2007-03-08 00:41:59 · 10 answers · asked by georges007 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
English is much harder to learn than Italian
as it is a combination of many languages,
primarily German and French.
Italian is very closely related to its ancestor
"Latin" - to the point where a Latin scholar
can read most of Italian without knowing
the language (ignoring moderns words,
of course).
English is also filled with idioms - words put together
that have a totally non obvious meaning such
as "He asked her to the prom but struck out."
"struck out" has nothing to do with hitting his
would be date...
All languages have them, but English due to its
checkered past has more of them.
For that matter, since when does "date" mean
a person and not a day on a calendar?
2007-03-08 00:51:20 · answer #1 · answered by Elana 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English is one of the easiest languages to learn but it is probably the hardest to master. English is easy because the grammar is so confused (mixture of many different languages) that even if you get it wrong most people will still understand you. But to write and speak well in English can take a lifetime to learn for the same reason
2007-03-09 11:03:14 · answer #2 · answered by xpatgary 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Speaking both, I can guarantee you that English is far more difficult to learn than Italian. Italian you spell as you see, and there are no obscurities such as "Barcelona" being pronounced "Barthelona" as in the Spanish language. Italian is by far the cleanest, prettiest sounding language in my opinion. Most would argue for French, but turning on the French news does my head in. Sounds like they are sneering constantly!
2007-03-08 09:01:16 · answer #3 · answered by Rhythm * 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well people have told me that English is one of the hardest languages to learn....many of the other languages come from Latin and have similarities in them.
English too has Latin derivitives, but what makes English harder is they have so many words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings....like sea( the ocean) see (look at something)....or we use a lot of slang terms that confuse people....they don't mean what they sound like they mean.
English also has a lot of "rules"..that are not consistent...they change spellings, etc. and are hard to know how to use.
But don't despair. You can learn it, like anything else...or whoever you know that wants to!
2007-03-12 00:00:37 · answer #4 · answered by samantha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
every english speaker says that english is more difficult
every italian speaker says that italian is more difficult
This doesn't sound strange?
There many personal factors you have to take into consideration:
- your native language
- similarities between your native language and foreign language in vocabulary
- similarities in phonetics (sounds)
- a writing different from yours
Than there are objective factors:
- writing (if different from writing used in your native language)
- grammar: number of rules and form of words; exceptions and linearity in rules (eg: German has many rules and form, a complex grammar, but rules are linear)
English has a very simple grammar (as a rule, it doesn't distinguish gender, it has only one ending for plural, few different endings in verbs), but it has many exceptions.
English has many idioms.
And there no straight and fast rules about pronounce.
It's easy to write in english without very big errors, but it is hard to do it without making small errror or using weird idioms or word matching.
Italian grammar is more complex with many exceptions.
But pronounce rules are much easier.
Therefore no straight and fast answer to your question.
2007-03-09 07:22:39 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is as English is not as structured as some other languages, so it can be difficult - I found German easier to learn than English & I am English??!?!?!?
2007-03-08 08:49:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
English comprises of various other languages and so is naturally one of the most complicated. It certainly has more exceptions than rules anyway.
Italian is mostly very logical and follows patterns of other European languages such as French, as well as its root, Latin.
So to answer your question: yes.
2007-03-08 08:50:39 · answer #7 · answered by frenziedmonkey 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
English is supposed to be the hardest language to learn
2007-03-08 08:45:40 · answer #8 · answered by Jane H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would say so because English is such a melting pot of other languages and the grammar is difficult to understand at times.
2007-03-08 08:47:11 · answer #9 · answered by violetb 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on where you're from.
2007-03-08 08:47:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋