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Is this use of happy in a formal text, exclusive of the UK? If you are happy with phone or internet accounts, you may get a higher interest rate. 88.8.79.204 ( talk) 04:03, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
This question may be a little too vague, if it is just let me know.
I've always been very quick at picking up technical languages (ie programming languages, scientific terminology, etc..) but very poor at learning actual spoken languages. It may be because I've always hated memorization (obviously there's a certain amount of vocabulary building required before you can meaningfully speak another language), but I'm just not very good at it. Is there a non-memorization intensive way to learn to speak a new language? I don't think immersion would work very well either, I'm a grad student and I spend a lot of time around people speaking non-english languages, yet I don't tend to pick any of those languages up. Any suggestions would be appreciated. And again, if this is too vague or open ended just let me know. Thanks. (+)H3N- Protein\Chemist- CO2(-) 16:34, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
There is no way other than by memorization, study of grammar, and spoken immersion to learn a language. However, memorization need not mean rote recitation of vocabulary lists. Rather, intensely repeated passive contact with materials works fine. One favorite method is to leave reading material by the toilet. Also by the bedside. Don't strain yourself trying to memorize, just read the material over and over in a passive, relaxed state. Just before bed is ideal. You will find you have mastered it soon enough. As for immersion, that doesn't mean moving in with a family of native speakers (although that method will get you fluent within a few months) but simply making sure that a sufficient amount of time is spent on a regular basis engaging with the material. That can mean attending an intensive course in the language, watching movies and television in the language daily, and so forth. And one does have to learn grammar. Both understanding the principles of grammar and repetition of conjugations and declensions are inescapable necessities. Courses that promise easy learning the natural way without concentrating on grammar are frauds. Get an explicit grammar book and, if it is available, a 501 Linguish Verbs of the appropriate edition. Wheelock's Latin is perhaps the ideal template to work from. μηδείς ( talk) 18:29, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
Thank you everyone for your responses, I think I have a better idea how to approach this now. The podcast idea is certainly interesting, scientific vocabulary is pretty standardized so foreign language science podcasts would probably be a good starting point since I'd already recognize much of what's being said. (+)H3N- Protein\Chemist- CO2(-) 02:05, 18 September 2011 (UTC)
I'm not sure if I'm using the correct terminology for the language desk......
English is my first language, but I know a bit of Spanish & French
In English we can either say:
To my ear the second version sounds somewhat archaic or unusual - although, the phrase "the office of my husband, John" reads OK
However, there are genuine occasions when this version is required (and the possessive case would not work)
Therefore my questions are:
Compare:
House of Windsor v Windsor's House (the house belonging to someone called Windsor)
They could only say "La casa de Windsor" — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaseywasey ( talk • contribs) 19:22, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
But the examples are not strictly possessives. A house of cards is not the card's house. It is a house made out of cards. Like a woolen sweater or a sweater of wool is not wool's sweater. (Although woolen does actually evolve from an old genitive formation, but the genitive of substance, not possession.) Likewise, the House of Windsor is not Windsor's house, but the dynastic house of the Windsor family. One could certainly say the Windsor family's dynastic house if necessary. μηδείς ( talk) 02:01, 17 September 2011 (UTC)
Language desk | ||
---|---|---|
< September 15 | << Aug | September | Oct >> | September 17 > |
Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives |
---|
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages. |
Is this use of happy in a formal text, exclusive of the UK? If you are happy with phone or internet accounts, you may get a higher interest rate. 88.8.79.204 ( talk) 04:03, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
This question may be a little too vague, if it is just let me know.
I've always been very quick at picking up technical languages (ie programming languages, scientific terminology, etc..) but very poor at learning actual spoken languages. It may be because I've always hated memorization (obviously there's a certain amount of vocabulary building required before you can meaningfully speak another language), but I'm just not very good at it. Is there a non-memorization intensive way to learn to speak a new language? I don't think immersion would work very well either, I'm a grad student and I spend a lot of time around people speaking non-english languages, yet I don't tend to pick any of those languages up. Any suggestions would be appreciated. And again, if this is too vague or open ended just let me know. Thanks. (+)H3N- Protein\Chemist- CO2(-) 16:34, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
There is no way other than by memorization, study of grammar, and spoken immersion to learn a language. However, memorization need not mean rote recitation of vocabulary lists. Rather, intensely repeated passive contact with materials works fine. One favorite method is to leave reading material by the toilet. Also by the bedside. Don't strain yourself trying to memorize, just read the material over and over in a passive, relaxed state. Just before bed is ideal. You will find you have mastered it soon enough. As for immersion, that doesn't mean moving in with a family of native speakers (although that method will get you fluent within a few months) but simply making sure that a sufficient amount of time is spent on a regular basis engaging with the material. That can mean attending an intensive course in the language, watching movies and television in the language daily, and so forth. And one does have to learn grammar. Both understanding the principles of grammar and repetition of conjugations and declensions are inescapable necessities. Courses that promise easy learning the natural way without concentrating on grammar are frauds. Get an explicit grammar book and, if it is available, a 501 Linguish Verbs of the appropriate edition. Wheelock's Latin is perhaps the ideal template to work from. μηδείς ( talk) 18:29, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
Thank you everyone for your responses, I think I have a better idea how to approach this now. The podcast idea is certainly interesting, scientific vocabulary is pretty standardized so foreign language science podcasts would probably be a good starting point since I'd already recognize much of what's being said. (+)H3N- Protein\Chemist- CO2(-) 02:05, 18 September 2011 (UTC)
I'm not sure if I'm using the correct terminology for the language desk......
English is my first language, but I know a bit of Spanish & French
In English we can either say:
To my ear the second version sounds somewhat archaic or unusual - although, the phrase "the office of my husband, John" reads OK
However, there are genuine occasions when this version is required (and the possessive case would not work)
Therefore my questions are:
Compare:
House of Windsor v Windsor's House (the house belonging to someone called Windsor)
They could only say "La casa de Windsor" — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaseywasey ( talk • contribs) 19:22, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
But the examples are not strictly possessives. A house of cards is not the card's house. It is a house made out of cards. Like a woolen sweater or a sweater of wool is not wool's sweater. (Although woolen does actually evolve from an old genitive formation, but the genitive of substance, not possession.) Likewise, the House of Windsor is not Windsor's house, but the dynastic house of the Windsor family. One could certainly say the Windsor family's dynastic house if necessary. μηδείς ( talk) 02:01, 17 September 2011 (UTC)