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human_language.md

@@ -32,4 +32,35 @@ This issue is very hard to solve, maybe impossible. It seems that due to the ext
 
 { The only idea of a solution on how to make a "mathematically precise" human language for real world communication is the following. Firstly make a mathematical model of some artificial world that's similar to ours, for simplicity we can now just consider something like a 2D grid with differently colored cells, i.e. something like a [cellular automaton](cellular_automaton.md). The world changes in steps and each cell can "talk", i.e. at any frame it can emit a text string. Now make a language that's precisely defined in this world; if the world is simple, it's pretty doable e.g. like this: write a function in some programming language that takes the world and check if what the cells are saying classifies as your language used in a correct way within this world (so the function just returns *true/false*, nothing else is needed). Now this single function mathematically defines your language -- by looking at your function's source code anyone can derive the absolutely correct meaning of any word or sentence because he can see how the function checks whether that word of phrase is used correctly, he will know exactly which situations fit given sentence and which don't. Now the final step is only to find correspondence between the real life and your simplified mathematical world, e.g. that cells represent humans and so on (but this will have shortcomings, e.g. our simple world will make it difficult or impossible to talk about body parts since cells have none; also making the connection between the mathematical world and real world relies on intuition). ~drummyfish }
 
-{ Yet another, maybe more practical idea would be to create a set of very few core  words -- let's say 100, which we would try to define extremely precisely by all the current imperfect means but with very elevated effort, i.e. each word would have a detailed description, translations to 20 other natural languages, positive and negative examples, pictures attached etc. Then the rest of the language would be defined only using these core words. But maybe it wouldn't work -- the language would be possibly a bit more stable but would eventually degenerate as well. ~drummyfish }
+{ Yet another, maybe more practical idea would be to create a set of very few core  words -- let's say 100, which we would try to define extremely precisely by all the current imperfect means but with very elevated effort, i.e. each word would have a detailed description, translations to 20 other natural languages, positive and negative examples, pictures attached etc. Then the rest of the language would be defined only using these core words. But maybe it wouldn't work -- the language would be possibly a bit more stable but would eventually degenerate as well. ~drummyfish }
+
+## How To Learn A Foreign Language
+
+WIP
+
+Here are some tips for learning foreign languages:
+
+- **Learn ONLY the absolute bare basics from a textbook.** Just to get yourself started you probably have to force yourself through the most boring part: memorizing the absolute basics such as pronunciation of letters, basic digits, personal pronouns, colors etc., however only invest small amount of time here, let's say a week or two, then move on to immersing yourself in the language. Sure, every once in a while you may get back to a book when learning a new tense for example, but remember this is always just an initial boost to get the natural learning started.
+- **Don't spend too much time learning grammar.** As per above: you only want to spent very little time memorizing theory, you will never learn a language by reading ABOUT it just like you won't learn [programming](programming.md) or [chess](chess.md) by reading about it, to learn something you must do it.
+- **Start with bilingual dictionary, move on to monolingual one ASAP.** Do not use phone "apps", buy a paper dictionary. At first, when you're noob, buy the one that translates words to your native language, but once you are able to, buy the monolingual dictionary that gives the meanings of the words in the language itself. It is ideal if you can learn the language using the language itself, this helps immersion greatly, minimizes distracting jumps between languages, and you're learning much more (not just the word you're looking up, but also the words used in the definition).
+- **Maximize time when you're immersed in the language.** This is what every language learner will tell you: you learn the language by living surrounded by it. Some things you may do include:
+  - **Listen to [music](music.md).** Music is amazing, it's beautiful, you love it, forming emotional bond with the language, and it gets stuck in your head, you learn the lyrics easily and with it all the words and grammar used in it. If you have favorite songs in another language, look for their versions in the language you're learning, you will likely find at least unofficial ones. It is the case that for example many Italian songs have also official Spanish versions.
+  - **Read [books](book.md).** Beginners often try to read children books so that the language is not too difficult, but you will likely be bored reading a child book, it may be better to rather choose a book that's genuinely interesting to you (for example about your favorite video game or a topic of interest) and then try to slowly get through it with a dictionary. There exist learning bilingual books that come with a side-by-side translation; you may achieve this also by downloading the book in your native language and in the language you're learning and just reading them side by side, for example by paragraphs. If you're a retard who can't read also consider audio books.
+  - **Set your electronic devices to the language.** For example your cell phone, operating system, games you play etc.
+  - **Play [games](game.md).**
+  - **Watch movies with subtitles in the language you're learning.** Do NOT put on subtitles in your native language, that will just make you read them and not focus on the language you're learning. It may be cool to watch movies you already know and like in the foreign language dub, you will just know what's going on and you'll likely at least remember the memorable lines.
+  - **Watch [memes](meme.md), videos etc.**
+  - **Move to a country that speaks the language.** Obviously, works probably 100% of the times, but takes some dedication.
+  - ...
+- **"Comprehensible input"** is a method promoted by many teachers nowadays, and it seems to be very effective. It basically says: "consume" as much "content" in the language as you can, i.e. watch videos, listen to music, watch TV etc., but you must understand it at least a bit -- this doesn't mean you must understand every word and every sentence, on the contrary if you do, you'll probably learn nothing, but you also mustn't be absolutely clueless about what's going on (so just don't go reading medieval poetry right away). The point is you seeing people talk about things and naturally deducing what words mean e.g. from their body language, AND getting the "feel" for the structures used in the language -- by listening to the language you build the intuiting for knowing when something "sounds wrong", even without knowing the exact rules, and this is how you learn the grammar without memorizing it.
+- **Create a steady habit, it's a long run, not a sprint.** It is ideal if you make it a habit to actively study the language EVERY SINGLE DAY, even if it just means watching one 10 minute video every day. You think it's a burden but you'll get into it quickly after a week or two and then it will be as natural as brushing your teeth. It is better to study 10 minutes every day than 70 minutes once a week -- spread the time evenly, this way you'll firstly put in more focus (fully focusing for 70 minutes is impossible, but completely doable for 10 minutes) and secondly you won't allow yourself to ever fall out of the language. Remember: you CANNOT learn a language in a week, not in a month, you need at least several years. If you dedicate 10, 15 minutes to the language every day for three years, it is IMPOSSIBLE you don't learn it at least at some intermediate level.
+- **Use the language to learn about what you LIKE.** As stated, rather than choosing a boring children book pick up something more difficult that actually interests you and which you enjoy -- this is not a school class where you have to read generic textbook stories, you can read or watch WHATEVER you love! If you love [Pokemon](pokemon.md), watch videos about Pokemon, if you love math, go read about math, no one is limiting you.
+- **Communicate, even just with yourself.** You can learn by only listening and reading, but you will mostly acquire only a PASSIVE vocabulary, you won't be able to actually speak; to learn to speak and build active vocabulary you simply have to speak. If you're super asocial, just talk to yourself in your head: go take a walk and try to describe what you're seeing, or try to switch your inner monologue to the language you're learning. Once you find yourself thinking in the language naturally, you know you're getting genuinely good at it.
+- **Do NOT translate word for word in your head.** You don't want to be consciously translating in your head, this is a mistake that beginners often do, they think they must do this but no, that's not your goal. If you feel the need to translate in your head, you're just still too bad at the language -- keep listening to the language more and more, "absorb" it until you just hear the language and you understand it immediately without replacing words with the words from your native language.
+- **Don't try to understand 100%.** Another beginner mistake is to listen to something or read something and stop at every single unknown word, being frustrated at not understanding a whole sentence etc. This just makes you spend 10 minutes on every sentence and staying frustrated that even then you don't understand it completely because of some more advanced grammar or slang you couldn't look up. You want to do this: listen, listen, listen, read a paragraph or two and then stop, ask yourself: do I have a clue of what's being talked about? If yes, great! It's enough if you cough let's say 10%, it doesn't matter you missed some words or sentences, keep going. If you're clueless, rewind and listen again, you'll probably catch more. If there is a word that's being repeated in every sentence and you couldn't reason out what it could be, quickly look it up, but don't bother with the rest. You want the language to flow. Don't worry, if you're focusing and have some idea about what's going on, the brain is subconsciously absorbing the language even if you don't know about it, just keep doing it, in a month you'll see you'll be another step ahead. Test it: get back to the same stuff and see if you understand more than last time -- it's almost certain you will.
+- **Lover is the best language teacher.** { And vice versa lol? ~drummyfish } However you're probably an [incel](incel.md) virgin so this doesn't matter anyway.
+- **Exploit general learning techniques.** For example reading before sleep may be effective to remembering it better. Other people learn very well by making cheatsheets -- you can hang your cheatsheets on a wall so that you see them every day and get reminded about the words you're learning etc. Other people like to make word cards and whatnot, just do whatever works for you.
+- Do NOT use fucking [proprietary](proprietary.md) [capitalist](capitalism.md) language "[apps](app.md)", they fucking just give you brain [cancer](cancer.md).
+- If you want to get super serious and git gud even at pronunciation, there are techniques such as shadowing (trying to speak over native speaker recordings, imitating them) etc. But this is not needed if you just want to communicate or if you don't even talk to people [in real life](irl.md), it's just for nerds who wanna flex probably.
+- ...
+