Is English A Difficult Language?

[EdwardJ]

The irregular verbs in English are few actually. Spanish has a ridiculous amount.

Anyway, English, except for spelling and pronunciation, is ridiculously easy (compared to the languages of Europe), because the grammar is simplified and generally regular beyond about a couple hundred instances (that's way better than the couple thousand instances of Spanish and French). But it's also really big, so hard to fully grip, but no one fully grips all of English.

I am in full agreement with this user. No wonder he was banned. Lol.

[Rakthor]

The irregular verbs in English are few actually. Spanish has a ridiculous amount.

Anyway, English, except for spelling and pronunciation, is ridiculously easy (compared to the languages of Europe), because the grammar is simplified and generally regular beyond about a couple hundred instances (that's way better than the couple thousand instances of Spanish and French). But it's also really big, so hard to fully grip, but no one fully grips all of English.

I disagree. From what I've learned, Spanish is much easier than English to learn. I'd say it's about the same difficulty as the other European languages, such as French (which is a horribly illogical and overcomplicated, yet charming language) and German (which I plan to learn.

[EdwardJ]

I disagree. From what I've learned,

You probably have learned VERY little. Lol.

Spanish is much easier than English to learn.

Care to provide any rational reason to back up this statement?

I'd say it's about the same difficulty as the other European languages, such as French (which is a horribly illogical and overcomplicated, yet charming language) and German (which I plan to learn.

You say that french is "overcomplicated", but yet you claim it is as difficult to learn as english? So I take it that you consider english to be "overcomplicated" as well?

Spanish is infinitely more complicated than english for a number of reasons:

*Verbs:seven indicative tenses (there are about 50 forms per verb)
*Determiners: they have to agree with what they refer to
*Wider range of pronouns

To put it bluntly: spanish has a grammar, english almost doesn't. Lol. I could cite many other reasons why spanish is harder than english. The only aspect of english that could be considerate tricky is the pronunciation.


Many people (mostly americans) have a tendency to perceive spanish as "easy" because they hear it spoken by, say, "unsophisticated", unaducated people (generally mexicans or other -poor- latin americans). I have met a number of americans who hold this view. But when I put their spanish to test, they usually don't pass.

Unfortunately this view has nothing to do with reality. It is nothing but an irrational prejudice. Spanish is not easy at all.

I am not a native spanish speaker, just for the record.

[Rakthor]

You probably have learned VERY little.

That's quite an assumption to be making. True, I only have one source of information, but I consider it quite reliable. A professor of language studies himself told me that in his opinion, Spanish was a rather easy language. He claimed that the syntax, vocabulary and orthography is quite simple if you already know a romance language. I have no reason not to believe him.

Many people (mostly americans) have a tendency to perceive spanish as "easy" because they hear it spoken by, say, "unsophisticated", unaducated people (generally mexicans or other -poor- latin americans). I have met a number of americans who hold this view. But when I put their spanish to test, they usually don't pass.

Are you calling me a racist and elitist because I think Spanish is easy? That's completely ridiculous. What I'm hearing is that I somehow think Spanish is a lesser language because I relate it to the "unsophisticated" as you call them. You should know that I have nothing but respect for Spanish. It's a wonderful language. I just think that is uncomplicated. And I'll have you know, my mother was from Argentina. I just never spoke Spanish growing up. And what's this "mostly Americans" thing. As I recall, you mentioned something about "irrational prejudice". You have NO RIGHT to talk about prejudice if you're talking about any people like they're idiots on the whole.

Unfortunately this view has nothing to do with reality. It is nothing but an irrational prejudice. Spanish is not easy at all.

Irrational prejudice?! Nothing to do with reality?! Sir, you are completely out of line. Just because I find Spanish easy doesn't mean I'm out of touch with reality. It's a completely subjective topic. You need to cool your jets and think about what the hell you're saying. Damn, this makes me mad.

[EdwardJ]

That's quite an assumption to be making.

There is no assumption made on my part. I said that you probably have learned very little. There is a difference between probability and certainty, as I am sure you know.

True, I only have one source of information, but I consider it quite reliable. A professor of language studies himself told me that in his opinion, Spanish was a rather easy language.

Well, I teach languages myself also. He finds it easy compared to what?
I'd say spanish might be "easy" compared to, say, finnish or hungarian.
Compared to english, every european language is hard, for english is the simplest of all major european languages.

He claimed that the syntax, vocabulary and orthography is quite simple if you already know a romance language. I have no reason not to believe him.

Sure, knowing another romance language helps to pick up spanish. But again, spanish syntax, vocabulary and orthography are certainly not simpler than english syntax, vocabulary and orthography.

Are you calling me a racist and elitist because I think Spanish is easy? That's completely ridiculous.

What does any of this have to do with race? Don't let your own prejudices fall off your mouth.

What I'm hearing is that I somehow think Spanish is a lesser language because I relate it to the "unsophisticated" as you call them.

Some people do make this association. I did not say you were one of them.

You should know that I have nothing but respect for Spanish. It's a wonderful language. I just think that is uncomplicated.

Based on what do you think that it is "uncomplicated"? And again, compared to what?

And I'll have you know, my mother was from Argentina. I just never spoke Spanish growing up. And what's this "mostly Americans" thing.

I said that its "mostly americans" that think like that because americans have contact, mostly, with poor spanish-speaking people (mostly mexicans) inside the USA. In europe people have a rather different view of spanish-speaking people because they are not (usually) poor as most mexican immigrants are.
I am not claiming that every american thinks in such way, obviously.

As I recall, you mentioned something about "irrational prejudice". You have NO RIGHT to talk about prejudice if you're talking about any people like they're idiots on the whole.

Nowhere have I called anyone an idiot, nor have I insulted any group "on the whole".

Irrational prejudice?! Nothing to do with reality?! Sir, you are completely out of line. Just because I find Spanish easy doesn't mean I'm out of touch with reality. It's a completely subjective topic.

No, son, this is where you got it wrong. It is not completely subjective. The only part of language learning that might be subjective (i.e., that depends on people's head) is the pronunciation. Some brains/mouths are better suited than others to pronounce certain sounds. Grammar is not subjective. The reasons that I listed in my previous post (as to why spanish is more complicated than english) are not subjective. Read my previous post more thoroughly, and address these points individually if you will.

You need to cool your jets and think about what the hell you're saying.

Son, I already am just about the coolest guy you will find anywhere. If anyone needs to cool off here it is you.

Damn, this makes me mad.

Yes, we can see that. Cool your jets.

[Brasil]

I from Brazil and I speak portuguese (native language), italian, english, spanish and french. Also, I've study just a few senteces in german, russian, arabic (or arabian?), chinese mandarin and japanese.
In fact, English is very, very easy.
I think English is the easiest language to everyone learn. However, I have some difficulties.

1- Phonetic: It's difficult to pronunciate the contrast in some words, like:
a) three, think, something... (my difficulty is in "th" sound)
b) THOUGH/THOUGHT/THROUGH
c) piece/peace
d) whole/hole

2- Ortography: The way some words are written doesn't make any sense for me. I don't undestand why exist the double ff, double tt, double LL, etc... Is it really necessary? How would sound the word "difficult" if it was written "dificult" (for example)?
And what about the i/y? Sometimes it sounds the same phonetic!

3- Grammar: The prepositions are a very hard subject in all languages I speak. But in english, for example, I have problems to know when and how I must use:
to/for;
that/who/which;
from/of.

I have a curiosity:
How Portuguese language sounds to a foreign? What Portuguese language seems (looks like) to you?
Does Portuguese seems like spanish, italian, arabian, russian...? Or no one?
Please tell me.

[PeterL]

I have a curiosity:
How Portuguese language sounds to a foreign? What Portuguese language seems (looks like) to you?
Does Portuguese seems like spanish, italian, arabian, russian...? Or no one?
Please tell me.

I am not all that familiar with either version of Portuguese, but Brazilian sounds very much like Spanish. The Portuguese of Portugal does not sound like Spanish, nor does it sound much like any other language. There have been times when I thought I was hearing French or Italian, but it was Portuguese, and other times it didn't sound like any language I know anything of.

[naomi moon]

I find that English is a very interesting language and its sweetness makes it easy to learn it.I speak Arabic which is my mother tongue, French as well, German which I hate but obliged to learn it for school

I do study English at the U. I simply love it. I am not gonna pretend that it is the Easiest language that one can learn. But it's not that hard. Actually all what one needs is constant practice and a lot of reading in order to enlarge his vocabulary and to better his acquisition of the language.

[EdwardJ]

I am not all that familiar with either version of Portuguese, but Brazilian sounds very much like Spanish. The Portuguese of Portugal does not sound like Spanish, nor does it sound much like any other language. There have been times when I thought I was hearing French or Italian, but it was Portuguese, and other times it didn't sound like any language I know anything of.

Where have you heard "brazilian" portuguese spoken?
It doesn't sound anything like spanish to me!

"Brazilian" portuguese is way more pleasant to the ear than "portuguese" portuguese IMO.

[PeterL]

Where have you heard "brazilian" portuguese spoken?
It doesn't sound anything like spanish to me!

"Brazilian" portuguese is way more pleasant to the ear than "portuguese" portuguese IMO.

I have been acqainted with a few Brazilians, and I agree that it is more pleasant to the ear than Spanish.

[Brasil]

short documentary about the different accents of the english language
(4 minutes):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jovfB6PKaR8

comic frenchman trying to improve his english pronunciation (2 min):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0wV7NqZk3sk

Compare a similar reportage in spanish and in portuguese:

Tve (Spain) news about 9/11 (2 min):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AuK5cq4658

Globo (Brazil) news about 9/11:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz5DQGoOy1o

[manolia]

I have a curiosity:
How Portuguese language sounds to a foreign? What Portuguese language seems (looks like) to you?
Does Portuguese seems like spanish, italian, arabian, russian...? Or no one?
Please tell me.

Hehe i had some brazilian clients a while ago. Portuguese is a melodic language..it is nice to hear..it gives me a pleasant feeling (like french ). It doesn't resemble any of the languages you listed

[Brasil]

Thanks for all.

[Brasil]

ENGLISH----- PORTUGUESE

Present----- Presente
I love------- eu amo
you love----- tu amas
he loves----- ele ama
we love----- nós amamos
you all love--- vós amais
they love ----- eles amam

Past--------- Pretérito
I loved------- eu amei
you loved----- tu amaste
he loved----- ele amou
we loved----- nós amamos
you all loved--- vós amastes
they loved----- eles amaram

Future--------- Futuro
I will love------- eu amarei
you will love----- tu amarás
he will love----- ele amará
we will love----- nós amaremos
you all will love--- vós amareis
they will love----- eles amarão

So, I think English conjugation is very simple, almost no variation.
Now, look at the red letters in portuguese conjugation. That kind of variation is complex.
I've taken Portuguese grammar as example. The same I say about Portuguese is also for any neo-latin language and other languages.

[muhsin]

Brasil,

You left me astounded. How these expression are spoken? I tried to pronunce them but...

Thats language; diffrent people different languages.