When you love languages, even the tag from your new t-shirt can be a gold mine #langsky #languagelearning #language

Learning a language is the result of many small efforts repeated consistently over time. If you don’t yet have daily habits to support your learning, I invite you to start building some :) #linguistics #language 

One thing I absolutely love about #langsky is that you can post about any language at all — and someone here will have more information or a personal experience. The collective knowledge is impressive.

C-3PO has never received enough credit #langsky

Culture and practicality aside, I’m absolutely fascinated with symbols. Abstract symbols that have meaning by popular consensus. And the speed and grace with which human beings can learn to employ those symbols to convey basic needs and complex thoughts It’s incredible #langsky

More show & tell A book I purchased in the Czech Republic in the Autumn of 2000 on a business trip A book on the city of Jindřichův Hradec (Jindřich’s Castle). German: Neuhaus (ironically) Many Czech cities also have German names Following each chapter in Czech is a German translation. #langsky

Learn a language Erode a barrier #langsky

We are all born into a box The dimensions of each personal box is defined by the era, language, culture, nationality, etc into which the individual is born We don’t have to stay in that box. We can learn about other times, other nations, learn other languages and absorb other cultures 🌍 #langsky

I literally had to double check that this was not The Onion

Languages are academically interesting And they provide opportunities. But I view language learning as a personal path, also. A small way in my microcosm to foster tolerance, unity and understanding A constant reminder that people are important outside of the sphere into which I was born #langsky

Is there a strategy in language learning that has really made a difference for you? A known method or tool, or something that you discovered for yourself. Something that has yielded unexpected impact? Something you think deserves more attention? For me it’s been minimal sentence pairs #langsky

Words are mysterious. They really are. #langsky

Have trouble with a point of grammar? 1) Familiarize yourself with the rule 2) Create 3 examples 3) Practice these examples until they are a part of you You can add more examples. Review the rule and examples together daily. It won’t take long. It works. ⭐️ #langsky

Don’t worry too much about the language you “should” study. People will fill you with ideas about what the “right” language is - for making money, because it’s perfect for some reason, because of a trend… The one that speaks to your heart and holds your attention is the right language #langsky

If you’ve studied another language for very long at all, you’ve likely already had many amazing experiences. Remember those as motivation. There are many more to come. And feel free to share a one here, if you like. Help motivate others. #langsky

Speaking the same language as someone does not guarantee that all of the troubles between you will be solved. But if you don’t share a language, you can’t even begin #langsky

Thought this is worth sharing. If you’ve studied languages long enough & broadly enough you’ve probably encountered all of these 🤣 Disturbing yet hilarious And a reminder that sometimes discussions of “language” are really disguised discussions about race/ethnicity #langsky

Listening to: BBC Pashto service on 6195 kHz 01:19 GMT #langsky #shortwave #radio #pashto

And now for something completely different: a Hungarian phrasebook #langsky #hungarian

I know many people have very practical reasons for learning another language But in general, to me, the act of learning someone else’s language is a vote from the heart for a world where see each other as equals, worthy of attention and where we find joy in differences of human expression #langsky

If you’ve studied another language and stopped, here is you invitation to restart. Do be intimidated by how much time has passed or how much you think you’ve forgotten. You’ll be amazed at what comes back to you. The mind is good at generating false obstacles. Go for it #langsky

Why learn another language? What other “hobby” has such potential payoff? You gain passage to another culture, history, art, cuisine, music, literature, poetry. Another set of perspectives. And gain new perspective on your own culture, language, etc Quite a hobby! #langsky

The date is now July 12 or 13, I am informed #langsky

Update on this: Amazon tells me that there is no inventory available. I will receive an email later with a new ship date. Sounds like the release was delayed? Though that’s not what it says. Weird I’ll update when I know more #langsky

Cambodian: An Essential Grammar is available to ship June 30th. #langsky #cambodian #khmer #cambodia #booksky #books

The Routledge Cambodian Grammar drops Monday, June 30! Good news for learners of Khmer/Cambodian #langsky #khmer #cambodia #cambodian #books #booksky

Show & Tell: 1931 French grammar book Notice the phonetic respelling throughout. Not just in the pronunciation guide or the first couple chapters. I love the black & white maps included. #langsky

Learning another language doesn’t just double the number of languages you can speak. If gives you perspective on the fragile miracle of human communication. You learn how relative our cultural truths are and what it means to be a human being. #lángky

Show and tell: Nigerian Pidgin If you’ve never looked into Nigerian Pidgin, it’s a wild ride. I find it utterly delightful. Everything about it is fascinating. This book purports to be the first comprehensive grammar of the language. #langsky #nigeria #pidgin

Using this app to learn the Khmer (Cambodian) alphabet. (Technically, an abugida). I’m not saying this app is great. I don’t see any that are great, but it is useful. Combined with a couple videos and some online info, it’s doing the job Don’t know if it’s available on Android #langsky

If you get a big ego from learning several languages, you’ve lost the wisdom that should come as part of the package. Making someone’s language about you misses a key point. Plus it’s a waste. Why spend years learning other languages when you become someone that no one wants to talk to?? #langsky

Just for fun. A tiny Indonesia dictionary. I think this was $1 US. Definitions are one or two words. So, yeah. Not the most comprehensive tool. But it was impossible to resist. #langsky

Early on Bluesky, I got the strong impression that no one liked threads. I’ve worked hard to stay with single posts. It can be limiting at times. Help me out. What do you think? Single post only? Threads are totally okay? Threads are okay occasionally? #langsky

So I mentioned that I'm starting to learn Khmer/Cambodian. I said I would post more about it. Here it is. 30 years ago I tried to learn it. I was in close contact with people from Cambodia. They were a significant part of my life and I wanted to make the effort. #langsky

After a very very long hiatus, doing Khmer/Cambodian again Why? More on that later. (Soon) #langsky

Like animals, all languages have some natural defense mechanism. Sure, maybe it has adorably regular verbs or an approachable phonemic inventory, but it has something hidden somewhere. Maybe 9 tones. 14 declensions and 12 cases. A formidable writing system. Something. #langsky

Fluency is only one of the benefits of learning a language. You learn how to learn. You deepen maturity, patience, & commitment. You learn to navigate desire & despair, embarrassment & break through. You learn pacing, structure & organization. Probably humility, as well #langsky

Have you told your target language today that you love it? 😍 ❤️📚 #langsky

I picked up a book for $6 at a regional bookstore several years ago. It’s a collection of articles by Buddhist scholars. It includes the first 4 chapters of a the śrīsamvarodayatantrarājah - from a Sanskrit manuscript preserved by a Nepali vajrayana practitioner. #langsky

My first language learning material ever. I was 5 years old, to the best of my memory. #langsky #French

If you burn out, you may need a break. It’s okay. But try to do *a little* each day. Fun stuff. Just so you don’t feel entirely disconnected when you do return. Restarting after a long total break is psychologically much more difficult. Review basic stuff. Nothing that feels like work. #langsky

A book I bought in the Czech Republic in 2000 on a business trip about the city Tábor (which translates to “camp”) Here is the cover and a bit of the inside cover - original & through Google Translate #langsky

Dialects are absolutely fascinating #langsky

Remember the sense of mystery and magic that first sparked your journey That’s where the energy is #langsky

It's a profound and beautiful thing. When studying the differences, the underlying unity comes into sharper relief. #langsky

I have been chatting with ChatGPT about its support in various languages. I put its capabilities into 3 categories of support: very well, well, and attempt. I asked it to give a complete listing of languages in its training model for these 3 categories. I thought I should pass it on. #langsky

Minimal pair sentence variation. It helped me tremendously when learning to speak Japanese. For me it’s gold #langsky

Wondering if AI is going to boost language learning or destroy it Lots of thing you can do with AI But I think my biggest concern is that there will be a perception that language learning is a thing of the past. #langsky

The same information presented multiple ways helps with memory & comprehension. Whatever you learn something in your main resource, look it up in another. Or online. Often a new arrangement or explanation makes things click. #langsky

Getting the party started. #langsky open.substack.com/pub/thedigit...