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From: kthier@festival.ed.ac.uk (K Thier)
Subject: Re: Learning two foreign languages at the same time
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Organization: Edinburgh University
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 16:05:41 GMT
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Kurt Godden (godden@gmr.com) wrote:
: In article <Bg3aZxF.jpaulino@delphi.com> John Paulino,
: jpaulino@delphi.com writes:
: >I am currently studying French and would like to begin
: >studying German.  Does anybody here know what difficulties
: >that might pose to studying either language?  Would it be
: >a more efficient use of my time to concentrate on one language?

: Then last fall I started to study French, where I am learning all 4
: skills.  If you're worried about one conflicting with the other, I have
: not had that problem.  I find that when in French class my brain seems to
: block out the German.  E.g. there may be a F. term/phrase that comes up,
: and I know that I know the G. but cannot think of it.  And versa vice.  

i've learn't acouple of languages (including English), and I've found
that you only get problems of interference (confusion) if the languages
are *very* similar in structure and vocab (which French and German are
certainly not). I also find that one of my weaker languages completely
disappears as soon as I start stammering in my most recent acquisition.

: You will find some aspects of French that will help you learn German:

: 2.  You will on occasion come across a new G. word that you will be able
: to recognize because it is cognate or borrowed to/from F.  E.g. la
: fenetre and die Fenster.  Actually, there are quite a few F. words that
: have been borrowed by G. so you'll encounter this more than I have in
: learning F 2nd.

Far less than in English!!

: One of the things you'll like about G. is that it is extremely phonemic;
: that is, w.r.t. the sound-symbol correspondence.  F. is as bad as English.

French, if you keep to the rules is not worse than German. There are a
handful exceptions and some minor irregularities, as are in German.
BTW if you want a joke , German is having a spelling reform (true,
honest)

: As for the advice that you're seeking, I'd say go ahead and start your G.
:  I'm sure individuals have widely different experiences.  If you have
: trouble, then drop the G. and try again later.

I can only underline that. Every language is a gain, and learning gets
harder every year!

Catriona
