Another/Other, are they different?

Question

¡Hola! I wanted to ask if there's any difference between these two sentences, because for me they are virtually the same and I think they are both correct.

a) I want to learn another language.
b) I want to learn other language.

For me they are both correct but I started thinking that maybe saying another implies that I'm already studying a language and I want to learn another (meaning that I will simultaneously study two languages) while saying other might imply that I don't like the language I'm currently learning so I want to switch onto other language. Is that correct, at all?

I have a second question, out of sheer curiosity. If you want to buy a wheelchair, not one a person with a disability would use but one for an office, do you still use the word wheelchair? Is what I mean understood?

Thank you in advance and please feel free to correct my English if it's wrong

Your English is excellent. I would change "handicap person" to "handicapped person" or, if you want to be more politically correct, "person with a disability." That is the only correction I see. - AnnRon, Jul 28, 2016

Thank you AnnRon! Is handicapped a bad term? I'm sorry if it is, I didn't know and I hope it isn't offensive. I'll change it right away - mariifer, Jul 28, 2016

Well, there are different opinions about just how politically correct one needs to be, but those most sensitive to such issues prefer a different term. There are still plenty of "handicapped parking" signs in existence, however. - AnnRon, Jul 28, 2016

My best guess: I think disabled is preferred over handicapped, but handicapped is not going to get you in trouble in the same way as saying retarded instead of special needs. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 28, 2016

Answer 1

a) I want to learn another language.

b) I want to learn other language.

B is incorrect

You can say I want to learn other languages.

Which clearly is different.

See this:

http://www.grammar.cl/english/another-other-others.htm

Quick Summary: What is the difference between another and other?

A simple rule to help you remember the difference between another and other is:

another + singular noun

other + plural noun

others (a pronoun to replace other + plural noun)

I need another cup. (cup is singular so we use another)

I need other cups. (cup is plural so we use other)

I need others. (refers to other cups)

I would say I want to switch to a different language if that is what I meant

The second question: To me a wheelchair is the device used for medical reasons. (Handicapped person.)

For a chair that has wheels- I would say a chair with wheels, or possibly a wheeled chair, but I think I would say the first more likely.

See also this thread: http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/wheeled-chair.2225535/

I will quote one answer:

A wheelchair is a chair with wheels specifically designed for an invalid or a disabled person, as defined here: http://www.wordreference.com/definition/wheelchair

A wheeled chair is any chair with wheels. It could be the kind of office chair that has wheels. The wider context may or may not define the chair more fully.

This is an interesting example of how a word takes on a life of its own once it has formed from two earlier words (wheel + chair).

Thank you very much Bosque :D - mariifer, Jul 28, 2016

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 28, 2016