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Are some languages harder to learn than others?

Being an SIS major, I have to take classes in a foreign language of my choice. While considering which language I should study, one of my main considerations was what language should I take and if it would be a hard language to learn. Every new language is hard to learn for different reasons but is it actually true that some languages are harder to learn than others? The answer to this question depends on many variables and it is something that each person experiences differently.

One of those variables is one's native language or any other language they already speak. The language/languages you were surrounded by while growing up is a big factor in how you learn other languages. Languages that share similar characteristics to one's native language or other spoken languages will be easier to learn, while languages that have very little in common if at all will be harder to learn. Some of the similarities can be the same/similar alphabet, similar vocabulary (I had to learn Arabic in high school and there are a lot of similar words and that made it easier to learn).
For example, there is a similar vocabulary in "romance languages" as they get the vast majority of their vocabulary comes from Latin which makes them easier to learn if you already speak one of these languages. 

Pronunciation and sounds also play a big role in language learning as all languages sound differently. Although all of the sounds are similar in a way, some sounds seem to be different as they are not used in one's native language. Though some can be subtle and easy to pronounce while saying a word, some are strange and difficult to pronounce.

On a more personal note that reflects on my own experience with foreign languages, I believe that a big part of learning a new language is a person's dedication to learning it in the first place. Learning a new language requires a lot of dedication as it requires a lot of practice; from learning a big variety of words that will eventually be added up to having a wide vocabulary, and to practicing how to have a conversation in the language.

I think that learning a new language can be easier under different circumstances. From my own experience, learning a language from a textbook in a classroom makes the learning experience very hard as the only practice you get is during class time and while practicing it while doing homework. Learning a language requires constant practicing in which this learning environment lack.
But if you are in an environment where you hear and forced to practice it all the time such as a foreign country, you will be able to learn a language faster as you hear it all the time- much like my experience with improving my English.

https://www.italki.com/article/826/are-some-languages-truly-more-difficult-than-others
https://www.translatemedia.com/us/blog-us/why-are-some-languages-harder-to-learn-than-others/




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