How To Learn A New Alphabet And Writing System
Keywords: mother tongue, learn language, vocabulary, foreign, native language, alphabet
Not all languages can be learnt at the same pace. If you’re English for example, and try to learn German, you can jump right into improving vocabulary and practicing pronunciation and orthography, since the two languages use the same alphabet (for the most part), writing system and share almost the same grammar rules. The same goes for anyone speaking a Latin language as their mother tongue, trying to learn another Latin language (French - Italian for example). But when you’re trying to learn a language that has different rules on every single step of the way, you’re going to have to put a lot more effort into it.
From an English speaker’s point of view, these languages include Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Arabic, to name just a few. For each of these languages, you’ll have to start out from scratch with grammar, alphabet and writing system but fortunately, there are a few good ways to make this extra hurdle easier to jump over.
When learning a new writing system or alphabet, you’ll have to start out by learning a few symbols at a time, transliterating them to your own alphabet to see what letters they sound like. In some languages, particularly Russian, you’ll find that some of the letters look and sound just like their corresponding letters in your own mother tongue but make sure you don’t fall for “false friends”. False friend letters are letters that look the same, but sound completely different. For example, in the Russian alphabet, the letter “B” is not pronounced “Bee” like in English, but rather “Vee”. Additionally, H is N, C is S and P is R.
Your next step is practicing writing the letters you just learnt. This won’t just help you learn the actual writing style of that language, but it will also help you memorize these letters better. Some languages have a harder writing system for English speakers. For example, Chinese and Japanese require a lot more attention to detail when writing, than say, Russian, whose alphabet still resembles that of our own language.
After you’ve got some grip on writing words in your new language, practice it out by transliterating the words you write in your mother tongue, than back into the secondary language and so forth. One more “trick” to use is writing words in your own language, with the help of the new alphabet. This is a fun exercise but it’s not available for all languages.
Reading in your new language also helps writing stuff down and learning how to spell words correctly. Obviously, reading a text in a secondary language requires a bit of experience with it already, so this is more of an intermediate step. But when you get to the point where you can understand a text by reading it, do it as often as possible as it is crucial to be exposed as often as possible to the new language. Reading will also offer you a solid vocabulary increase and if you read out loud, you’ll also improve your pronunciation.
Last but not least, practice as often as possible and whenever you can. Try keeping a journal in the new language, even if it’s a “fake” one just to help you study. Write down a few sentences each day, it doesn’t matter for how much time. Just don’t let what you just learnt “cool off” or it will be harder to get back on top of it. 10 sentences each day can keep the writing level intact in your new language, if not increase it.
If you’re having trouble remembering the characters in your new language’s alphabet try this small trick: associate shapes or objects to each letter. This is harder to do for Japanese, Korean or Chinese, but rather easy and fun with Russian languages.
Once you’ve mastered the new alphabet and writing system, you can start learning that language like any other. Of course, it will still be difficult since it will have different grammar rules and maybe a different vocabulary setup than your own native language, but at least you’ve conquered the hardest battle, that of writing and understanding the new language and its alphabet.
Increase your foreign language vocabulary at www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Why Kids Are Crazy About Extreme Sports (1)
I know, it makes my skin crawl just thinking about it! The idea is to be able to do a lot of the same tricks performed by skateboarders. Skateboarding is thought of as the original extreme sport beginning in the 1960s when surfers put wheels on short boards to give them a way to cross train when the surf wasn't up.
Do You Know About Downloadable Audio Books? (2)
But books are not the only things that can be listened in a digital recording. There are talk shows, radio dramas and a lot more dating back to the turn of the 20th century.
Improving Your Traction And Sports Performance With Cleats (3)
Metal bottomed cleats are often used in golf.Molded rubber cleats are for more common, especially in sports where accidentally (or not-so-accidentally) kicking another player becomes a danger. They also tend to be far less expensive.
How To Distinguish High Quality Boots From Poor Ones (4)
Cheaper shoes tend to have laminated heels. The stitching is also a major factor. We all know the famous yellow stitching of Doc Martins, yet if we look closely at this stitching we will see it is very intricate, and if weren't for the color would hardly be noticeable.
Some Ideas To Help You Revamp Your Treadmill Workout And Make It Less Boring (5)
By sending your mind to work on other issues you will forget you are even exercising. The exercise will provide more oxygen to your brain therefore giving you better, clearer thoughts to work out pending decisions.
Golf Rules Number Of Clubs Shouldn't Be Overlooked (6)
With these rules, number of clubs still includes your putter. With a limit of fourteen imposed by the golf rules , you will still have an adequate clubs to complete your golf round successfully, including a putter, wedges, irons, woods, and a driver.
How To Memorize Words Faster And Better (7)
Basically that's what the phonebook method is all about: having a long list of words, usually written in the column and another parallel column containing the translations. You will be asked to memorize each word, pronounce it a few times so it "sticks" inside your memory, then move on to the next, just like you would be memorizing entries from a phonebook.
The History Of Wood Households (8)
Mahogany beds were made in much the same form as oak ones had been, although taller and more graceful in appearance, and it was not until 1850 that the four-poster went out of fashion and the brass bedstead took its place.
Some Helpful Tips To Help You Choose The Perfect Watch For The Man In Your Life (9)
Any man should have a watch suitable to work and home environments. If the man in your life works in a casual environment, one watch will usually suffice. You may find he wants two regardless in case one watch becomes damaged.
More Useful Tips On Bowling (10)
A one-pin spare is roughly a 23-inch target This statement may come as a surprise to many low-average bowlers who seem to let a one-pin spare setup "buffalo" them. Let me explain what I mean.
How To Entertain A Sick Child (11)
The doll furniture can be made by the youngster or for the youngster out of safety-match boxes and cardboard and heavy paper. Whatever you do, don't fail to be proud of the results of Junior's efforts.
The Book You Need To Read To Help You Succeed In A Coffee Driven World (12)
Through the beginning of planning a coffee shop to obtaining proper licenses this book can help you to achieve your dream. The book comes with a CD to help you through the entire process from start to finish.
Does Chocolate Really Have Aphrodisiac Qualities Or Is It Just A Myth? (13)
But, in all honesty, who cares? With all the other stuff going for it, does chocolate need to be an aphrodisiac for you to want to eat it? Now if you'll excuse me, I have some exquisite dark chocolate to nibble on.
Discount Hiking Boots Don't Necessarily Have To Be Poor Quality (14)
So why not buy a pair of discount hiking boots and set a new trend. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as discount hiking boots at www.westernandworkboots.com
Tips For Thanksgiving Feast (15)
To the guest with the greatest number of correct answers goes the blue ribbon turkey cut from brown construction paper with a blue ribbon around its neck. Entertained your guests by asking some question related to Thanksgiving Party while serving a delicious dessert, they would definitely have fun and enjoy the party.
What You Should Eat For Optimum Health (16)
Go lean with protein. The suggestions for your protein intake are to use the leanest cuts of meats such as top sirloin and pork loin and whenever choosing ground beef go with extra lean that is identified as at least 90% lean.
If You Getting Into Golf You Must Have A Good Pair Of Golf Shoes (17)
Many of today's shoes are not only breathable, but water-resistant, too. As with any sport, having the proper equipment is of the utmost importance if you want to be successful.
How Calling Cards Got Started In The United States (18)
You can find great deals and huge discounts. It is also possible to get calling card numbers through the Internet. You don't get a physical card, but you pay for the number of minutes that you need and get a specialized pin number.
Racing Boat Supreme:The Skater Power Boat (19)
In fact, some of these models can even be sold for a pretty good price. There are all types of model boat kits available for your enjoyment. Some of the most popular ones are the wooden model kits.
Making Wine From Grapes (20)
Measure as near as you can or judge as accurately as possible the amount of pulp you have and to each gallon allow one Campden tablet or four grains of sodium metabisulphite.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Enjoying Melbourne, Discover A Whole New World Of Fun (1)
The scrumptious Aussie BBQ is a must. 5. "Stimulate" your senses Hours of entertainment await you at A Maze 'N Things down in Phillip Island where you can explore the range of mind-boggling activities.
Great Tips On Lowering Auto Insurance Costs (2)
Also see what impact raising your deductible will have on lowering your premium. These items might also seem trivial, but will save you money. Pick a car with lower theft rates and lower premiums.
How To Prevent Heart Disease And Improve Your Health By Eating The Right Foods (3)
Making these changes will take time before they become habits but just remember that eating healthy is essential for a healthy heart and a long life. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida.
A Look At Buying Fitness And Exercise Equipment On EBay (4)
Whereas Total Gym sells for around $500, Ebay had a Total Trainer up for sale at the price of $277 for a straight purchase. I also looked at a copy of Fast Abs, which is an electronic muscle stimulating belt that goes for about thirty dollars plus shipping if you buy it from the manufacturer.
Good Dance Shoes Are A Necessity For Good Dancing (5)
It allows the dancer to dance longer with the aid of proper men's dance shoes. However some dance studios have concrete flooring with hardwood over it. Avoid dancing in this kind of flooring or your feet will be sore in no time.
A Look At All The Various Types Of Paintball Games You Can Play (6)
The last paintball game variation we will look at is one sometimes called ?Just Plain Crazy?, also known as superman, total elimination, and counterstrike. This extremely brutal version is played solo or on teams and begins with each player or team at opposite sides of the field.
Fish To Eat And Fish To Avoid (7)
One study published in the journal Circulation (American Heart Association) showed that eating fish regularly reduced the risk of heart disease in diabetic women as much as 64 percent. Researchers at Chicago's Rush-Presbyterian-St.
If You Are Considering Buying Exercise Equipment Here Are Some Important Considerations (8)
If you have poor joints, then some of these machines may actually harm you. It's always good to talk to your physician before investing in equipment that may be harmful to your body.
Soccer: America Just Doesn't Get It (9)
Entering into any professional sport as a fan requires a certain amount of desire an effort to learn players, rules, and standards. For soccer to become a part of the American mindset would require too much effort for too little gain.
How To Fix And Repair Headlights For Maximum Safety (10)
So lets first look at the bulb. The bulb unscrews out of the back of the headlight lens on most newer cars (on older cars with glass headlights the whole lens is the bulb and you just replace it with a new glass replacement $10 - $20 at Walmart).
How To Find Products Wholesale That You Can Sell On EBay (11)
If possible get references when you can from other clients that are using their services. Now that you have narrowed your choices down and have found a wholesaler that you want to do business with you need to find out what kind of quantities you can buy in.
The History Of Chocolate (12)
Chocolate also played a special role in both Maya and Aztec royal and religious events. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the gods and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies.
How To Read Food Labels So You Know Exactly What You Are Eating (13)
The list generally begins with the most heavily-used ingredient, and descends into the ingredient least used in the product. Label Claim This is the term used for sayings such as "sodium-free!" (Which simply means that it has less than 5 mgs per serving).
Should You Buy Bowling Shoes Or Just Rent Them (14)
Some people have even complained of contracting athlete's foot from the shoes although this is unlikely. There are other options available to you thanks to the latest interest in bowling.
Tips To Trail The Animals (15)
In general female animals have a smaller cross trace. Animals Footprints You are not likely to come across the footprints of whole hoofed animals wild horses for example. The cloven hoofed animals leave prints of their two toed hoofs.
Guidance To Improve Your Trailing Ability (16)
Woodsmen distinguish among traces, tracks and footprints, and only when they have made the distinction do they start to interpret the signs. Tracks are the marks left by big game such as a moose, boar, antelope or a deer, whereas traces are the prints of a small game animal such as a fox or a bird.
The Importance Of Time Keeping And How It Began (17)
Despite the fact that management of the company has changed throughout the years, the quality of the watches were never compromised and their watches are still as coveted today as they were over a century ago.
Is It Best To Exercise At Home Or At A Gym (18)
If you attend class on a regular basis, you may be motivated enough to continue so you don't have to defend yourself when asked where you've been or what you have been doing.
Secrets About Bulimia. Brain Chemicals And Our Mood (19)
Her voice carries a weight and authority with it that many others cannot offer. At her website you will discover how you can end your problem with Bulimia once and for all.www.cureforbulimia.com
First We Had Portable Music, Now Thanks To The IPod We Can Take Videos With Us (20)
All you have to do then is to make sure your iTune synchronizes with your computer. You can then play the movies of your choice with ease. Take note of this: your encoding time will depend on the length of your video.