The most difficult language to learn for English speakers

Author:

Russ
The most difficult language to learn for English speakers
What is the most difficult language in the world to learn, out of over 2650 languages and over 7000 dialects? The most important deciding factor is one\'s mother tongue.
 According to research by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), the 5 most difficult languages to learn for English speakers are:

• ·         Cantonese
• ·         Mandarin
• ·         Arabic
• ·         Japanese
• ·         Korean

As part of Indo-European languages family, English is formed by 24 Latin letters. However, Chinese—as part of a completely different language family: Sino-Tibetian, uses HanZi (Chinese Characters). This made Chinese extremely difficult for English speakers to learn.
Generally, the following 4 reasons make it even more difficult for English speakers to learn Chinese:

1. 1.       You cannot always find the equivalent words in the other language
2. 2.       In the two languages, those words which seemingly mean the same thing are actually referring to different concept.
3. 3.       In one language, you have only one or very few terms to describe some certain item/concept while in the other language, you may find many more different expressions.
4. 4.       Some words/phrases have the same principle meaning in both languages; however they may give people different impressions based on different cultures and traditions.

1. I.                    No equivalent words

There are many things that only exist in one culture. This makes it impossible to translate such items/concepts/products into the other language, or make people understand what exactly they are. For example, when the word ‘Coffee\' first spread to China, people could not give it an accurate translation, as this drink did not exist in China. As a result, instead of trying to find the best match, Chinese people simply recorded the pronunciation of this foreign word and created a new phrase ‘Ka Fei\'.  It is also very difficult to explain to Chinese people what is Hippy, Bingo Party, motel, revival meeting or time clock, because they simply do not exist in Chinese Culture.
On the other hands, there are just as many Chinese words which are difficult to transfer into English. The most obvious examples will be the two words ‘Yin\' and ‘Yang\'. According to Longman Modern English Dictionary, yin is described as the feminine or negative principle in nature; and yang –the masculine or positive principle in nature. However these are far from sufficient to really review the true and full meaning of these two words.
Many different aspects are responsible for these differences: different natural environment and tradition; different level of the development of technology or different social and political atmosphere.

1. II.                  Some concepts exist in both Chinese and English, but their meanings are not completely the same.

Following are some examples:

1. 1.       ‘High\' in Chinese is ‘高\' (gao), and ‘School\' in Chinese is ‘校\' (xiao), however ‘Gaoxiao\' does not mean ‘high school\', but\' University\'.
2. 2.       The words ‘rest\' and ‘room\' are both very easily understood in Chinese and English, however the combination of these two words are complete different, as ‘restroom\' or ‘Xiuxi Shi\' in Chinese is more likely to refer to ‘lounge\' or ‘lobby\'.
3. 3.       A word for word translation for the Chinese phrase ‘ShiYan\' (食言) should be ‘to eat one\'s own words\'. However the Chinese phrase actually means ‘to break one\'s promises\' as oppose to ‘take one\'s words back\'.

1. III.                In one language, you have only one or very few terms to describe some certain item/concept while in the other language, you may find many more different expressions.

For example, in China people use ‘LuoTuo\' to describe all camels, however in English, there are also ‘dromedary\' and ‘Bactrian camel\'. It is said that in Arabic, there are over 400 words for ‘camels\', many of them are used to differentiate the camel\'s age, gender, breed, size, strength and even whether they are pregnant.
Chinese language has a lot more words for family members than English. The simple sentence ‘Mary\'s sister married Tom\'s Brother\' can be very difficult to be translated into Chinese, because ‘brother\' or ‘sister\' is just not detailed enough, we need to know whether they are Younger or older to be able to find them a Chinese equivalent, below are a simple layout of family members in Chinese:
祖父
Grandfather (Father\'s father)
祖母
Grandmother (Father\'s Mother)
外祖父
Grandfather (Mother\'s Father)
外祖母
Grandmother (Mother\'s mother)
父亲
Father
母亲
Mother
兄
brother (Elder brother)
姐
Sister (Elder sister)
弟
Brother (younger brother)
妹
Sister (younger sister)
伯父
Father\'s elder brother
叔父
Father\'s younger brother
姑父
Husband of father\'s sister
舅父
Mother\'s brother
姨父
Husband of mother\'s sister
姐夫
husband of elder sister
妹夫
husband of younger sister

The above are only part of the relatives; other members like cousins (male and female), brother\'s sister, husbands\' younger brother, father\'s brother\'s son etc are even more confusing for English speakers.

1. IV.                Words or phrases give people different impressions because of the culture and tradition

For example, the words ‘politician\' and ‘statesman\' are representing the same profession, however we must be very careful when choosing their Chinese equivalents, as ‘Zhengke\' (政客) is considered derogatory, while ‘zheng zhi jia\' (政治家) is a more positive phrase.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/the-most-difficult-language-to-learn-for-english-speakers-5042880.html
About the Author
Hello I was born and raised in Somerset UK, my parents are both native British, I have studied the art of translation for many years and am fluent in the Chinese dialects of Cantonese and Mandarin, also the written in a romanized system chinese of Pinyin.

Why Learn English as a Second Language?

Author:

Caitlin Adams
There are more than 2,700 languages spoken around the world. Of these, the English language is one of the most widely spoken and written languages. Wherever you go around the world, you don\'t have to go far to find someone who speaks English. In fact, there are currently more than 400 million people who speak English as their first language and more than another 900 million people who are learning or already speak English as a foreign language or second language. These numbers are expected to keep on growing as people around the world continue to travel and communicate with people in other nations.
English is the most widely studied second language in the world. It is commonly used as the language of choice when two people who speak other languages get together. This is probably because of the worldwide influence of things such as movies, music, news and the Internet. The Internet has brought everyone in the world into much closer contact and English plays an important role in bringing together people in this modern medium. Eighty per cent of the information stored in computers is stored in English, and 75 per cent of the other communications sent around the world use the medium of English.
Most countries around the world recognise the importance of English in education and careers, so it is commonly studied in school and many countries insist that every student graduates with at least a basic level of English. The United Nations has 163 member nations, with English being the most common official language among them.
If you plan to travel anywhere around the world, having English as a second language is a must. With English as a second language you will be able to understand shop keepers, bus drivers, tourism operators, brochures and signs. You be able to buy what you need, get where you want to go and become friends with people in a variety of countries.
Because English is the language of the Internet, you will find it much easier to find jobs overseas as well as buying and selling the goods you need. Understanding and speaking English will help you to make good internet decisions, keep you safe on the Internet and help you to further your career.
English is the perfect second language option because it will open so many doors for you worldwide. Fortunately, it\'s very easy to find English language teachers around the world. Why not get started today!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/why-learn-english-as-a-second-language-5039086.html
About the Author
CCEL (Christchurch College of English Ltd) is a privately-owned English language school located on the University of Canterbury campus in Christchurch. CCEL works in partnership with the University and provides international students with a pathway to further study, find out more here : www.ccel.co.nz

Disadvantages of Home Schooling

Author:

Kris Koonar
If you are concerned about the education your child is receiving at either a public or private school, you may have considered the option of home schooling. There are many advantages to home schooling that are easy to think of, but in making your decision you must also consider the disadvantages. Yes, despite all the bonuses you can think of in home schooling your child, there are many disadvantages to the process.

Home schooling is a process that requires a massive amount of time and dedication. If you want to home school your child you must be present for a large part of the day. Kids are kids. Depending on how motivated by academic success your child is, he or she may not require constant supervision. However, in many studies, parental supervision is the key behind the success of home schooling programs.

Parents must also possess instructional skills or access to someone who can teach effectively. Simply putting your child in a room with textbooks will most likely result in home schooling failure. In addition, you will have to purchase materials that public and private schools provide for students.

There is also the need to be able to serve as guidance counselor as your child may require specialized instruction due to a learning disability. Public and private schools usually provide these services with qualified individuals.

One important benefit of an academic institution is the opportunity for children to become properly socialized. Attending school with other children from all walks of life leads to the development of social skills. One of the disadvantages of home schooling is the relative isolation children have from their peers.

Many parents find comfort in blaming the educational system for the shortcomings in their child\'s academic performance. If you choose to home school you will be accepting full responsibility for the outcome of your child\'s education. This is more of a burden than it seems. Studies have shown that many home schooling ventures fail due to the fact that the home generally lacks qualified educators. Many parents have gripes about teachers, but the fact is that they generally have to teach large classes filled with children with diverse learning needs. In addition, certified educators have taken teaching classes and have passed state examinations to receive their teaching certificates.

When you approach the issue of home schooling you must examine both sides. Sure, there are plenty of advantages, but if you forget to look into the disadvantages, you may be setting yourself up for failure.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/disadvantages-of-home-schooling-59112.html
About the Author
If you need more information visit http://www.citizenschool.com to learn about Home Schooling GED and a High School Diploma or if you prefer phone 1-800-736-GRAD (4723) or email studentservices@citizenschool.com. Internet Marketing done by Crackmarketing.com.

History of Aruba

Author:

Jennifer
Aruba is known as a beautiful vacation spot, but few know about its rich history. Ochre-colored rock drawings left behind by island shamans are still visible today. European adventurers and settlers brought many traditions, experiences, and nationalities to the island. Some came to the island as temporary settlers, while others came to make a permanent new home. The people and their variety of languages mixed with the innate hospitality make up the multi-cultural Aruban spirituality and ambiance that reflect a rich past.

The first inhabitants on Aruba were the Caquetio Indians of the Arawak tribe from the South American mainland. They were fishers, hunters, and gatherers of the pre-ceramic period of habitation. This was between 2500 BCE and 1000 CE. The Caquetio Indians depended on the ocean for survival, and fished off the shores of what is now called Malmok and Palm Beach. They lived in small family groups in these areas.

Throughout the beginning of this time period, there were five large Indian villages that were settled on the best agricultural soil for corn and yucca. We have now figured out they had a hierarchical socio-political system based on the way the dead was buried. There are remains of pottery that the Indians created, some of which were coarse pottery, others were fine well-crafted ceramics.

Next came the Spanish rule. The island was discovered by Alonso de Ojeda in 1499, and was then claimed as a Spanish territory.  The island was then named it la isla de los gigantes (the island of the giants), because the first indian settlers decendents were very tall. After around a decade, the island acquired the nick name isla inutil (a useless island), because no treasures were found on the island.

The entire Indian population, the original settlers, was enslaved in 1513. They were taken to Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti) to work. Some Indians returned in 1515 during the Indian Historic Period, and some new Indians from the mainland settled on the northern part of the island in small villages.

The Spanish returned, and the Indians were used as laborers for horse and cattle breeding. From 1600 and on, most Indians came from the South American mainland. At the beginning of the 1800s, Indians were one third of the islands population of 1700, but in 1862, it is said that Aruba\'s last Indian died.

The Dutch saw that Aruba had a very strategic location, and the island was occupied by the Dutch in 1636. This was to establish a naval base in the Caribbean during their 80 year war with Spain. It was also strategic to protect their salt supply from the South American mainland. The neighboring island Curacao hosted Dutch West India Company, which led to further economic development. Today, Aruba is still in Dutch hands, although the English had a short period of rule during the Napoleonic Wars from 1805-1816.

Now there are myriads of Aruba Resorts and Aruba All Inclusive vacations you can take to visit this island with a rich past, and culturally varied background.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/history-articles/history-of-aruba-5028770.html
About the Author
Jennifer Brown loves everything related to Aruba! You can usually find her lounging in one of Aruba resorts enjoying an Aruba all inclusive vacation.

Refine Your Flare for Fashion at Tampa Design School

Author:

William Hauselberg
Many students assume that if they want to study fashion, they need to go to school in New York City. New York City is one of the worlds largest design centers and two-thirds of all U.S. fashion design and manufacturing is done in New York.

But though New York is considered the fashion capital of the United States, students dont necessarily have to travel there to study at a fashion school. There are great fashion schools all over the United States. In fact, attending a Tampa fashion school may give Florida students the unique opportunity to study fashion close to home.

The Benefits of Attending Fashion School in Tampa

There are so many things that influence fashion. Designers can be influenced by the weather, nature, their favorite cities, and the people around them. Tampa is a gorgeous city. Its easy to live there and feel inspired. Many artists find inspiration in the gorgeous beaches, the lively city, and the laid-back locals. Tampa is not your average vacation destination. The city also has a thriving arts scene. For instance, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, which is held in Tampa each year, is one of the top 10 annual art shows in the United States. Tampa also offers thriving galleries, design studios, schools, and creative outlets for all types of artists.

Fashion School Tampa: Who Should Consider a Degree in Fashion?

Any person with an interest in fashion may want to consider attending a Tampa fashion school. Typical fashion students are stylish, innovative, and ahead of the trends. Fashion students should love putting new outfits together and have a good eye for what works.

Not every fashion student has to love creating clothing. Fashion schools can also teach students how to market products, become a buyer, and manage a retail business. While some graduates may go on to become designers, others may work in other areas of the fashion industry.

While prospective students may think that they need to move to the Big Apple to get a fashion degree, this simply isnt the case. Instead of leaving sunny Florida for fashion school, Tampa, students may want to let the citys colorful, tropical vibe influence their budding style. Compared to the sharp, black styles that dominate the New York fashion scene, Tampa students are a breath of fresh air.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/refine-your-flare-for-fashion-at-tampa-design-school-5020298.html
About the Author
The author has an immense knowledge on fashion school, Tampa. Know more about Tampa fashion school related info in his website.

Cultural and Language differences explained

Author:

Russ
Language and Culture

Culture has great influence on people\'s daily communications. You may find that, on many occasions, even though the translation is perfectly accurate, there could still be confusion or misunderstanding. For different people, a certain word or expression could have different meanings. Because of culture differences, a serious topic could sound funny; a harmless comment could be offensive. Because of culture differences, the best joke might not have the same effect to the audiences when told in a different language.
Language is of vital importance to culture. Some sociologists believe that language is the fundamental part of culture---without languages, different cultures could not be formed. On the other hand, language is also influenced by and reflecting culture. We may say that, language is the special aspect of a nation, it not only contains the history and culture back ground of a country, but also expresses the people\'s views and beliefs. To learn a language, to understand a language, first of all, one must learn to understand the culture behind it.
There are many languages in the world, and just as many different kind of cultures. As a result, people from different culture back ground, people speak different languages may experience difficulties when trying to communicate with each other.

1. To translate and master a language, you have to learn more than pronunciation, grammar or vocabulary. In many cases, a direct translation might not be able to do the work. For example, the following signs were found in public facilities around the world, the grammar is correct and translations are accurate for each word, however, they just don\'t look right.

• In a Japanese Hotel ---If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself.
• A Zoo in Hungary –Please don\'t feed the animals. If you have any food, please give it to the guard on duty.
• Pub in Norway—Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
• Shop in Switzerland—Fur coats made for ladies from their skins.
• Dentist in Hong Kong—Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.
• Dry clean shop in Thailand—Drop your trousers here for best results.
• An Italian hospital—Specialist in women and other diseases.
• Cemetery in Russia—Welcome to the cemetery where famous Russian artists are buried daily except Thursday.
• Airport in Denmark—We take your bags and send them in all directions.
• A Mexican hotel—The manager has personally passed all water served here.

It is no wonder that many companies favour the use of a Translation company, especially when technical translation is required, for example in technical industries.

1. Sometimes, it might be difficult to find the equivalent word in a different language, not to mention those old sayings or proverbs. According to research, the following words have been selected as the top 10 most untranslatable words:

•  Ilunga-- Tshiluba language spoken in south-eastern DR Congo, it means a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time; to tolerate it a second time; but never a third time.
• shlimaz—Yiddish for a chronically unlucky person
• radioukacz—Polish for a person who worked as a telegraphist for the resistancemovements on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain
• naa—Japanese word only used in the Kansai area of Japan, to emphasise statements or agree with someone
• altahmam—Arabic for a kind of deep sadness
• gezellig—Dutch for cosy
• saudade—Portuguese for a certain type of longing
• selathirupavar—Tamil for a certain type of truancy
• pochemuchka—Russian for a person who asks a lot of questions
• klloshar –Albanian for loser

In addition, the most untranslatable English word is believed to be ‘plenipotentiary\'. Other words such as ‘googly\', ‘spam\' and ‘gobbledygook\' had also been chosen.

1. Some certain items, animals or concepts, in some languages, can only be expressed with one term, in other languages, however, you may find many different replacements.  For example, sheep sometimes are also: ram, ewe or lamb; and deer can also be called: stag, doe and fawn.  On the other hand, one word could also have more than one meaning, now who can translate the following sentence into a different language?

--Can you can a can as a can can can a can?

1. 4.       Expressions-- old sayings or proverbs are very important parts of a culture and the language. It is almost impossible to find an exact equivalent in a different language, and could be very difficult to translate. However, some more comment expressions which are frequently used by the native speakers can also be easily misunderstood by someone who is trying to learn it. For example, there was a story about a foreign student in the US. This girl was sitting by the window studying and she heard someone shout at her: 'Look out!', so she stood up and looked outside the window when a tennis ball just barely missed her head.  Her friend commented, 'that was dangerous, I did warn you to look out. She answered, yes and that\'s what I did'. True or not, from this story we can easily see that sometimes, the words do not always mean they you think they do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/cultural-and-language-differences-explained-5020631.html
About the Author
Hello I was born and raised in the UK, my parents are both native British, I have studied the art of translation for many years and am fluent in the Chinese dialects of Cantonese and Mandarin, also the written in a romanized system chinese of Pinyin.

Beginning of a long and violent history of Russia

Author:

Stephanie Kio
She was christened in childhood with a lash,
Torn to pieces,
Scorched.
Her soul was trampled by the feet,
Inflicting blow upon blow,
Of Pechenegs,
Varangians,
Tartars,
And our own people –
Much more terrible than the Tartars.
In these few lines from a poem published in 1963, Yevgeny Yevtoshenko conveyed the history of Russia and, by extension, the history of the Soviet Union. A land unprotected by natural barriers, it has suffered invasion after invasion – from the east by Pechenegs, Tartars, Khazars and countless others, from the north and west by Varangians, Swedes, Lithuanians, Poles, French and Germans. It has been oppressed by its own rulers, who have included some of the cruellest tyrants the world has known. Such a history explains why the Russian people seem so passionately possessive of their land, so submissive to authoritarian rule. 'Russia\'s endurance became famous', wrote Yevtushenko. 'She did endure'.
The story begins in about 1.000 B.C. with the Cimmerians, farmers of the plains north of the Black Sea. Around 700 B.C., they were overrun by the first Asiatic horsemen, the Scythians, another long-vanished people, who left behind in burial mounds a fortune in golden ornaments – diadems, necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings – that today are nation treasures.
The Scythians in turn yielded to a new group of Asiatic nomads, the Sarmatians, and these were followed by the Goths and then the Huns; under their leader, Attila, the Huns went on to terrorize much of Europe, rampaging as far to the west as Orleans, where they were at last defeated by Visigoths and Gallo-Romans in 451 A.D. in the wake of the Huns came the Avars and then the Khazars.
The  Khazars were traders, and among the peoples they dealt with were the Slavs, a group of slash-and-burn farmers and fur trappers living in the forested area of present-day Kiev, Novgorod and Moscow. Little is known of their earlier history. Related to other Slavic peoples of Central Europe, these Eastern Slavs waited out the Scythians, Sarmatians, Huns, Avars and other conquerors to become the enduring Russians, a name they acquired in a roundabout fashion during the ninth and 10th centuries.
The name was a Norse gift. Scandinavian traders, the Varangians, using the inland waterways of the Volkov and Dnieper Rivers to reach the rich market of Byzantium, passed right through the Slavic heartland. In time, these Norsemen, one group of whom are believed to have been called the Rus, established trading posts in the Slavs\' territory. Two of the trading posts, Kiev and Novgorod, grew into fortified towns ruled by Norse princes. And Kiev, strategically located just where the Dnieper breaks out of the forests into the steppe, eventually became the thriving centre of the infant Kiev state, the ancestral home to modern Russia.
Around 980, Kiev was under the rule of Vladimir, the first of the long series of autocrats who shaped Russia to their will. By this time most of the rulers of Europe, the Near East and North Africa had adopted one or another of the great monotheistic religions. Vladimir\'s agents were dazzled by the Eastern Orthodox Church. 'The Greeks led us to the buildings where they worshipped their God, and we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such splendour or such beauty, and we are at a loss to describe it'.  Impressed by this report, Vladimir arranged to be baptized into the Orthodox Church and forced all of his subjects to do the same.
Vladimir\'s choice of Eastern Orthodoxy over Western Catholicism had results of lasting significance. It isolated the country from the rest of Europe, provoked abiding suspicion of Western ideas, and incited tragic enmity between Russia and its Roman Catholic neighbours – practically the Poles.
Vladimir\'s bold stroke did indeed give the Kiev state a measure of unity. But not for long. Constantly battered by waves of nomadic invaders, it succumbed to the Tartars, who in the 13th century conquered much of Europe and Asia. The Tartars ruled Russia for more than 200 years, and the fledgling Russian state was reduced to a few small principalities paying tribute to their Tartar masters but tenuously linked by the Orthodox Church.
Kiev, in the midst of the Tartar-held Ukrainian region, was never to regain its political supremacy. Many modern Ukrainians, while claiming credit for the founding of Russia, do not consider themselves Russians. They are, they insist, Ukrainians, and they are a bit scornful of the neighbouring Slavs to the north, the Russians who took advantage of the Tartar conquest to gain the power they hold today.
These northern Slavs peopled the principality then known as Muscovy, its chief town a nondescript wooden settlement called Moscow. The Muscovites were only loosely controlled by the Tartars but acknowledged their dominance and paid them tribute. Muscovite princes, cannily using their tribute-paying role to better their own position, collected taxes for their overlords but pocketed some of the take. Eventually they were strong enough to challenge the Tartars.
By a fluke, they were also able to supplant Kiev as the spiritual capital of Russia. The head of the Russian Church, on tour, happened to die in Moscow, and the Muscovite princes seized the opportunity to persuade his successor to transfer his seat from Kiev to Moscow. Thus fortified with temporal and spiritual power, Muscovy finally threw off Tartar rule in 1380, and by 1462 a potent Moscow prince, Ivan III, asserted his authority over Novgorod and Kiev as well as Moscow, so uniting the Slavic principalities into the Russian nation. Ivan took to calling himself Tsar – the Russian equivalent to Caesar, which was the title of the Emperors of Rome. His contemporaries referred to him as Ivan the Great.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/history-articles/beginning-of-a-long-and-violent-history-of-russia-5002903.html
About the Author
Stephanie Kio runs several bilingual websites with different themes - including coffee makers website in English and Russian. On this website you can read more quality information on the best Cuisinart Home Coffee Makers and many other brands.