There are more than six thousand languages in use. Over 400 of those languages have full translations of the Bible; over 1000 have the New Testament, and many more have at least some portion of the Bible.
In terms of language learning: if you're learning a language, you can probably find a copy of the Bible in both it and your native language. It'll help if you're familiar with the Bible, but even if you aren't it's a good reading exercise.
When I started French, I found my mom's copy of the French Bible; I made it my goal to read a bit every night, whether I understood it or not. And you know what? It really helped my reading comprehension, and quite possibly my pronunciation, too. I've been doing the same thing with Arabic, and while it's been slow going (even with pronunciation help), I know it's been good for me.
And if there isn't a translation? Wycliffe Bible Translators plans to have a project in every language that needs it by 2025. And yes, there are translations in Klingon and Esperanto.
Main source: http://www.wycliffe.org/about/statistics.aspx
October 31, 2010
October 13, 2010
Languages
Jude brought up an interesting point in a previous comment section--languages we'd like to know. So, if you had the time/money/magical genie wish to learn any language, what would you choose? And what do you already know?
I'll be fair and answer my own questions:
English is my native language, and despite how much of a pain it is, I love it.
I took French in high school (it was as geographically close to Arabic as I could get) and had a very good time; I'm now a French minor. I love the literature, especially the poetry of Victor Hugo and Paul Eluard.
I ruled out colleges because of their (lack of) Arabic programs. I'm in my second year, and I like to tell people that I know enough to find an English speaker. As of this last week, I also know enough to find the bathroom.
If I could learn any other languages... Farsi and Hebrew. If I could learn any in an instant, I'd probably choose to learn them all, but if I had to choose runners-up to Farsi and Hebrew, I might go for Russian or Chinese.
Now it's your turn.
I'll be fair and answer my own questions:
English is my native language, and despite how much of a pain it is, I love it.
I took French in high school (it was as geographically close to Arabic as I could get) and had a very good time; I'm now a French minor. I love the literature, especially the poetry of Victor Hugo and Paul Eluard.
I ruled out colleges because of their (lack of) Arabic programs. I'm in my second year, and I like to tell people that I know enough to find an English speaker. As of this last week, I also know enough to find the bathroom.
If I could learn any other languages... Farsi and Hebrew. If I could learn any in an instant, I'd probably choose to learn them all, but if I had to choose runners-up to Farsi and Hebrew, I might go for Russian or Chinese.
Now it's your turn.
October 4, 2010
Tools of Language Learning: the Dictionary
It may seem obvious, but it's worth a mention: a dictionary can be quite important when learning another language, especially for higher-level and more motivated learners.
Many textbooks have rudimentary dictionaries in the back; other times you'll have to buy your own. If you're serious about a language, you should probably get one. Using one helped my French in high school, helps my comprehension of French literature now, and helps me in everything in Arabic.
There are several different types of dictionaries, each with different uses:
English-Arabic*: Look up a word in your native language, find it in the language you want to use it in. This type of dictionary is particularly useful when you don't know how to say something in your target language. Some have phrases and expressions, and most should have pronunciation guides. Be careful, though--knowing the word is not the same as knowing how to use it. You might also get the wrong word; I've heard of some amusing confusions of "public" and "pubic."
Arabic-English: This comes in handy for reading or listening comprehension, but be aware: languages are not the same. English, and European languages in general, are in alphabetical order. Arabic is, too, but it alphabetizes by roots so, for example, "kitaab" and "maktaba" are in the same entry (their root is k-t-b). The Chinese dictionary--well, my sources (Wikipedia) claim some have been organized by subject, others by stroke numbers, and others by phonetics. If you're in a language class, they'll teach you how to use a dictionary, usually about the same time you have to pay $40 for it.
Arabic-Arabic: The words and definitions are in the target language. This won't be much help to a beginner, but an advanced learner may find it helpful to learn a word's meaning in its original language. It's harder, but can definitely be worth it. But just because it builds character/comprehension doesn't always make it fun--
(with all due credit to Bill Watterson)
*I use this as the example because it's the one on the shelf above my desk. Assume English as the native language, Arabic as the language being learned.
Many textbooks have rudimentary dictionaries in the back; other times you'll have to buy your own. If you're serious about a language, you should probably get one. Using one helped my French in high school, helps my comprehension of French literature now, and helps me in everything in Arabic.
There are several different types of dictionaries, each with different uses:
English-Arabic*: Look up a word in your native language, find it in the language you want to use it in. This type of dictionary is particularly useful when you don't know how to say something in your target language. Some have phrases and expressions, and most should have pronunciation guides. Be careful, though--knowing the word is not the same as knowing how to use it. You might also get the wrong word; I've heard of some amusing confusions of "public" and "pubic."
Arabic-English: This comes in handy for reading or listening comprehension, but be aware: languages are not the same. English, and European languages in general, are in alphabetical order. Arabic is, too, but it alphabetizes by roots so, for example, "kitaab" and "maktaba" are in the same entry (their root is k-t-b). The Chinese dictionary--well, my sources (Wikipedia) claim some have been organized by subject, others by stroke numbers, and others by phonetics. If you're in a language class, they'll teach you how to use a dictionary, usually about the same time you have to pay $40 for it.
Arabic-Arabic: The words and definitions are in the target language. This won't be much help to a beginner, but an advanced learner may find it helpful to learn a word's meaning in its original language. It's harder, but can definitely be worth it. But just because it builds character/comprehension doesn't always make it fun--
(with all due credit to Bill Watterson)
*I use this as the example because it's the one on the shelf above my desk. Assume English as the native language, Arabic as the language being learned.
May 11, 2010
English Humor
The English language was carefully, carefully cobbled together by three blind dudes and a German dictionary.
--Dave Kellett
So true.
If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.
--Doug Larson
Ha!
The quantity of consonants in the English language is constant. If omitted in one place, they turn up in another. When a Bostonian "pahks" his "cah," the lost r's migrate southwest, causing a Texan to "warsh" his car and invest in "erl wells."
--Author Unknown
Makes sense to me.
If you can speak three languages you're trilingual. If you can speak two languages you're bilingual. If you can speak only one language you're an American.
--Author Unknown
Unfortunately, there's some truth to this. On the other hand, it's easier when everyone speaks the same language.
He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
As I can attest.
Our language is funny - a fat chance and slim chance are the same thing.
--J. Gustav White
And a double positive, "Yeah right," is a negative.
A different language is a different vision of life.
--Federico Fellini
Arabic is a great example of this: you answer "How are you?" with "Al-hamdulilla," meaning, "Praise God."
--Dave Kellett
So true.
If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.
--Doug Larson
Ha!
The quantity of consonants in the English language is constant. If omitted in one place, they turn up in another. When a Bostonian "pahks" his "cah," the lost r's migrate southwest, causing a Texan to "warsh" his car and invest in "erl wells."
--Author Unknown
Makes sense to me.
If you can speak three languages you're trilingual. If you can speak two languages you're bilingual. If you can speak only one language you're an American.
--Author Unknown
Unfortunately, there's some truth to this. On the other hand, it's easier when everyone speaks the same language.
He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
As I can attest.
Our language is funny - a fat chance and slim chance are the same thing.
--J. Gustav White
And a double positive, "Yeah right," is a negative.
A different language is a different vision of life.
--Federico Fellini
Arabic is a great example of this: you answer "How are you?" with "Al-hamdulilla," meaning, "Praise God."
May 8, 2010
Arabic Plurals (Or, Why English Makes More Sense than Arabic)
In English, plurals are (I think) decently easy; they generally involve adding an -s to the end of the word. There are a few weird irregulars, like man/men and mouse/mice, but the rest of the exceptions are based on word endings.
Word ends in//Plural ends in
-y//-ies
-s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z//-es
-o//-oes
-f//-ves
and words borrowed from other languages do whatever they feel like doing at the moment; the resulting complexity isn't completely English's fault. So, OK, it's not perfectly easy, but it's a rare plural that doesn't involve adding -s.
Arabic, however. I'm told there's a pattern, and sometimes I see it, but why do there have to be six different types of plurals? They're mostly divided by masculine, feminine, human, and non-human. Since almost all feminine nouns end in taa marbuta (-a), it's easy enough to change it to -alif taa (-aat).
And then you have the broken plurals, which keep the same root and switch vowels around. Razhul//rizhaal. Saahib//ashaab. Talib//talaab. They say to memorize it now and we'll understand the pattern eventually, but it's rather a pain--which is why I'm sharing it with you now. On this one, I really do think English is easier. Mostly.
Word ends in//Plural ends in
-y//-ies
-s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z//-es
-o//-oes
-f//-ves
and words borrowed from other languages do whatever they feel like doing at the moment; the resulting complexity isn't completely English's fault. So, OK, it's not perfectly easy, but it's a rare plural that doesn't involve adding -s.
Arabic, however. I'm told there's a pattern, and sometimes I see it, but why do there have to be six different types of plurals? They're mostly divided by masculine, feminine, human, and non-human. Since almost all feminine nouns end in taa marbuta (-a), it's easy enough to change it to -alif taa (-aat).
And then you have the broken plurals, which keep the same root and switch vowels around. Razhul//rizhaal. Saahib//ashaab. Talib//talaab. They say to memorize it now and we'll understand the pattern eventually, but it's rather a pain--which is why I'm sharing it with you now. On this one, I really do think English is easier. Mostly.
May 5, 2010
Why Arabic Makes More Sense than English
Lately, I've been thinking that Arabic root words make more sense than English.
English: Usually one-syllable parts that aren't words in their own right and are taken from Latin or Greek. May be in different parts of the word, depending on prefixes, suffixes, etc. Can also be combined in fun ways*.
Arabic: Roots of three letters with a collective meaning. Put in a pattern of vowels, prefixes, and suffixes to change the meaning. For example, k-t-b is to mark/write. Kitaab--book. Kataba--he wrote. Maktaba--library. Maktab--office.
To me, the Arabic way feels more regular and seems to make more sense. If you know the form and root, what can go wrong? I have yet to be disillusioned.
*I met a girl who didn't know what her major was going to be, but had to introduce herself to an audience of maybe a thousand or two and say her name, major, and why she liked working at the auditorium. I got this close to convincing her to say her major was kinesioeconomics, just because it sounded both fun and like a major somebody could do. Economy of motion, right? She chickened out, but not before I'd decided a major in Astroavionics would be fun preparation to either pilot spaceships or write science fiction.
English: Usually one-syllable parts that aren't words in their own right and are taken from Latin or Greek. May be in different parts of the word, depending on prefixes, suffixes, etc. Can also be combined in fun ways*.
Arabic: Roots of three letters with a collective meaning. Put in a pattern of vowels, prefixes, and suffixes to change the meaning. For example, k-t-b is to mark/write. Kitaab--book. Kataba--he wrote. Maktaba--library. Maktab--office.
To me, the Arabic way feels more regular and seems to make more sense. If you know the form and root, what can go wrong? I have yet to be disillusioned.
*I met a girl who didn't know what her major was going to be, but had to introduce herself to an audience of maybe a thousand or two and say her name, major, and why she liked working at the auditorium. I got this close to convincing her to say her major was kinesioeconomics, just because it sounded both fun and like a major somebody could do. Economy of motion, right? She chickened out, but not before I'd decided a major in Astroavionics would be fun preparation to either pilot spaceships or write science fiction.
May 3, 2010
Regular Verbs
Before 9th grade French class, I'd never heard of regular verbs. Then I realized I didn't know if English had any.
Apparently we do, and they actually look pretty easy to conjugate, considering the present tense form is only different for he/she/it, the past tense is all the same, and everything else takes an auxiliary and a participle. Not too bad; in French and Arabic you have to conjugate a little more based on 1st/2nd/3rd person and singular/plural, at least in present and past tense.
On the other hand, English has a lot of irregular verbs, and you can't tell from the word itself whether or not it's regular.
In French, if the infinitive ends with -er, -ir, or -re, it's usually regular. French also has some semi-regular verb families, like the -uire verbs and variants of mettre and venir (both of which are exceptions to the infinitive endings).
In Arabic, there are six truly irregular verbs; the rest belong to families of semi-regulars, and you should be able to tell them by doubled letters or weak consonants in the root. (I could be wrong here; I'm summarizing something I don't know well and read about on the internet.)
In English, you just have to know the verb. We don't have endings to the infinitive that tell us it's irregular, like French usually will, and there aren't specific patterns with the roots like in Arabic. This'd be OK enough--if we didn't have so many irregulars.
Yeah, Sodom and Gomorrah may be in the nice, green part of the country, but you have to pay for it with a little flaming sulfur.
A nice list of regular verbs.
A not-so-nice list of irregular verbs.
A fun verb conjugator.
A useful explanation of irregular verbs in Arabic, if you're such a masochist that you really want to know.
Apparently we do, and they actually look pretty easy to conjugate, considering the present tense form is only different for he/she/it, the past tense is all the same, and everything else takes an auxiliary and a participle. Not too bad; in French and Arabic you have to conjugate a little more based on 1st/2nd/3rd person and singular/plural, at least in present and past tense.
On the other hand, English has a lot of irregular verbs, and you can't tell from the word itself whether or not it's regular.
In French, if the infinitive ends with -er, -ir, or -re, it's usually regular. French also has some semi-regular verb families, like the -uire verbs and variants of mettre and venir (both of which are exceptions to the infinitive endings).
In Arabic, there are six truly irregular verbs; the rest belong to families of semi-regulars, and you should be able to tell them by doubled letters or weak consonants in the root. (I could be wrong here; I'm summarizing something I don't know well and read about on the internet.)
In English, you just have to know the verb. We don't have endings to the infinitive that tell us it's irregular, like French usually will, and there aren't specific patterns with the roots like in Arabic. This'd be OK enough--if we didn't have so many irregulars.
Yeah, Sodom and Gomorrah may be in the nice, green part of the country, but you have to pay for it with a little flaming sulfur.
A nice list of regular verbs.
A not-so-nice list of irregular verbs.
A fun verb conjugator.
A useful explanation of irregular verbs in Arabic, if you're such a masochist that you really want to know.
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