#Polyglot

[deangreenofficial]

Whenever I'm struggling with my french homework I remember that when she was my age, my mother spoke german, italian, french, english, turkish AND BOTH GERMAN AND ITALIAN SIGN LANGUAGE. One can only dream.

[stepstofluency]

getting things done, one by one 🍃

[clever-ludicrous]

How to Actually Learn a Language (Without Wasting Time)

Polyglots will do anything to sell you something, so here’s the fastest and most basic technique based on my research.

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Step 1 – Getting the Absolute Basics In

This is where most people already get lost. If you search social media for how to start, the advice isn’t necessarily bad, but it often makes you dependent on a single resource, usually an app that will eventually try to charge you. Duolingo, for example, has turned into a mega-corporation that perfected gamification to keep you on the app.

Remember: free apps make money by keeping you on their platform, not by helping you become fluent.

At this stage, the goal is not to gain conversational skills but to avoid overwhelming yourself and get a feel for what you’re actually getting into. All my recommended resources are free because I believe learning a language should be a basic right. I wouldn’t advise spending any money until you’re sure you’ll stick with it. Otherwise, it can turn into a toxic “but I paid for this, so I have to keep going” mindset that drains all the fun out of learning.

• Language Transfer – Highly recommended for Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, German, Greek, Italian, Swahili, and French.

• Textbooks – Simply search for [language] textbook PDF, or check LibGen and the Internet Archive. Don’t overthink which book to choose—it doesn’t matter much.

• Podcasts – Coffee Break is a solid choice for many languages.

• YouTube Channels – Join r/Learn[language] on Reddit and find recommendations.

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Step 2 – The 20/80 Principle

The idea is that 20% of words make up 80% of everyday speech.

What you’re going to do:

Search “Most common words [language] PDF”.

This list is now your best friend

For flashcards, I highly recommend AnkiPro. It lets you import pre-made lists for Anki/Quizlet and has an archive where you’ll definitely find the most common words. But it lacks audio. The real Anki program has it, but only on PC (unless you’re willing to pay $30 for the mobile app). Use AnkiPro for now—we’ll come back to repeating phrases later. In the meantime, find a YouTube video with the most common words pronounced, or use Google Translate for audio.

(Knowt is a free alternative for Quizlet if you prefer that)

These lists will spare you from learning unnecessary vocabulary at this stage. Spaced repetition (which Anki uses) can take longer, but it’s worth it because you want these words to stick. Anki will only introduce a small number of new words per day. Once you start new words, write phrases using them. Doesn’t matter if they’re random just try to use them.

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Step 3 – The First Breakup With the Language

This isn’t really a step, but I have to mention it. For me (and for other language learners I’ve talked to) this is where motivation crashes.

The dopamine rush is over. Your ego boost is gone. You’re stuck understanding just enough to notice how much you don’t understand, and topics are getting more complex. Everything feels overwhelming, and motivation drops.

This is normal. You have to push through it.

I’ll write a separate post on how I manage this phase, but for now:

• Take a step back and make sure you understand the basics.

• Find something that keeps you motivated.

• Consistency is key. Even if it’s just five minutes a day, do it. (Edit: You can search online for inspiration on scheduled plans. I found one that organizes language exercises into different categories based on how much time you have each day, which seems helpful. https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/s/sSGUtORurM

Personally, I used AI to create a weekly plan kind of as a last resort before giving up on the language, but try looking for pre-made ones first.)

I personally enjoyed story learning during this phase. And don’t forget the frequency lists are still your best friend. For story learning check out Olly Richards books!

—

Step 4 – Immersion

Your brain needs active and passive immersion. The earlier steps were mostly active, and now you’ll start the fun part.

How to Immerse Yourself:

1. Join some kind of community.

• I enjoy Reddit/ r/lean[Language]. Do this in your target language, but also in the language you already speak. Post that you’re looking for a chat partner in your target language. The most people are nice, and the mean ones will just ghost you anyway.

2. Watch shows.

• Subtitles only in your target language or drop English subtitles ASAP.

3. Listen to podcasts.

4. Read

I personally dislike media made for kids (except on low-energy days). For real immersion, pick something for adults.

5. Translate, write, and speak.

Before this, you wrote simple sentences using vocabulary. Now, put them to work:

• Translate texts.

• Keep a diary.

• Write short stories.

• Complain about the language in the language.

It doesn’t matter, just use it.

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Step 5 – Speaking

Start speaking earlier than you think you’re ready. Trust me. This is probably where most people disagree with me. I do think you should start by focusing on input, but the importance of output isn’t talked about enough.

Now, the real Anki (or any program with phrases + audio) comes into play. At lower levels, it doesn’t make sense to just start talking, since you wouldn’t even be able to recognize your mistakes. Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Repeat phrases out loud.

2. Record yourself speaking.

3. Compare your recording to the original audio and adjust your pronunciation.

If it’s a tonal language (or if you struggle with accents), start this even earlier.

Other Speaking Strategies:

• Shadowing – Repeat after native speakers.

• Reading aloud – Your own texts, books, anything.

• Talking to yourself.

• Talking to natives (if you’re brave).

I’m not here to fix social anxiety, but I am here to help with language learning, so just speak.

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Final Thoughts

• These steps overlap, and that’s fine.

• This is supposed to be fun. Learning just because you’re “too deep in” or because of school won’t cut it.

• If you’re lost, take a step back.

• I’m not a professional. I just think a straight answer is way too hard to find.

—

If you have anything to add, feel free to share.

[polyglot-sock]

A1-A2: man, there're so many words I need to know in order to say literally anything

B1-B2: wow, what I know is enough now

C1-C2: man, there're so many weirdly specific words I need to know in order to describe these weirdly specific things I've only seen once in my life. Also I forgot how to say ceiling.

[thebellekeys]

Urdu Language

؎ ہزاروں خواہشیں ایسی کہ ہر خواہش پہ دم نکلے

“Thousands of desires, each one so intense that it could take my life.”

– Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869)

[useless-catalanfacts]

[Link to the video]

Grammatical notes on the use of "vaig a x" under the cut (llegeix-ho abans de comentar).

In Catalan, "vaig a x" exists only with the meaning of movement. For example: "vaig a comprar pomes" (=I'm going to buy apples) because you're moving, you're going somewhere to do an action. Or if you're sitting in the sofa and you stand up saying "vaig a fer-me un ou ferrat" (=I'm going to make myself a fried egg) it's correct and means that you're moving to do so, you're going to the kitchen. "Vaig a dormir" (=I'm going to sleep) wouldn't be said from the bed, "vaig a fer els deures" (=I'm going to do my homework) wouldn't be said from the desk where you'll do homework, it would be said in a different room because it means "I'm leaving to go do x".

But, as the video says, in Catalan we've never said "vaig a x" with the meaning of future. We wouldn't say "va a ploure" (≠it's going to rain), we would say "plourà". And we wouldn't say "vaig a estudiar dret" (≠I'm going to study Law), we would say "estudiaré dret". As we said before, "va a" would have to imply movement, for example "vaig a estudiar dret a Alemanya" (=I'm going to Germany to study Law).

However, nowadays there's many people who have started using this phrasing because it's used in Spanish, so because (excluding those in Northern Catalonia and L'Alguer) Catalan speakers are in close contact and in a subordinated position from Spanish, often people (particularly those who live in areas where Spanish is more present, in some parts of the Valencian Country and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona) use Spanish grammatical structures translated directly into Catalan.

So since very recent times it is used by some people (mostly in the Valencian Country and Barcelona), but it sounds very strange to people who aren't from their surroundings (there's a song by La Fúmiga that uses it, saying "en la vida vaig a ser feliç" meaning "I will never be happy", and I had to hear the songs a few times to understand what they were saying!)

On the other hand, it's undoubtable that "vaig x" (=going x) is the most common construction for the past. In Central Valencian and Eivissan they use the simple past (ex: "cantí" instead of "vaig cantar") more, but in the rest of the Catalan speaking territories the simple past is only used for very formal texts and is unheard of in oral speech. It's interesting to hear the theory on why Catalan ended up adopting this word for the past!

Consulta explicacions gramàtiques a Optimot i UOC.

[foreverjeans]

language learning is such a personal thing that there is no “right” or “wrong” way of doing it. it’s whatever works on bringing YOU closer to YOUR goal.

you want to watch tv shows but don’t really care for speaking with others? yay!! no speaking practice needed.

you want to learn quickly for an upcoming trip? yay! text book phrases and simple grammar.

you’re a beginner and it’s been 10 years? 2 weeks? 6 months? it doesn’t matter. as long as you are working towards bringing YOURSELF closer to what YOU want to achieve, you have succeeded: you are succeeding; you are doing great.

i find that so much demotivation comes from comparison and/or trying to follow other's advice too closely. if anki decks don't work for you, that's fine! if duolingo works well for you, then use it!

this language learning thing, it should be enjoyed. in the sea full of deceptive polyglot stories and videos on top of videos attempting to understand how to learn languages in "the fastest way possible" sometimes we should sit back and ask ourselves, "when is just learning things, enough"?

with that i hope you all continue working towards your dreams! whether you want to become a translator or just watch a few more movies in your target language, you can do it. i know you have it in you.

[gayeilgeoir]

Stop making your multilingual characters “forget to switch back”, that’s unrealistic, here’s some actual situations multilingual people regularly do, as someone who is fluent in English, and conversationally fluent in Irish and Spanish:

If they have to say something in another language, like a name, it will be heavily accented, they won’t say it like it’s English

Multilingual people might have a hard time distinguishing languages that arent their first, and may mix them together in sentences

Translating expression directly that only make sense in one language

Adding sounds to English words because they don’t exist in their language (Eg: ‘Eschool’ in Spanish speakers instead of ‘school’)

[cerises-ameres]

the weirdest thing about learning a language is not knowing a specific word.

not sure what a puddle is called but i can say little ocean in the road !

[lava-cake-brainrot]

question:

what are the limits of polyglots? can they speak fictional languages or only real ones because i’d really like to read about sophie yapping in minionesse

[la-cosmonauta-extraterrestre]

Most of us who have learned another language end up with the attitude that it's best to read books in the original because some things just don't translate and in a real sense, you never really read a book if you read it in translation. While I generally agree with this attitude, at the same time I think it is unappreciative of the work that translators do.

Yes, there are a lot of bad translations out there, but there are also good translations. Good translation is a skill, and it's an incredible skill given what a good translator has to be able to do. They have to be fluent in not just two languages, but the nuances of two cultures. They have to be able to understand literature. They have to have writing skills on the level of the writer they are translating. If translating classical literature, they have to understand the historical context.

A good translator will include translator notes to try and explain the nuances that get lost in translation, cultural nuances, and historical context if it's classical literature. Yes, this means that they have to teach you a little bit of the language and culture of the original. Therefore, a good translator will give you an appreciation for a language that you hadn't had before.

[benkyoutobentou]

[todayontumblr]

Wednesday, September 27.

Langblr.

If ever you're in France, accompanied by your kitty cat, and you find yourself unintentionally (and quite unexpectedly) projecting intestinal gas produced within the body by bacteria that has broken down food, and said kitty cat looks a little alarmed, and you don't know what to say, well. Fortune smiles upon you this day. Consider #langblr your knight in shining linguistic armor. Chat, j'ai pété.

It really can happen to anyone. But langblr is here for all your polyglot needs: learning how to say chai tea in Czech, the frankly adorable etymology of peninsula, Greek paleographic fonts, for words of support for those underway with their language-learning adventures, or if you're in need of some support yourself. It is a particularly wholesome corner of Tumblr, for those with an interest in the slow-burn magic of learning another language. 

[polyglot-sock]

this is a friendly reminder that language proficiency levels aren't 100% accurate and appliable to everyone. you can be able to talk about evolution and use the subjunctive mood but have no idea how to describe your daily activities. you can not know many synonyms but be adept at explaining stuff. you can be able to name every single thing at the supermarket but unable to form a sentence with reported speech. you can not remember jobs names but know slang and dialects. you can read the classics but barely speak or write.

language learning is multifaceted and it's completely normal to develop certain skills before others. sometimes it's because some are easier for a particular person. sometimes it's because some are more useful in one's context. the point is, whatever set of skills you have, it's great. keep going.

[thebellekeys]

Arabic Language

"حُرّيتي أن أكون كما لا يريدون لي أن أكون."

“My freedom is to be what they don’t want me to be.”

– Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008)