Is English an easy language to learn?

[viper37]

I've always thought that the American "r" (as distinct from the English r) is not a very easy sound to pronounce for someone not born to it.

Thoughts?

how is it distinct?

I think the most difficult thing is that "th" sound.

[garbon]

I've always thought that the American "r" (as distinct from the English r) is not a very easy sound to pronounce for someone not born to it.

Thoughts?

how is it distinct?

I think the most difficult thing is that "th" sound.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhotic_and_non-rhotic_accents

[Razgovory]

I have been wondering with this myself. I want to learn another language, and initially I went with German since I like their literature a lot, etc... until I realized I'm not likely to ever use German in any practical situation. So all the effort felt a bit like a waste.

Problem is that I can't think of any language that I'm likely to "need" or get exposed to besides the ones I already know (Spanish, Catalan, English); unless I order a Russian bride.

Yeah, I was looking into learning German but what's the point?  All the Germans can speak English.

[Admiral Yi]

how is it distinct?

Not sure it's all that distinct.  But you do have to contort your tongue and throat to pronounce it.

[Razgovory]

I have been wondering with this myself. I want to learn another language, and initially I went with German since I like their literature a lot, etc... until I realized I'm not likely to ever use German in any practical situation. So all the effort felt a bit like a waste.

Problem is that I can't think of any language that I'm likely to "need" or get exposed to besides the ones I already know (Spanish, Catalan, English); unless I order a Russian bride.

If you learn Arabic it will give you an advantage in the coming Caliphate.

From the recent events in Iraq it seems to be a going Caliphate.

[Admiral Yi]

From the recent events in Iraq it seems to be a going Caliphate.

Not in Spain.

[viper37]

I have been wondering with this myself. I want to learn another language, and initially I went with German since I like their literature a lot, etc... until I realized I'm not likely to ever use German in any practical situation. So all the effort felt a bit like a waste.

Problem is that I can't think of any language that I'm likely to "need" or get exposed to besides the ones I already know (Spanish, Catalan, English); unless I order a Russian bride.

the Russian bride is a good idea, you'll likely save on the purchase price

Portuguese, maybe?  It's close to Spanish, Portugal is close to Spain and if you ever want to visit Brazil, Mozambique or East Timor.

[viper37]

I've always thought that the American "r" (as distinct from the English r) is not a very easy sound to pronounce for someone not born to it.

Thoughts?

how is it distinct?

I think the most difficult thing is that "th" sound.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhotic_and_non-rhotic_accents

That explains why the Brisith pronounce Iron with a silent 'r'.  I-on Maiden, I-on islands.
Thanks

[celedhring]

I have been wondering with this myself. I want to learn another language, and initially I went with German since I like their literature a lot, etc... until I realized I'm not likely to ever use German in any practical situation. So all the effort felt a bit like a waste.

Problem is that I can't think of any language that I'm likely to "need" or get exposed to besides the ones I already know (Spanish, Catalan, English); unless I order a Russian bride.

the Russian bride is a good idea, you'll likely save on the purchase price

Portuguese, maybe?  It's close to Spanish, Portugal is close to Spain and if you ever want to visit Brazil, Mozambique or East Timor.

The only remotely useful language to me would be French (we work with a lot of French people in my industry). However I already speak two romance languages; seems overkill.

[Eddie Teach]

If you learn Arabic it will give you an advantage in the coming Caliphate.

I toyed with learning Arabic several years ago after reading that translators in Iraq were making six figures.

[viper37]

The only remotely useful language to me would be French (we work with a lot of French people in my industry). However I already speak two romance languages; seems overkill.

French is never overkill.   

[celedhring]

I also have French ancestry (yuck), hell, my mother still sort of speaks it.

[derspiess]

German is easier for me to read & write (and to listen to, to some extent) than it is to speak.  I have to rehearse something a few times to speak it correctly and even then I might get it wrong.  I get angrily jealous whenever I hear little German kids speaking it perfectly without effort

[Admiral Yi]

The craziest thing about traveling in Europe is listening to all the little kids speak foreign languages so well.

[Josquius]

French