Mastering new languages is always a great opportunity to open new doors and immerse yourself in different cultures.
However, when faced with the possibility of studying a foreign language, a common question arises: what’s the easiest language to learn? To answer this question, it is important to take into account various aspects that can affect the learning process.
What factors impact language learning?
The answer to which language is easier to learn varies depending on the context we find ourselves in since there are some factors that can simplify or complicate the process:
Grammar
One aspect that affects learning is grammar. As a general rule, if the language has complex structures with many rules and exceptions, it will be difficult to grasp. On the contrary, simple structures help people learn the language in a more natural and faster way. An example could be English, which is characterized by its simple and straightforward grammar.
Pronunciation
Languages have different phonemes and pronunciation rules and may even have sounds that do not exist in the learner’s language.
For example, languages with sounds that are difficult to articulate, such as German or Arabic, can be challenging for those who are not used to them.
Writing system
Some languages use very popular alphabets or alphabets that are used by many languages, while others use more specific systems.
The Latin alphabet is the most common alphabet in the world since it is used in European languages such as Spanish, French, and German. In contrast, languages such as Mandarin Chinese, which uses a character-based alphabet, or Arabic, which is written from right to left, can be more difficult to learn.
Native language similarity
Perhaps the most crucial factor in determining the simplicity of learning a language is the similarity to one’s native language since they are more likely to have similar rules or characteristics.
Linguists usually classify languages into different families, i.e., those that have a common origin, but as they evolved, they separated. In the case of Romance languages, which are those derived from Latin, such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian. On the other hand, German and English are languages of Germanic origin.
What’s the easiest language to learn?
The answer depends a lot on the learner’s native language. Currently, the three languages with the largest number of native speakers are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and English. Let’s break down which is the easiest to speak for each of them:
Mandarin Chinese
This language has its own alphabet that sets it apart from other languages, so it is often difficult to know which language is easier for them to master. Some studies suggest that it is Thai since both base their language on tones, so if you understand how it works and are used to speaking it, it will be easier to grasp.
Spanish
For Spanish speakers, Italian is considered the easiest language to learn, followed by Portuguese and French. If we move away from the Romance languages, the language that can be considered the easiest to master is English because of its simple vocabulary and structures.
English
In recent decades, English has grown exponentially in terms of knowledge and use. It is considered the most studied language worldwide as a second and third language. Since it’s a language of Germanic origin, it’s easier for English speakers to learn German and Norwegian.
Languages that attempted to unify languages
There have been some attempts at languages that tried to be universal so anyone would have the ability to master them.
A popular example is Esperanto, an artificial language created in the 19th century with the goal of becoming a language that would be very easy for everyone to learn and that could transcend communication barriers. Although Esperanto never became the global language that its creators envisioned, it still has about 2 million speakers worldwide.
What role do translators play?
There are some 7000 languages in the world, and although some are similar to each other, it’s almost impossible to master them all. That’s why, in this context where it is so common to exchange and communicate with people who speak different languages, the task of translators is becoming increasingly necessary. If you need high-quality translation services, we recommend IPT Translations, a company dedicated to providing high-quality translation solutions for more than 50 languages. Find out what they can do for you on their website!