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Why is Spanish so tricky?

Why is Spanish so tricky?

4
votes

Spanishdict is helping me, but sometimes it's too tricky for me. What can I do? question

2935 views
updated Jul 3, 2011
edited by gafkjghdskjlfh
posted by gafkjghdskjlfh
Please try to use correct grammar and spelling on this site, as there are English learners here too. - amykay, Jun 24, 2011
It´s tricky because it was invented by tricksters who were natives of Iberia, wishing to remain anonomus while running the Moors out of the area we now call Spain - 005faa61, Jun 24, 2011

11 Answers

4
votes

Patience is the answer, there are three skills to learn, structure, speaking and your ability to understand the spoken language. It is a journey, don´t try do absorb too much at any one time, try a step by step approach, it will come,I assure you.

updated Aug 5, 2011
posted by pacofinkler
The hardest part for me is the structure,because English sometimes seems so different. - Jraider, Jun 24, 2011
True you cannot do literal translation in many cases - pacofinkler, Jun 24, 2011
11
votes

Tricky? English and Spanish are very similar compared to other non-European languages. I can give you a list of several hundreds of languages that would force you to redefine your concept of "tricky". Actually, if you try to learn any of those, you'll find that Spanish is one of the most logical language in the world. And any of the native speakers of those languages will most likely think that our languages are the tricky ones, while theirs is easy, of course.

If you stop translating and you start accepting the language for what it is, you'll get the hang of it ten times faster, believe me. Stop over-analysing, and don't get too obsessed about grammatical rules (especially because many of them do not make much sense). Essential advice: always learn with a context; that way, you will need the dictionary less, and you'll be able to understand better new structures (like babies do).

updated Jul 16, 2011
edited by lazarus1907
posted by lazarus1907
Bravo! - Oramasdude, Jun 24, 2011
Good input! - Jraider, Jun 24, 2011
Es un buen consejo. - teasip, Jun 24, 2011
Awesome. Accepting anything for what it is makes things a million times easier! - iTry, Jun 24, 2011
Hey gfk..you have been lazarusized. He is a genius. - 0043ad50, Jun 24, 2011
Incredible, as usual :) - GuitarWarrior, Jun 24, 2011
Agree - pacofinkler, Jul 3, 2011
6
votes

What do you mean exactly by "they are too tricky for me"? Do you mean some concepts are difficult to understand?

If that's the case....then everyone has been in the same situation as you. I've had difficulty with Spanish...every person learning a language has felt confused at some point.

You and I speak English like it's easy, but people learning English have problems.

The thing is: everyone comes across a problem when they are learning something new...everyone!!

However, just keep on studying and using SpanishDict. Keep on asking questions when you don't understand something. You are going to succeed in Spanish if you try!!

There's a reason things are difficult...if they were easy, everyone would do them. smile

Keep on working, amiga smile

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updated Jul 3, 2011
edited by SonrisaDelSol
posted by SonrisaDelSol
Great sign! Is there a link / tutorial that explains how can be made? - ianta, Jun 24, 2011
(the sign) - ianta, Jun 24, 2011
Yes! I'll send you a PM. - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 24, 2011
Send a private message to me too with link? Ahh, por favor ... :) - territurtle, Jun 24, 2011
Sure, terri! - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 24, 2011
Can you send me one too? - eltennis97, Jun 24, 2011
:) Absolutely - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 24, 2011
6
votes

You can try asking a Spanish native like me! smile. All those things that you can't understand, I will try to help you with them. cheese

updated Jul 3, 2011
edited by GuitarWarrior
posted by fjfuentesh
You can try asking a Spanish native like me.Ask those things.... (the rest is good) fifuentesh. - Jraider, Jun 24, 2011
or I will try to help you with all those things you don't understand. - BellaMargarita, Jun 24, 2011
Thank you very much!!!!! - fjfuentesh, Jun 24, 2011
or you can say: ''you can try speaking to a native like me'' etc....As in Spanish so in English there aare many ways to say the same thing :) - FELIZ77, Jun 24, 2011
oh!! thank you feliz! :) - fjfuentesh, Jun 24, 2011
¡Hola hermano! I hope you don't mind me fixing it just a bit. Everybody has such excellent suggestions! - GuitarWarrior, Jun 24, 2011
5
votes

So, I would say why is English so tricky? Come on! It's not that hard to learn! Any question? We are here to help smile

May I know why did I get a flag?

updated Jul 3, 2011
edited by 00a4c226
posted by 00a4c226
I would say the same - 005faa61, Jun 24, 2011
I would say tocayo! :) - fjfuentesh, Jun 24, 2011
5
votes

Well, if you have someone to practice(speak) spanish with you, you will be able to learn much more!

updated Jul 3, 2011
posted by Dandelion
Hallelujah to that. Now tell me where I can find this magical soul -- especially one who can tolerate my 23 word vocabulary? - territurtle, Jun 24, 2011
Jajaja! Let's see what can you do with 23 words :] - 00a4c226, Jun 24, 2011
well, if you can't find anyone to practice your spanish, you can do it online......that's why we are here. - Dandelion, Jun 24, 2011
4
votes

English is actually a tougher language to learn than Spanish. Imagine what it would be like for someone learning English (as there are some on this site, even some learning both languages)!

updated Jul 3, 2011
posted by danrivera
then try chines - gafkjghdskjlfh, Jul 2, 2011
3
votes

Any language could be considered "tricky" if one doesn't grasp it fully.

updated Jun 24, 2011
posted by Oramasdude
1
vote

It's not "too tricky" and people have advised you what to do in this thread.

But your proifile does not say what you first language is.

If you are learning from English then yes there are a number things that are diiferent but most of them are also difficult for Spanish speakers to grasp in English.

What is easier in Spanish?

Pronunciation and spelling. - much easier

What is easier in English?

Verb conjugations. - also in my opinion much easier

English phrasal verbs are difficult both Spanish speaker and English speakers because they don't exist in Spanish so that makes it difficult for English speakers to "translate" them into Spanish and for Spanish speakers to understand them because they can be both "idiomatic" and "literal".

I am not convinced yet but I have a feeling that there are more idioms in English than in Spanish.

The English Modals do not exist in Spanish and cause us all problems.

So what can you do?

Just keep trying. There is no "best" way to learn another language - we all learn and teach in different ways.

updated Aug 5, 2011
edited by ian-hill
posted by ian-hill
1
vote

Yes, it is tricky. I am just starting. The first thing I am trying to do is to learn to understand spoken Spanish and written Spanish. Speaking Spanish will come slowly for me, I think.

Sí, es complicado. Estoy empezando. La primera cosa que estoy tratando de hacer es aprender a entender el español hablado y escrito en español. De habla española se producirá lentamente para mí, creo.

updated Jul 2, 2011
posted by nanvano
Your first three sentences are absolutely perfect. The last one has to be re-written. I suggest "Aprender a hablarlo me va a resultar más lento, creo". - lazarus1907, Jun 24, 2011
Muchas gracias! Es mucho mejor! - nanvano, Jun 24, 2011
1
vote

Por desgracia ne puede mas , solo siege estudiar, quizas en un territorio donde hablan español.

updated Jun 24, 2011
posted by porcupine7
Oh **please** don't say that! (tears and wails) - territurtle, Jun 24, 2011