LL-L "Language learning" 2010.09.15 (04) [EN]

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*L O W L A N D S - L - 15 September 2010 - Volume 04
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From: Paul Finlow-Bates <wolf_thunder51 at yahoo.co.uk>

Subject: LL-L "Language learning" 2010.09.15 (01) [EN]



Too southern and Latiny for me. Middelsprake, which was promoted by Igmar
Roedinger, formerly of this group, is more suitable for us Northern types.



Paul



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From: Mike Morgan <mwmbombay at gmail.com>

Subject: LL-L "Language learning" 2010.09.15 (01) [EN]



In "response" to Paul's suggestion of Dutch and James' counter (wist/hful)
suggestion of Esperanto as "foot-in-the-door ((feet-in the door??)
languages", it all depends which door you are trying to get your feet into.

If "we" are trying to get in touch with our Germanic/Lowlandic roots, then
obviously Dutch (or Flemish ... or maybe Frysk) is a good choice; certainly
felt to be "easier" at all levels than German by most English learners ...
though if "easiness" is our criteria maybe Afrikaans might be a better
candidate (certainly less inflectional morphology than Dutch) ... esp.
considering it has acquired a few more English-like grammatical features
than Dutch. (If we practice our reading with the newspaper "Volkskrant" --
which is what I broke my teeth on--, which my professor and mentor CH van
Schooneveld described as being written in English syntax with Dutch words,
then maybe the task of learning Dutch would be even easier)

On the other hand, as English has a significant Romance component in its
vocabulary (though a less significant grammatical component), Esperanto
(which is clearly not neutral but rather Romance-biased in ITS vocabulary)
might be a logical choice. It certainly has a "simple" grammar (though any
glance at a modern 600-page comprehensive grammar of Esperanto will show
that it no longer has "just 16" grammar rules).

But, on both counts Papiamentu would be a good choice, as it has a
significant Dutch component as well, and as oppsoed to Esperanto at least it
has more native speakers and an actual culture (cuisine included).

IF the English speaker is American, then the door to the biggest (and
closest) prize would have to be Spanish, which (at least until one "hits"
imperfect subjunctives!) is not overwhelming to the English-speaking
learner.

          mwm || U C > || Mike Morgan
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           linguist temporarily at large
soon(?)  @ IGNOU-UCLan New Delhi, India
 ... sometime in THIS incarnation anyway
                     ... inshallah



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