Is English A Difficult Language?

[SleepyWitch]

The English language is difficult because there are way more rules than any other language and so many exceptions that you could write a book on the excpetions alone. How can a lnguage be easy to learn when a good portion of the time, it doesn't even follow it's own rules? How can a language be easy to learn when there are literally thousands of exceptions to the rules?

heheheh this proves that the people who stated all those rules got it wrong

[trippy star]

English is terribly erratic language. Not only is the grammar lifted from a foreign tongue; many very similar sounding words have completely contradictory meanings. Take, for example, solitary and solidarity. I used to mix those two up all the time! Apart from that, English has a large list of obscure and confusing spellings; all of these make it a difficult language not to speak, but to speak well.

[metal134]

You were able to put it the I've been trying to but was unable; Enlish is a difficult language because it is increcibly erratic.

[muhsin]

You were able to put it the I've been trying to but was unable; Enlish is a difficult language because it is increcibly erratic.

Yeah...I can see.

[Lote-Tree]

I, days ago, read a thread written by our “omniscient-like” Logos, titled…… where follows that thread were bundle of replies. There then, I learnt that we, who English isn’t our MT or L1 are the majority members of this Site.
Eventually, notwithstanding the fact that we almost all have been studying this language for years, one can easily detect this or that isn’t an English native speaker. What’s the truth behind this? Is the language that is difficult or what? What actually made it difficult or simple to you?

NB: I, in particular, know that lots of time, my English is terrible. The great problem I’m being facing is that of writing good, plain…grammar and speaking in public. So, to me, English is simple but very vast in content as its difficult to cover everything.

English Language is PERFECT.

Those who find it difficult is not fault of the Language itself but themselves

[Scheherazade]

English Language is PERFECT.

Those who find it difficult is not fault of the Language itself but themselves

Is this supposed to be ironic?

[Lote-Tree]

Is this supposed to be ironic?

Is Self-Mocking Irony?

[Nossa]

I don't think English is a difficult language..at least not after reading and learning Arabic all my life. And it's not impossible to master English, and even speak as good as a native speaker would. I know some people, who are German or French, and speak English so good that I didn't believe it when they told me they weren't American or British. It's all a matter of ability and practice..that's what I think at least.

[Lote-Tree]

I don't think English is a difficult language..at least not after reading and learning Arabic all my life. And it's not impossible to master English, and even speak as good as a native speaker would. I know some people, who are German or French, and speak English so good that I didn't believe it when they told me there weren't American or British. It's all a matter of ability and practice..that's what I think at least.

English is a PERFECT Language isn't it Come on admit it

[Nossa]

English is a PERFECT Language isn't it Come on admit it

Trust me, ANY langauge, compared to Arabic, is GREAT! Arabic is by far the most difficult language on God's Earth.. I mean, I LOVE my langauage more than any other one, but it's WAY to complicated even for a native speaker..that's why I'm saying English isn't that hard...cuz I've seen worse..

[Niamh]

English Language is PERFECT.

Those who find it difficult is not fault of the Language itself but themselves

Passed that test yet lote?

[Lote-Tree]

Passed that test yet lote?

Not yet lassie. Not yet. But I have not given up yet. It's hard to match upto a Perfection of the Language ;-)

[AuntShecky]

One of the funny things about english is the high pitched "a" sound like in "that" "at" and "fat". Appearently it's found in very few languages.

Yes, you should hear that vowel in western New York, Ohio, and Michigan!
Also -- the "th" sound can be found only in English and
in Greek.

[mmanuelap]

well, English was by far the most easy language I learned. Of course it is erratic, but I think every language is. My native language is Portuguese, but I'm 16 and I still haven't learned all it's rules. You have like, hundred ways to say the same thing, but sometimes it's not correct, sometimes it is. It's complicated.
I think English is a easy language for those who practice it the most, or for those who have seen worse! Here in Brazil, many teenagers have been studying english for 10 years and still don't quite understand it, but it's only because they don't speak it in daily bases or read books in that language.

I agree with Nossa, it's all a matter of ability and practice

[Etienne]

well, English was by far the most easy language I learned. Of course it is erratic, but I think every language is. My native language is Portuguese, but I'm 16 and I still haven't learned all it's rules. You have like, hundred ways to say the same thing, but sometimes it's not correct, sometimes it is. It's complicated.
I think English is a easy language for those who practice it the most, or for those who have seen worse! Here in Brazil, many teenagers have been studying english for 10 years and still don't quite understand it, but it's only because they don't speak it in daily bases or read books in that language.

I agree with Nossa, it's all a matter of ability and practice

Exactly... "english is erratic" but every language is! How can people making general judgements when they only know one particular?