LL-L "Language acquisition" 2006.05.29 (06) [E]

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   L O W L A N D S - L * 29 May 2006 * Volume 06
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From: Ben J. Bloomgren <godsquad at cox.net>
Subject: LL-L "Language acquisition" 2006.05.29 (02) [E]

Ron,

I'm afraid that the reputation of a language being easy or difficult to
acquire tends to be base upon cursory assessment at first glance, and that
this is assessment will inevitably turn out to be wrong in one way or
another.  As you said, Sandy, any mature language is complex in one way or
another.  If the complexity does not hit you at the beginning it will do so
sometime later, on a different level.

I think that some of it comes from the fact that the Polynesians have fewer
phonemes than other families have. What people don't consider is the fact
that when you're poor in money you have to find a way to survive, often
making you rich in spirit and family and such. In Hawaiian, from what I've
seen, they are rich in idioms and double entendres and the like.

Ben

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language acquisition

Hi, Ben!

Enjoying your Monday off?  (We're having a long Memorial Day weekend, folks 
outside the US.)

Ben, I'm not too sure if it's a case of compensation.  It is true that 
Hawaiian has the smallest consonant phoneme inventory of any other known 
language.  It is a case of Common Polynesian consonant phonemes having 
coincided for some reason.  This applies to some closely related varieties 
as well, such as Tahitian, Tuamotuan and Marquesan.  However, other 
Austronesian languages, such as the Melanesian ones of the Loyalty Islands, 
have very large inventories.  Yet, the said speech traditions appear to be 
common to all.

Also, sustained contacts with and improving proficiency in French and 
English has resulted in an increase of consonant phonemes.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron 

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