languageleo

[languageleo]

japanese textbooks are like 'here's some romaji for my little uwu softbean' while korean textbooks are like 'it's hangeul from the start git gud scrub'

[languageleo]

my major gripe with capitalism (besides the exploitation and genocide stuff) is that it devalues diversity, because it isn't efficient. everyday i talk to people about languages and they say "wouldn't it be better if we all spoke the same language", and without touching on how privileged that idea is to begin with (because its ALWAYS english speakers), it shows clear lack of care or value for other cultures. capitalism has so thoroughly rotted so many peoples' brains that they don't even see the beauty in that diversity.

but whats worse is when i hear sentiments from immigrant parents, or 2nd gen immigrants, or even people native to post-colonial states that devalue their own languages. so many times i heard people speak ill of their own languages in the Philippines and it depressed me to no end. US imperialism has done so much damage to the psyche of the Filipino people that some dont even want to speak their mother tongues.

Its a travesty. and its the whole reason i started learning languages. because everyone who speaks a non-dominant language should know that their languages deserve love and respect on the international stage.

[languageleo]

english slang is awful i would hate to be learning this shit. like the word shit. something can be horseshit or bullshit which means it's a lie. but cow shit is just poop. and something can be dogshit which means it's really bad quality. but cat shit is just poop.

[languageleo]

It is with great displeasure that I'll inform you that watching Reality TV in your target language will increase your comprehension abilities by A LOT.

If you can understand a drunk woman with a strong accent, crying because her crush served orange juice to another woman, using every slang word known to mankind, you will understand basic conversations with ease.

If you cannot stomach Reality TV (which is understandable) I'll recommend watching youtubers doing commentary videos on Reality TV shows/episodes. I find this way of consuming Reality TV less brain-frying.

And you could argue that watching movies / TV show is sufficient, but you need to remember that the way actors speak isn't 100% natural : the speed, enunciation, choice of words will not be a proper representation of how people speak in real life, while reality TV on the other hand...(I'm not saying everyone speaks like this). But, especially if your goal is to be able to speak casually with your foreign friends, it will help you a lot ! (I guess if your goal is to read classical literature in your target language, don't bother watching Reality TV)

Good news ! If you're learning Mandarin, there are a looooot of Reality shows that are actually cute and not ...vulgar ? And a lot of them can be found on youtube with English sub ! In German, I watch Mirellativegal on youtube. Anyway, don't ask me for recommendation for French Reality TV, I looked for it to give you some examples and I feel like I've lost brain cells during the few minutes I looked for it. If you guys have recommendations for cool Reality-shows in any languages don't hesitate to share ! I'm currently looking for some Spanish ones (preferably Mexican ones)

[languageleo]

learning non-european languages is only difficult cuz there's so little info outside of schools and textbooks. except for Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean. they get special treatment. where are all the Burmese instructors online? or the lengthy explanations of Vietnamese idioms? or the videos explaining Kerala verse and rhyme? we need more sub-saharan african and non-east asian language learning material online damnit.

[languageleo]

That's true / You're right / Showing agreement (そっか / たしかに / まあね)

As always, the nuance in Japanese needs me to document this down.

そっか - also means I understand you, shows empathy

たしかに - had different opinion, but now I agree you're right

まあね - subtle agreement, may have a slightly different opinion, but don't want to say it aloud

A: 今日、パスタ食べに行かない？ B: うーん、パスタか... 。昨日も食べたんだよね。 A: そっかー。 [A immediately understands and acknowledges B's reason for not wanting pasta (ate it yesterday).] B: じゃあ、和食は？OOOの定食、美味しいらしいよ。 A: 和食か... 。ちょっと高いんだよね、あそこ... B: あ、そうだった？ランチは手頃な値段って聞いたけど。 A: たしかに、ランチなら大丈夫かも。夜は高いけど。 [A initially hesitates about Japanese food due to price. B provides new info (lunch is cheaper). A uses "たしかに" to agree with B's point about "lunch price" specifically, shifting from initial price concern to accepting lunch as an option.] B: よかった。じゃあ、和食にする？ A: まあね、和食もいいね。たまには。 [A agrees to Japanese food, but "まあね" and "たまには (tama ni wa - once in a while)" show subtle agreement. It's acceptable, but not a passionate "YES! Japanese food!".] B: うん、そうしよう。

[languageleo]

Así que hay una voz "activa" y "pasiva"? 😏

[languageleo]

my hebrew class is starting next week :3

[languageleo]

if I wrote my own language learning textbook or app all grammar explanations would have several levels to choose from ranging from "explain it in linguistic terminology" to "explain it like I'm a child and never learned a language before"

[languageleo]

linguistics study: genderqueer / nonbinary Arabic speakers wanted!

Do you speak Arabic? Are you trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, gender fluid, or otherwise gender non-conforming?

Please consider taking this 9-question survey to help us create free materials for teaching Arabic.

Please share widely 💜 (Note from synticity: I'm sharing this survey from Kris Knisely on bsky!)

[languageleo]

the ladies call me the subjunctive mood the way I express desire, wishes, uncertainty, doubt and fear

[languageleo]

the problem with reading and writing leading to a strong vocabulary is that you tend to know the vibe of words instead of their meanings.

if I used this word in a sentence, would it make sense? absolutely. if you asked me what it meant, could I tell you? absolutely not.

[languageleo]

Here’s how to tell if a language is easy to learn

None of them are easy

They’re all stupid and terrible and will kick you in the nuts

That being said

Languages similar to ones you already speak

Languages you have a lot of motivation to learn

Languages that have a lot of resources and media to watch and/or listen to and/or read

So, if you’re reading this with relative ease (aka you speak English fluently) probably French or Spanish

Do whatever you want though idk

Don’t just choose a language based on how easy it is

Unless that’s what it takes to keep you motivated idk

Go learn Frisian or something

[languageleo]

medieval monks and accountants start using Italian millione ("one thousand" + augmentative suffix) to mean 10^6 by the 1200s; this spreads to other languages

Jehan Adam coins bymillion and trimillion to mean 10^12 and 10^18 in 1475

Nicolas Chuquet extends this scale up to nonyllion (10^54), with every step being another six orders of magnitude (million, byllion, tryllion, quadrillion, quyllion, sixlion, septyllion, ottylion, nonyllion) in 1484. Note that in this period, it was common to put the digit separator every six digits instead of every three.

Guillaume Budé refers to 10^9 as milliart in 1516, in a Latin text

But in 1549, Jacques Pelletier du Mans uses milliard to mean 10^12, citing Budé as a source

In the 1600s, people start putting digit separators every three digits. But some scientists and mathematicians define the numerical scale according to how digits are grouped, rather than the actual order of magnitude: thus, one billion becomes 10^9, one trillion becomes 10^12, etc, creating the short scale.

"Milliard" is eventually added to the long scale, meaning 10^9 (in keeping with Budé's usage); the first published example is from 1676

By 1729, the short-scale meaning of "billion" (10^9) has already crept into American usage

This is in keeping with French usage at the time: in 1762, the Académie Française dictionary cites billion as meaning 10^9.

By the early 19th century, France has almost completely converted to the short scale, and U.S. usage follows France; the long scale is referred to in some sources as "obsolete." But Britain is still using the long scale (and I assume Germany and most other European countries)

Over the course of the 20th century, the long scale begins to become more influential in France, presumably due to the influence of continental usage; while the short scale becomes more influential in Britain, presumably due to the influence of American English. Notably the SI system very specifically uses unique prefixes that are the same across languages, to prevent confusion!

In 1961, the French Government confirms that they're going to officially use the long scale from now on; in 1974, Britain officially switches over to the short scale, and many other English-speaking countries follow.

In 1975, the terms "short scale" and "long scale" are actually coined, by mathematician Geneviève Guitel.

One reason large number names could be so unstable for so long is, of course, that outside specialized usage they are rare, and were even more rare before modern science and large modern monetary amounts became commonplace points of discussion. Wikipedia says "milliard" wasn't common in German until 1923, when bank notes had to be overstamped during Weimar-era hyperinflation.

As it currently stands, English, Indonesian, Hebrew, Russian, Turkish, and most varieties of Arabic use the short scale; continental Europe and most varieties of Spanish outside Europe use the long scale. A few countries use both, usually in different languages, like South African English (short scale) and Afrikaans (long scale) or Canadian English (short scale) and Canadian French (long scale) . Puerto Rico uses the short scale in economic and technical usage, but the long scale in publications aimed at export.

Notably some languages use neither, having their own names for large numbers--South Asian languages have the Indian numbering system, and Bhutan, Cambodia, and various East Asian languages also have their own numbering systems. Greek, exceptionally, uses a native calque of the short scale rather than a borrowing.

[languageleo]

when you get mad at me this is who you're getting mad at (pic of disgusting repulsive charmless smear of unknown oily substance)

[languageleo]

French Youtube Channels Rec 2025

Here are some French Youtube channels that were recommended by the lovely people that answered this post. I've tried to make some vague categories, based on the titles of the first videos I could find - don't quote me on any of that - I actually don't know the majority of these channels) (a special thanks to @myrmecomorphisme and @insertusernameici who listed quite a few and gave some extra descriptions, you can find their posts, in French : here and here ) @fillioxalyn was faster than me and made a great post in French with some recommendations : here Travel : - Bruno Maltor

Food/Cooking : - Whoogys

News/Politics/Sociology : - HugoDécrypte-Actus du jour, - HugoDécrypte - Grands formats ; - Clémovitch - Dave Sheik [history / geopolitics] - Grégoire Simpson [sociology] (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE)

History/ Archeology : - NotaBene (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - Bonelessarcheologie8221 [Prehistory and archaeology] - Histoires crépues [colonial history] - Histoire Appliquée - C'est une autre histoire (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - Les revues du monde

Linguistics : - Linguisticae

Entertainment : - Squeezie - theobabac

Lifestyle / Vlog / Make-up : - Lena situation - Gaelle Garcia Diaz - Marion Chameleon

Storytelling : - Thegreatreview (ENGLISH/FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - Babor Lelefan - Poisson Fécond

Science / Tech / Medicine / Biology : - GMilgram - Fantine et Hippocrate - Astronogeek - La Tronche en Biais - BaladeMentale - CedrikJurassik [Paleontology] - Faune cool [animals] - EGO [AI , computer science] (ENGLISH/FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - ici Amy Plant [computer science, hacking] - Fouloscopie

Culture / Movies / Dub / Music / Fantasy / SF : - Misterfox - Chronik Fiction - Durendal (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - LinksTheSun - LaSuitedeTrop - Notserious_s (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - SEB [Music industry] - misterjday - Ratelrock [reviews of horror films/franchises] - Nexus VI [SF] - Alt 236 - Occulture [occultism/fantasy] - Calmos

Litterature/Book review : - jeannot se livre - Qu'est ce qu'on lit ?

Video Games : - Joueur du Grenier, - Pseudoless1 [recent games /game design] (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - Ache [criticism, feminism and trans-identity in video games] (FRENCH SUB AVAILABLE) - Feldup

[languageleo]

this is honestly so endearing