10 languages easy for English-speakers to learn
The article explains the reasons why each of the languages shown is in the list, but the article unfortunately omits the obvious: Esperanto. Perhaps that is because Esperanto turns out to be easy for speakers of any language to learn (it has been quite popular in Japan, for exmaple), not just speakers of English.
Their list:
1. Afrikaans
2. Danish
3. French
4. Italian
5. Norwegian
6. Portuguese
7. Romanian
8. Spanish
9. Swedish
Honorable Mention: Frisian
Are you aware if the number of Esperanto users has been growing over the years? It seems to have had a heyday in the ’70′s when I was at university, but I almost never hear of it any more.
Steve
23 February 2011 at 9:31 am
It surges back and forth. Probably the high point was reached before the Great War. Esperanto has always depended on an international base of support, and the Great War put a halt to that for the duration—and governments did not look kindly on “secret languages” either. After the Great War, it started a strong comeback, but then: WWII. Same story: an end to international cooperation and a suspicion of “other” languages (other than one’s own native language).
I don’t actually know where it is today, but it’s quite a wonderful language, and having a common second language specifically designed for ease of learning and use keeps me hopeful—but then, as I observe the incredibly stupid directions that people and governments continue to go, not too hopeful.
Still, the sums saved would be enormous, plus the ease of international communication should have interesting side-benefits.
LeisureGuy
23 February 2011 at 10:40 am