It's taken me a long time to become conversational in Spanish. I'm still far from fluent, but I don't find the grammar difficult, though I haven't delved into intricacies like gerunds and such -- my main thing now is expanding my vocabulary.

Just as with my native English, I don't feel that there's an end-state; I'll always be learning more about it.

(January 11, 2023 at 11:55 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote: Does it become easier to learn each subsequent language? Or is there some mixing of signals with each addition?

One thing that helps in learning European languages, I think, is having a solid base of understanding Latin and Greek roots. With that, the "mixing of signals" you mention can occur. For instance, in Spanish, "slow- (-er, -ly)" is "despacio", from the Latin "spatium", with the implication in English of "spacing it out". So for me there were indeed these bridges of thought helping me tie Spanish vocabulary into English words with Latinate roots.

Language - linguistic origin. Where did languages come from? Only been around (recorded) for a few thousand years, but I daresay the atheist is hard-pressed to come up with a theory which would explain where and how so many distinct languages came about in such a short period of time. I seem to remember a computer model study which plotted recorded (Indo-European) languages "evolved" and spread. The model plot seemed to show that the language plot had an origin (before spreading out over time) in Turkey - but they didn't really grasp the significance of that (being conducted at a secular university). It took some theist researchers to realize that the location depicted in the computer model appeared to line up to to location many bible scholars placed to be near the Tower of Babel. I'll have to see if I can dig that up.

(January 12, 2023 at 1:01 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote:

(January 12, 2023 at 12:38 pm)Ahriman Wrote: Why is Cantonese easier than Mandarin?

You're the one who claimed it's easier, you explain it.

It's because of the grammar. Cantonese grammar is more relaxed than Mandarin grammar.

(January 12, 2023 at 3:42 pm)tjdisc Wrote: Language - linguistic origin.  Where did languages come from?  Only been around (recorded) for a few thousand years, but I daresay the atheist is hard-pressed to come up with a theory which would explain where and how so many distinct languages came about in such a short period of time.  I seem to remember a computer model study which plotted recorded (Indo-European) languages "evolved" and spread.  The model plot seemed to show that the language plot had an origin (before spreading out over time) in Turkey - but they didn't really grasp the significance of that (being conducted at a secular university).  It took some theist researchers to realize that the location depicted in the computer model appeared to line up to to location many bible scholars placed to be near the Tower of Babel.  I'll have to see if I can dig that up.

Actually the evolution of language and the evolution of species has striking parallels in terms of geography, spread, and changes.

Now, if you find Japanese or Maori or Native American linguistic roots in that study, you might be onto something. While you're at it, see if you can find marsupial DNA in Middle Eastern biota. Grab your shovel and perhaps a spare, you'll be working a long time.

(January 12, 2023 at 3:42 pm)tjdisc Wrote: Language - linguistic origin.  Where did languages come from?  Only been around (recorded) for a few thousand years, but I daresay the atheist is hard-pressed to come up with a theory which would explain where and how so many distinct languages came about in such a short period of time.  I seem to remember a computer model study which plotted recorded (Indo-European) languages "evolved" and spread.  The model plot seemed to show that the language plot had an origin (before spreading out over time) in Turkey - but they didn't really grasp the significance of that (being conducted at a secular university).  It took some theist researchers to realize that the location depicted in the computer model appeared to line up to to location many bible scholars placed to be near the Tower of Babel.  I'll have to see if I can dig that up.

In case you're curious, these are diff links than I found back in the day but still same info

https://guardianlv.com/2012/08/origin-of...ping-tool/

https://wyattmuseum.com/the-tower-of-babel/2011-609

(January 12, 2023 at 4:00 pm)tjdisc Wrote:

(January 12, 2023 at 3:42 pm)tjdisc Wrote: Language - linguistic origin.  Where did languages come from?  Only been around (recorded) for a few thousand years, but I daresay the atheist is hard-pressed to come up with a theory which would explain where and how so many distinct languages came about in such a short period of time.  I seem to remember a computer model study which plotted recorded (Indo-European) languages "evolved" and spread.  The model plot seemed to show that the language plot had an origin (before spreading out over time) in Turkey - but they didn't really grasp the significance of that (being conducted at a secular university).  It took some theist researchers to realize that the location depicted in the computer model appeared to line up to to location many bible scholars placed to be near the Tower of Babel.  I'll have to see if I can dig that up.

In case you're curious, these are diff links than I found back in the day but still same info

https://guardianlv.com/2012/08/origin-of...ping-tool/

https://wyattmuseum.com/the-tower-of-babel/2011-609

‘Near the Tower of Babel’ is more than a little problematic, since the Tower is a myth. It’s like saying you grew up near the Emerald City.

Boru

I'm having trouble wrapping my head around someone posting a link to Ron Wyatt's website.

(January 12, 2023 at 4:22 pm)Angrboda Wrote: I'm having trouble wrapping my head around someone posting a link to Ron Wyatt's website.

Never heard of him, just the first link I came across depicting location of Tower of Babel from theist researchers

(January 12, 2023 at 4:26 pm)tjdisc Wrote:

(January 12, 2023 at 4:22 pm)Angrboda Wrote: I'm having trouble wrapping my head around someone posting a link to Ron Wyatt's website.

Never heard of him, just the first link I came across depicting location of Tower of Babel from theist researchers

Wyatt, a man with absolutely zero archaeological training, education, or credentials, was an American nurse who claimed to have found numerous Biblical artifacts.

He didn’t.

Boru