Language - Blog Posts
Duolingo Sucks, Now What?: A Guide
Now that the quality of Duolingo has fallen (even more) due to AI and people are more willing to make the jump here are just some alternative apps and what languages they have:
"I just want an identical experience to DL"
Busuu (Languages: Spanish, Japanese, French, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Korean)
"I want a good audio-based app"
Language Transfer (Languages: French, Swahili, Italian, Greek, German, Turkish, Arabic, Spanish, English for Spanish Speakers)
"I want a good audio-based app and money's no object"
Pimsleur (Literally so many languages)
Glossika (Also a lot of languages, but minority languages are free)
*anecdote: I borrowed my brother's Japanese Pimsleur CD as a kid and I still remember how to say the weather is nice over a decade later. You can find the CDs at libraries and "other" places I'm sure.
"I have a pretty neat library card"
Mango (Languages: So many and all endangered/Indigenous courses are free even if you don't have a library that has a partnership with Mango)
"I want SRS flashcards and have an android"
AnkiDroid: (Theoretically all languages, pre-made decks can be found easily)
"I want SRS flashcards and I have an iphone"
AnkiApp: It's almost as good as AnkiDroid and free compared to the official Anki app for iphone
"I don't mind ads and just want to learn Korean"
lingory
"I want an app made for Mandarin that's BETTER than DL and has multiple languages to learn Mandarin in"
ChineseSkill (You can use their older version of the course for free)
"I don't like any of these apps you mentioned already, give me one more"
Bunpo: (Languages: Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, and Mandarin)
How to Use the Universal Translator - Registering a New Language
(this is a long post, but it’s my interpretation on how a ‘universal translator’ without mind reading software would actually work. Hope this helps you in some way!)
How to use the Universal Translator - Registering a New Language
First, prepare an object the target would be curious towards. It is recommended to use either the device the Translator software is on itself, but that may not elicit too much curiosity from civilisations with similar levels or types of technology. You may also use this as an opportunity to familiarise the target with equipment or items you will use later on, like medical supplies or transport.
Next, begin speaking, signing, or gesturing at the object, though they currently cannot understand you. Keep the Translator on Recording mode, and depending on how the target appears to communicate, switch between Audio/Visual modes as necessary (more modes will be added in the next update.) The aim is to provoke the target into asking, “What’s that”, or something similar/equivalent. When you believe the target has communicated such a phrase, select the phrase (now without the need to directly playback! Use the Translator’s in-built intelligent phrase detection system to select entire syllables, snippets, and cut out the hassle!), double-check, and select Save > New Language, where the phrase will automatically be saved in the first slot and labelled appropriately.
Now, switch to Replay mode. Using the recorded phrase, you can now ask what their word for certain things are. For example, you could point to them (be aware to not appear aggressive) to learn how they refer to themselves. You could also point to an object they do not know of and ask them how they would refer to that; which would likely give you a way to say ‘I don’t know’.
Remember to swap to Recording mode and to labelled saved phrases with your best guess!
Eventually, you should have a rudimentary way to communicate; barring that, a way to learn to communicate. Meanwhile, the Translator software will be cross-referencing and searching for patterns in the saved phrases to find individual words or the rules of the language.
Update: Grammar can now be mostly inferred after one hour of total saved phrases! Switch to Catalog mode to find all the inferences made (now with the ability to sort between grammar, repeated words detected, etc.!)
With luck, you will be able to communicate peacefully and clearly with the target. Hope you enjoy using the Universal Translator software!
Please be aware that due to the amendments made to the Knowledge Pooling for the Benefit of All (KPftBoA), the language file will be made public on the Universal Translator’s database once an actual language is detected. This is not opt-in. Thank you!
ARABIC LANGUAGE
Is it weird that i can read Arabic language but not understand it? I so damn wanna learn a proper Arabic language so can i speak it fluently? Help me find resources to do so?
One of the biggest issues of moving to England as a person who is Ukrainian AND neurodivergent is not knowing how to answer the small talk question of "how are you", but today I was reminded that Ukrainian blessed me with the phrase that roughly translates as "living is hard but dying would be a pity" and can we please naturalise it so I can use it all day every day
Studying English as a second language my whole life literally ruined learning any other languages for me. I just googled the verb form "ignoren" in Spanish and saw that it was second person plural imperative and I went 'hm, second person plural? that's weird' and then remembered that MY NATIVE LANGUAGE FUCKING HAS SECOND PERSON PLURAL I USE IT DAILY
my language goals for now
i dont want to give myself definitive language goals bc once i put pressure on myself i cave and i don't do anything. these are my goals for now until i reach the goal so i havent given myself time limits either.
French - to become C1, be as fluent as possible in reading, writing, listening and speaking, easily switch between French and English, to be able to speak professionally when appropriate, understand complex situations about technical things i.e. finance, environment, philosophy, literature etc.
Spanish - to get back to / maintain a B2 level, to greatly improve my reading and writing in Spanish, to be able to speak easily to Spaniards, also same as French to be able to speak professionally when appropraite, understand complex situations about technical things i.e. finance, environment, philosophy, literature etc.
Irish - to get to a B2 level, to be able to read and write very well and speak and listen fairly well
Korean - to be able to hold a casual conversation, to speak well to Korean people.
Chinese - to be able to read and write 300 characters, to be able to speak and listen at a B1 level.
these goals are very basic for now but im sure that once i begin studying again i will adjust the goals to what is the most realistic choice for me. i also have other languages (german, latin, russian, thai, vietnamese) that i am interested in learning but for the time being i would rather focus on these 5 languages
im coming back
i think most people unfollowed me, which is fair i haven’t posted in like 4 years lol but one of my goals for 2023 is to be more active in the language learning community to help me stay motivated with my language studies!
Polyglot Punishment
Did you hear about the french chef who committed suicide? He simply lost the huile d’olive.
☆ spanish words/phrases i learned in class today ☆
¡hola todo el mundo! soy may y hoy me gustaría publicar estas palabras y frases que apprendí en mi clase de español. si quieres un enlace para la fuente, pregúnteme, ¡por favor!
hi everyone, it’s May! i want to start a series where i post a random collection of words and phrases i learn either in class or that i have complied throughout my own studying. please correct me if i have the incorrect spanish or the context is wrong
estar emocionado/ilusianado-to be excited
nunca han estada- they have never been
la idea- idea
probar- to taste, to try (a food)
antés- before
sitios túristicos/lugares túristicos- tourist sites
en los que- where, but when used in the middle of a sentence
sobre todo- mostly
el cuadro- painting
la obra- play/work of art
una exposicíon- exhibition
la entrada- ticket (for an event like a football match or concert)
gastar- spend (money)
el regado- present, gift
me cuesta- i find it difficult
(ser) caro- to be expensive
no obstante- nevertheless
novía- girlfriend, fiancée, bride
novío- boyfriend, fiancé, groom
enamorarse- to fall in love
aún- still
quedar- stay, remain
me sorprendío- i was surprised, it surprised me
me too always open!
Reblog if...
… your chat is open to talk about cultures, languages, social topics, or anything you want to talk about with new international friends!
World Building
Sometimes, writers find it necessary to add more depth to the world surrounding their characters. I’ve collected a few links that should be helpful in this process. Some of these are better for a fantasy stories, but have ideas that could prove useful for writers of all genres, in one way or another.
MAP GENERATION If you have decided to create your own land mass for the sake of your story, you may be grateful to have this link. Users should read the description below before using, but it is easy to use and helpful for anyone wanting to create a new island or continent. I prefer using this tool over any others I’ve seen online. This website only contains the demo. The full version has more ways to edit the map, but getting the full version requires downloading and having proper software. I’ve found that the demo, on its own, should be enough for anyone who can’t get the full version for one reason or another. However, the link for full version is also on the page, should you want it.
WEATHER AROUND THE WORLD Knowing weather details of areas can be helpful when writing about an area, especially if it’s one you’re not familiar with. This website has the recorded weather of pretty much everywhere on Earth, and even provides averages for the past year in specific areas. It’s great for writers who want an understanding of how the weather in their story might affect the characters. For instance: if the summer heat in an area is consistently over 100 degrees, the characters might be less willing to go outside, and be in need of constant hydration.
FANTASY JOBS THAT AREN’T KNIGHT OR PEASANT Anyone who is writing a story that takes place in a less developed civilization, be it medieval times, or a fantasy world that hasn’t quite hit its industrial revolution, should probably have this list. It’s a simple list of a 100 jobs that you might consider giving to the characters in your story to make them seem like real people. The creator of the list even adds a few at the end for younger characters. Choosing any of them for your story may take some added research, but will be worth the depth added to your story.
FAMILY TREE TOOL If you’ve ever read the series “Lord of the Rings”, you may know that pretty much everyone in the books has a long list of ancestors. While I would never endure such an endeavor, if you feel so inclined to come up with a lineage for your character, this is a tool you can use. It’s easy to use, and allows for adding information beyond name and year of birth/death. You’re able to change what information shows up on the table, and when finished you can even print it out.
HOME DESIGNER So this is good if you have time to kill and really want to do some in-depth building. This tool will let you be the designer of the home of your characters. You’ll get out what you put into it, so if your character lives in a three story, 10 bedroom home, you may have to put in a bit more effort to use this tool effectively. You can also simply create individual rooms, if that’s more along the lines of what you want. Over all, while this tool may take a bit of time to learn, it isn’t very complicated. I suggest it to everyone who wants to explore how the home of their characters looks.
LANGUAGE CREATION If you were thinking about writing your own language, this link will make you decide whether you really want to create your own language, or if you want to give up on the idea entirely. It’s a long process, but is completely spelled out in this link, and the additional pages that the website provides links to. You can also buy the book by the same author for $0.99; but all the information is available for free. Either way, it should be an easy choice to make after reading through what the website has to offer. I think creating a language is for people with more time, patience, and understanding of their own language than I have, but it is certainly fun to think about. The author also discusses different methods people use to create languages, and what is wrong with those methods. I believe this is, by far, the best resource for creating a language.
For more information on my blog please visit my ABOUT PAGE
I myself have been learning mandarin for a couple years and now I can finally put it to good use and communicate with the Chinese president, the Chinese government, Chinese spies, China as a concept, and the Chinese people. I will be sending letters to the legislators in full mandarin, and if that’s too hard for them to understand, I’ll write them in pinyin, posing as a Chinese lawyer, and I will talk about Chinese things to infect their little fragile brains with ai generated images of Jesus and Xi Jinping shaking hands, which they are bound to believe because at the end of the day, the government is just a rich nursing home for Facebook users
what is it with everyone eating everyone elses food.
I am a hearing high school student in the UK. I want to learn BSL. Are there any deaf approved BSL courses that are for free?
Here's a somewhat old charcoal drawing I made for school. It took me a very long time. The ribbon were gyesoed then paint and after that I wrote words on them with brush markers.
I made a drawing of wooden blocks with Hanguel letters on them, I also wrote the word for wooden blocks in Korean.
Give me a word and I'll translate it to one of the oldest languages - Hebrew!
Any word!!!!!!! ヽ(*ﾟｰﾟ*)ﾉ
Stay yourself, stay curious
I have been learning Russian for two and a half months ("I wanna read Dostoyevsky in the original" - the queen's gambit) and it's such a simple language, apart from the pronouns.
Pronouns are horrible in Russian :(
Stay yourself, stay curious
誤植
ごしょく
misprint; typographical error; typo
この本は誤植はまずほとんどない。 この ほん は ごしょく まず ほとんどない。 This book has few, if any, misprints.
weirdly specific vocab
天変地異（てんぺんちい） = natural disaster
相対性（そうたいせい）理論（りろん） = theory of relativity
絵空事（えそらごと） = fabrication, pipe dream
絶滅危惧種（ぜつめつきぐしゅ） = endangered species
茶番（ちゃばん） = farce, charade
圧勝（あっしょう） = overwhelming victory, landslide victory
三羽烏（さんばがらす） = distinguished trio, triumvirate (lit. “three crows”)
慣れ親しむ（なれしたしむ） = to get to know and love
区切り（くぎり） = stopping point; milestone
痛風（つうふう） = gout
I’ve been feeling really disconnected lately. I crave conversations about astronomy, psychology, and philosophy—those deep dives into mythology and the mysteries of the universe. I want to discuss the stars, the moon, and the way different languages shape our thoughts. It’s tough when no one around me shares that passion; it often feels like I’m speaking a different language. If you’re out there and want to explore these topics together, let’s connect. I’d love to find someone to share ideas and rants with.
And speaking the ancient tongue is like reaching out and having a chat with history itself, shadows and shimmers of unspoken words bound by time, now escaping through the curve of your lips.
I want to be fluent in french so bad.
Education in your native language is a blessing, although there are more benefits of learning in English...
{çınar}
Trying to understand the only Spanish book I have in my possession: el sombrero de tres picos
Mental Health Tips for Students:🎀
Here are a few simple tips to help maintain your mental well-being:
1.Set Realistic Goals: Don’t overload yourself with too many tasks at once. Break your goals down into manageable steps and celebrate small achievements along the way.
2.Take Breaks: Regular breaks during study sessions can boost your productivity and reduce stress. Try going for a walk, listening to music, or meditating for a few minutes.
3.Stay Connected: Make time to talk to friends and family. Socializing can be a great way to relieve stress and get emotional support.
4.Sleep and Eat Well: Proper rest and a balanced diet play a significant role in your mental health. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep a night and try to include nutritious foods in your diet.
5.Ask for Help: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out. Many universities offer mental health resources, including counseling and support groups.
Remember, it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. Prioritizing your mental health will help you not only perform better in your studies but also enjoy the university experience to the fullest.
How to Learn a New Language: Simple Tips for Success
Learning a new language can be both fun and challenging. It opens doors to new cultures, experiences, and even career opportunities. If you’re ready to take on this journey, here are some quick tips to help you succeed.
1. Set Clear Goals
Decide why you want to learn the language—whether for travel, work, or personal growth. Having a clear goal will keep you motivated and on track.
2. Immerse Yourself
Surround yourself with the language. Watch movies, listen to music, and read in the language as much as you can. This exposure will help you absorb vocabulary and sentence structures naturally.
3. Practice Speaking Early
Start speaking the language from the very beginning, even if it’s just a few words. Practice with native speakers or use language-learning apps that focus on conversation.
4. Be Consistent
Consistency is key. Study a little every day instead of cramming all at once. Daily practice helps keep the language fresh in your mind.
5. Embrace Mistakes
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—they’re part of learning. The more you practice, the better you’ll get, so stay positive and persistent.
6. Use Multiple Resources
Try different tools like apps, flashcards, podcasts, and grammar books. Mixing resources keeps learning interesting and well-rounded.
Conclusion
Language learning takes time and effort, but by setting clear goals, practicing daily, and embracing mistakes, you’ll improve steadily. Enjoy the process, and soon, you’ll be able to communicate confidently in a new language!