[tlhIngan Hol] How difficult is Klingon ?

mayqel qunenoS mihkoun at gmail.com
Mon Aug 15 08:25:22 PDT 2016


lay'tel SIvten
> All of the numbers are subjective, so how are
> they determined? Guessing, I suppose.

Guessing if someone hasn't actually tried to learn the language, or
personal experience if someone learns and uses the language.

qunnoq
ghogh HablI'wIjvo' vIngoHta'

On 15 Aug 2016 6:16 p.m., "MorphemeAddict" <lytlesw at gmail.com> wrote:

> All of the numbers are subjective, so how are they determined? Guessing, I
> suppose.
>
> lay'tel SIvten
>
> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 2:49 AM, mayqel qunenoS <mihkoun at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> thank you all for replying ; my opinion on this subject is a big "it
>> depends". let me explain..
>>
>> if someone:
>>
>> 1. really wants to learn
>> 2. has the discipline to sit down, in order to get the job done
>> 3. has help from experts
>>
>> then my rating would be:
>>
>> grammar 40/100
>> vocabulary 50/100
>> pronunciation I really can't decide
>> writting klingon 40/100
>> real time speaking 70/100
>>
>> however I believe, that the only way for someone to learn klingon is to
>> have help from experts.
>>
>> the ONLY reason I managed to learn in a few months is because I had help
>> from the experts of this list, who are the best klingonists in the world.
>> (and I'm not saying this in order to flatter someone ; I'm saying it
>> because it's the truth).
>>
>> however, if someone tries to learn on his own, then I truly believe that
>> the difficulty he will encounter will be tremendous, let alone the fact,
>> that in the end he will learn everything wrong.
>>
>> finally, on the question: "how difficult was klingon for YOU", then I
>> will say 70%. And I will give this relatively high rating because in order
>> to learn the basics (I still have a lot to learn), I have been working for
>> 10 months so far, approximately 2 hours a day.
>>
>> but it was without a doubt, totally and definitely
>> worth it !
>>
>> qunnoq
>> Sent from my goat phone
>>
>> On 15 Aug 2016 1:14 a.m., "Ed Bailey" <bellerophon.modeler at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm a relative newcomer, but what André said sums up my experience,
>>> except that because the vocabulary is composed mainly of monosyllables with
>>> a super simple CVC(C) structure, it's harder for me to retain. Maybe it's
>>> because there are far fewer error checking mechanisms in a vocabulary that
>>> includes a high percentage of all possible monosyllables. I seem to have a
>>> touch of dyslexia, too, so I frequently mix up words like QaH and QeH, or
>>> generate spoonerisms like *{Hor Sap}.
>>>
>>> I'm finding that spending more time reading is helping. I'm now reading
>>> nuq bop bom and my reading has become more fluent since I started. Also,
>>> it's a good read!
>>>
>>> ~mIp'av
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sunday, August 14, 2016, André Müller <esperantist at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > I agree with ghunchu'wI', but would maybe rate it a little higher.
>>> Maybe 20.
>>> >
>>> > As a linguist I off course have to tell you that languages cannot be
>>> classified into difficult and easy, because it's all relative and depends a
>>> great deal on your native tongue. I'm sitting in a chair here, of course.
>>> >
>>> > That being said, judging it from the perspective of a speaker of a
>>> typical European Indo-European language like English, German, Polish,
>>> Dutch, Swedish, Greek, etc., Klingon had some difficulties: the vocabulary
>>> is almost entirely new and there are no related similar languages, many of
>>> the sounds are quite difficult for Europeans to pronounce, the grammatical
>>> structures are not familiar, the way of expressing things is also different
>>> and in most cases doesn't seem like people on Europe would say things
>>> (rather than translating, you often have to reinterpret your thoughts). You
>>> also have to get used to rephrasing and coming up with creative ways to say
>>> the things you want, because of the comparatively simple structures and
>>> there small vocabulary.
>>> >
>>> > But these are all write basic things that can be learned within a
>>> relatively short time – you're the best example. What makes Klingon easy
>>> then? The very few rules: there are really not that many, and they usually
>>> don't have exceptions either. Most verbs and nouns behave the same. The
>>> syllable structure CVC(C) is super simple, and you could actually learn all
>>> the words in this language. And let's be honest: although it might be
>>> exotic, the grammar doesn't have much where you would say "Wow, this really
>>> is difficult and complicated." – the prefixes take quite some effort,
>>> sentences with {-moH} and {-lu'} are a bit tricky and often cause confusion
>>> or disagreement. But the rest, nah, not too hard, I think. The biggest
>>> advantage though, probably is that it's "finite" in a way: you can really
>>> learn it all. All words, all rules, plus s good knowledge of canon to get a
>>> good feeling for the language and some practice and you're an expert
>>> already.
>>> >
>>> > So I would put it at around 20. Some (including invented) languages
>>> are easier for speakers of (related) languages, but most would be way more
>>> difficult.
>>> >
>>> > Just my 2 Darseks.
>>> > - André
>>> >
>>> > On 14 Aug 2016 21:10, "mayqel qunenoS" <mihkoun at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> I want to ask you this:
>>> >>
>>> >> How difficult do you think Klingon actually is ?
>>> >>
>>> >> On a scale of 1-100 (1 being ridiculously easy and 100 difficult as
>>> hell), how would you rate it ?
>>> >>
>>> >> qunnoq
>>> >> Sent from my goat phone
>>> >>
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>>> > s
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