Comments on: Getting started with your new language

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:09:00 +0000

I'm sure the Welsh have some vowels to spare that you could have.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 23:29:00 +0000

Suw, thanks so much for this helpful guide! Dunno if your software will decide I'm anonymous too, but in fact I'm Betsy Devine, struggling to learn Arabic at the moment. Imaging having four different forms for every consonant, plus a script that leaves out most vowels most of the time…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 18:54:00 +0000

Oops, that was me, of course.
–ACW

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 18:53:00 +0000

OK, thanks for the reference … though if I got a textbook it would remove my main excuse for fanboying you.
So it could be “gooyl”?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:57:00 +0000

Honestly, plurals are a bugger – there are so many rules that you just can't memorise them. You really should learn them as you go. A few plurals are distincitive though, and you'll start to see patterns, but I really can't get into a comprehensive discussion of plurals without a massive great big post which, frankly, won't help you because by the time you've got to the end of it your brain will have melted. I know mine will if I try and write it.
Get Gareth King's Modern Welsh and take a good look at his section on plurals – it'll explain it better than I can. In fact, I'd only be copying it, so best get it from the horse's mouth.
Oh and btw, not being a native speaker i'm not the best person to ask for advice on pronunciation, which is probably why i delayed responding to your earlier comment asking about 'Gwyl' which I pronounce something like 'gweeyl', but i might be saying it wrong.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 16:46:00 +0000

OK, you probably know me well enough by now to know what I'm going to ask for: more information on Welsh plurals.
–ACW

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:56:00 +0000

there are a number of web-based courses where you can download lessons in mp3 format absolutely free. The ones I've used were the Deutsche Welle course (Deutsche Welle is the german equivalent of BBC World). Have a look at
http://www.deutsche-welle.de/dw/0,1595,2469,00.html
for their german course.
Another alternative is to go and look at the Consulate websites of the country whose language you're trying to study. Often they will have an allied office, such as the British Council, that actively promotes study of their language and culture abroad, and will be able to advise you.
I came to Germany six years ago, not speaking a word of German, and so learnt the hard way : via instruction in the language itself. This has its faults, but has the advantage of forcing you to use the language.
Steve

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 03:42:00 +0000

This above comment is not by Anonymous. It is me Shirazi at
http://www.sajshirazi.blogspot.com

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 03:41:00 +0000

While I was doing My Russian Language degree, my teacher Alica (from Russia) told this: The best place to learn the language is street, she meant people on street to converse with.