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> The barriers to learning a new language like a native speaker are mostly economical rather than biological. Are they? The article doesn't present clear evid

> The barriers to learning a new language like a native speaker are mostly economical rather than biological. Are they? The article doesn't present clear evidence either way. And yet, that would be the most useful finding of this inquiry, were it to be completed.

mamon 6y ago
I spent a year in the US, despite my English being pretty bad, to a point where I struggle to pronounce some words correctly, or often ask the other person to repeat what they've just said. Despite all that I feel no need to improve my English, since I survived that year somehow. If I was to invest my time in language learning, I would probably start a completely new language instead, due to better ROI.
lottin 6y ago
I don't have clear evidence either, I'm just speaking about my personal experience and that of people around me.
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  I'll add my experience (and that of my entourage) in support. In a more illustrious example, von Braun felt no need to avoid speaking like a foreign speaker, despite having lines like "small motor in the winged fourth stage": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zcU85O82XE&t=25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zcU85O82XE&t=25 see also https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24716521 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24716521 The situation would change if one were in an economic situation where one has to "pass" as having had a different background, but does that ever happen in civilised areas? (the Expanse' Skinnies would have yet more issues, as with their distinct phenotype it'd be impossible to pass: Belta, fodagut, mi showxa wit naterash. To mebi tenye delowda sekrip pash setara. To mebi tili tenye walowda kapawu unte imbobo gerowsh wit imbobo okwa ere Sirish. To mebi tili vedi fit inya unte mebi xalte wit kopeng inya. Amash: detim kasi kowl owta inya vedi to, im fosho gonya pense ere kibal!)

mamon 6y ago

I spent a year in the US, despite my English being pretty bad, to a point where I struggle to pronounce some words correctly, or often ask the other person to repeat what they've just said. Despite all that I feel no need to improve my English, since I survived that year somehow. If I was to invest my time in language learning, I would probably start a completely new language instead, due to better ROI.

lottin 6y ago

I don't have clear evidence either, I'm just speaking about my personal experience and that of people around me.

082349872349872 6y ago
I'll add my experience (and that of my entourage) in support. In a more illustrious example, von Braun felt no need to avoid speaking like a foreign speaker, despite having lines like "small motor in the winged fourth stage": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zcU85O82XE&t=25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zcU85O82XE&t=25 see also https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24716521 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24716521 The situation would change if one were in an economic situation where one has to "pass" as having had a different background, but does that ever happen in civilised areas? (the Expanse' Skinnies would have yet more issues, as with their distinct phenotype it'd be impossible to pass: Belta, fodagut, mi showxa wit naterash. To mebi tenye delowda sekrip pash setara. To mebi tili tenye walowda kapawu unte imbobo gerowsh wit imbobo okwa ere Sirish. To mebi tili vedi fit inya unte mebi xalte wit kopeng inya. Amash: detim kasi kowl owta inya vedi to, im fosho gonya pense ere kibal!)