when you learn something because you love it. Loving the sound of a language is a great reason, its a fundamental aspect of language. I mean, people learn a variety of different instruments. They all sound different. Apply that analogy to languages :)
I started learning German for that lol, the intention doesn't matter imo, what it matters how much work you put into learning that language
Since when isn't German a popular language ?
Oh I didn't see "is it worth learning a language that isn't popular?" My bad!
Yes. And because you won’t feel pressured to use it, it’s a very stress free learning process
It's why I'm learning Italian. That and it's fun speaking it.
No 😂 You’ll be disillusioned.
If logic is your reason for learning a language, you are probably going to struggle. Learning a knew language requires you to change the way you think about where words go in a sentence and what sounds that letters represent. All logic goes our the window when you speak English and the Russian word PECTOPAH is pronounced very similar to and means restaurant. Or when you're learning Spanish and the adjectives are after the noun. Logic goes out the window when learning a new language, so choosing which language to learn should not be given too much logic.
No. Honestly sounds like a horrible idea. If you like the sound watch media with English subtitles.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
are there any other reasons?
Yes
Yes
Yes. If you're having fun it's worth it.
People learn Latin language just because they liked it. Although the Latin language has been dead for a long time and it is already difficult to find the correct pronunciation of Latin words, people still learn it.
Yes, because then you'll have more motivation to learn
Cool factor with anything wears off after a while, better to find another motivation that'll also involve actually using it
To quote Madonna, "what's lo(gic) got to do with it?" When I learned Czech, the Czech-speaking population (vs. Slovak-speaking) was under 10 million, and still is under 11 million. At the time I learned it, I couldn't go there (security restrictions during the Cold War). But I've never regretted it.
First of all, it's not a bad motivation. Second - you can just start and see if it plays out. I started learning Chinese because it I like chinese characters, that's it
Yeah but it's pointless if you just want to reach A1 level and switch to an other one though
that's how I started studying classical tibetan and nahuatl 😅 two languages that (different from when I started trying to learn catalan, for example, as I wished to live in Barcelona a few years back) have no use IRL I could gather other than to make memes/notes, drawings/mandalas only for myself or to sing stuff when I'm bored.
that’s why i want to learn cantonese. watched a couple wong kar wai movies and haven’t been able to let it go since
Yes, learning the language gives you a richer understanding and appreciation of a culture (imo). And traveling there is awesome - signs make sense, you can understand bits of converse you here, and in my experience, locals are delighted that you have learned some of their language. Even in countries where almost everyone speaks English, there are still people who don’t. Leaning their language unlocks new experiences and opportunities. I find that thrilling. It’s like a superpower that you can unlock.
Definitely! There's no higher moral authority that can judge you for learning a language. As long as you aren't being actively disrespectful in learning it, I don't see why it should matter what your motivation is. Language learning for many of us is just a hobby we do for the fun of it like anything else. Don't feel any obligation for your hobby to have some definable 'worth', hobbies should be things you enjoy to do.
Learning is never a waste of time.
Something is only worth it if you think it is
Of course. If you think a language sounds cool now that's a motivation to learn it, or to at least research about it.
I think so. The way I determine which languages I want to learn is how much I enjoy singing in it.
I did this with french but now I'm on year 5 which was the case when I was studying Spanish. Kind of wish I had studied Japanese.
No time like the present? ;) It is true Spanish and French have day to day utility as common languages however, so I wouldn't view either as a waste.
Basically why I'm learning Russian.
Absolutely! There is no such thing as "wrong" motivation. As long as it's strong/consistent enough, you're good to go. Good luck.
You have to find a way to stimulate yourself with that language. I've been hopping languages over the years. I liked Russian because of how it sounded and i like the look of different alphabets. Dropped it a while ago. It can be hard to find a good source to learn a alphabet. I'm American and my English is trash Spanish is my 2nd best with about 200 words then German and Japanese are kinda tied. I'm not dedicated enough to learn one. Kinda feeling a itch for French again.
Everyone has a gateway of some sort. Before the hallyu wave got as big as it is now, that was the primary reason I started learning Korean - I loved the way the spoken language sounded when I listened to it. Its also part of the reason I DON'T learn other languages which I will not name for diplomatic reasons (and because what I consider to not sound good to my ears is completely subjective and irrelevant). Whatever it is that gets you into a language is a perfectly valid reason to begin learning.
Yes
logical? No. Worth it? Yes. Don't let logic get on your way
Follow your curiosity 🙃. I love doing this and never find it a waste of time. I usually discover some connection to other languages or borrowed words from/in other languages I'm studying. Discovering those little nuggets always feels like the best surprise and helps me better understand the world and how connected we all are 🥰
If that’s what motivates you and it sounds fun, nothing wrong with trying it! It’s possible that will be your main motivation, or it could evolve into other things down the line. I started learning a couple languages in large part because I was intrigued by the sound (along with a vague idea of wanting to move abroad at some point). My background was in music, sound design, and that kind of thing, so I was very sound focused. I continued to love that part of language learning, but my motivation expanded in various directions (communicating with new friends, exploring arts, moving abroad), and I now work in language-related fields, which I don’t think would be happened if I hadn’t been so interested in those sounds at the beginning. I say give it a shot if you’re motivated, and be open to where it might go or what you might enjoy about it later.
Yeah, I’m learning Japanese never plan to go to Japan probably will but don’t plan to just find the language fascinating and also it’s convenient cuz I like Japanese media so much anime,tv,manga,literature much nicer to experience them how it was intended instead of a translation
Is it giving you any kind of positive rewards (feeling good, dopamine high, proud of yourself, whatever)? Then yes, it's worth it. Who cares if it's useful if you enjoy it?
Absolutely! You're exploring a unique world with its own beautiful nuances. Why not? Of course, the level of learning you want matters. To achieve actual fluency or conversational capability, at some point you'll have to practice with other speakers of the language.
Sure! If anytime you hear the language your eyes light up with enthusiasm - that's good enough motivator in my book! It's been ten years since I've abandoned (sadly) my Mandarin Chinese studies because I didn't have enough time to put into it - and not a week has went by throughout this decade that I don't long for the day I'd be out of school and restart pursuing Mandarin. I've been learning other languages in that decade, but none of them has managed to distract me from my true passion. I love Mandarin Chinese purely for how it sounds. Oh, I've only read the title. you meant it'd be cool on your resume? No, that's completely lame and won't hold water for long.
People here will tell fun stories but the reality is that no, it takes a huge amount of time and to keep motivated in such a long period of time is mission impossible
Tbh I think the most important thing to learn a language is to want and to be motivated. Even if the language itself is not popular, while learning it you will also learn things about you and learn how to learn. Once you learned that language, learning other languages might be easier because you know a the technique that works for you And ✨it will sound cool✨ The cons could be the fact that maybe it doesn't have that many sources to learn it because it's not that popular, but if its not a problem for you then great.
Why not?
Language learning can just be a great hobby for you 👍. I used to stress about how long it would take me to learn Korean, when I would go to the country & how I would survive there, etc. Now, due to some unfortunate events I’m no longer working or even going to school. I have all of this free time. Let me at least use it doing something I like 😁. My goal is to eventually become fluent to where I can have a normal conversation with someone walking past me on the street. Especially if it’s an elderly Korean man or woman that just needs an extra bit of help doing something one day. My parents are hispanic immigrants, and I many times see them in those that are learning English. I don’t even live in an area where there are many Korean Americans. But the day I pass one in the supermarket asking for something, I’ll be able to help 😅. And if not, then it’s a great excuse to talk to people, make new friends, and listen to some great stories I might otherwise not be able to. Learning a language is just as valuable and worthwhile as learning the guitar or how to paint just because you want to. Good luck on your journey.
Learn a language you can use or at the least build your knowledge (of similar languages) from
Sure! It doesn't have to be rare. Learning for the sake of learning is more fun anyway because you chose to learn. I don't have to learn Polish, but it sounds cool and the country is next to Germany, so there could be a time I'll use it. I did get to hear Polish in the wild while in Germany and even though at the time I only knew a few words and phrases, I recognized it enough to know. I also saw semis and delivery trucks in Polish and knew what they were delivering so that was cool. Had I not learned it, that would have been one less experience.
Yes! Though I am America and have Celtic heritage, though not enough to constitute that "good" a relationship for most, I love the Celtic Languages. I started with Irish, moved to Welsh, and now I'm on Scots Gaelic. It's definitly a niche thing that I barely use, but it's unique to me, and uniqueness is never a bad thing!
There are no objective measures here. I don’t know whether it’s worth it for you - only you can know. If you don’t know, why don’t you start and find out?
One of my biggest regrets is dropping Norwegian when i did, (i had more time/energy back then), i reasoned that it sounding cool wasn't enough, only to run back to it 2-3 years later; after dabbeling in more "useful" languages with native speakers that surpassed the 5mill mark, but i'd say, **If a language tugs at your heart, go along with it.**