from Hacker News

In search of the world’s hardest language

by kevinbluer on 12/6/16, 1:56 AM with 9 comments

  • by adictator on 12/7/16, 1:40 AM

    The article speaks about Latin, but so conveniently leaves out Sanskrit, ostensibly the mother of languages when you consider structure and logic. I mean, not even a mention, c'mon!!

    By the way Sankrit itself means "perfect language" roughly.

  • by vacri on 12/7/16, 2:32 AM

    > “Ghoti,” as wordsmiths have noted, could be pronounced “fish”: gh as in “cough”, o as in “women” and ti as in “motion”.

    Pet issue: 'ghoti' can never be pronounced 'fish' using English rules, because 'g(h)' is never 'f' at the start of a word; only with the preceding vowels does it sound like this, and even then only as an exception to another rule.

  • by iokevins on 12/7/16, 1:44 AM

    The U.S. Foreign Service Institute's School of Language Studies publishes this list of languages:

    https://www.state.gov/m/fsi/sls/orgoverview/languages/

    They break languages (note: that they teach) into four categories:

    * Category I: Languages closely related to English.

    * Category II: Languages that take a little longer to master than Category I languages.

    * Category III: Languages with significant linguistic and/or cultural differences from English.

    * Category IV: Languages which are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers.

  • by samatman on 12/7/16, 1:21 AM

    a lie and the truth is pretty easy. Lies are plural, truth is singular.

    On the other hand, convincing a foreigner whose native language doesn't have articles, that articles are necessary... that is challenge.

  • by turbohedgehog on 12/7/16, 1:25 AM