#language skills

[languageboutique]

Why use many words when you can just use one 🤗

[niedosyt555]

Youtube is so useful for language learning but also it needs to shut the fuck up sometimes because I'm learning my fifth language I don't need a hundred different videos about ''how to become a polyglot in 6 easy steps'' or about how I'm ''learning russian wrong! do this instead" thanks

[femmefatalevibe]

How do I sound and appear more intelligent and sophisticated? I've read books and stuff but how do I apply the knowledge in real life? How do I make my everyday vocabulary more sophisticated? Ik the general advice to read books and converse with people etc, but how do I actually apply it irl?

Hi love! Here are some of my suggestions/tips:

How do I sound and appear more intelligent and sophisticated?

Keep your language and explanations simple & concise

Speak slowly & deliberately: Take your time between sentences, and pause between your thoughts. Always think before you speak. Silences, while slightly awkward, are not always best avoided

Use the proper propositions when speaking: Avoid small grammar mistakes (know when to use less vs. fewer, I vs. me, graduated from an institution, etc.)

Articulate complex concepts into layman's terms: Break concepts down into different parts of the conceptual equation – chronically, from beginning to end or outcome to origin, simultaneously moving parts/micro-stories or situations; Use analogies (metaphors, mundane/real-life examples, or hypothetical situations) that require the same thought-process or methodology)

Apply conversational "show don't tell" when sharing a story: Describe the situation using the 5 senses to convey the implied meaning (e.g. "I could feel the pit in my stomach." vs. "I was nervous.")

Use subtle tonality to convey particularly emotional or significant points while speaking

I've read books and stuff but how do I apply the knowledge in real life?

Relate cultural references or learned concepts to add clever humor to everyday conversations

Create parallels and analogies to outside information to convey your understanding of what someone is saying, ask more thoughtful follow-up questions, or smoothly transition into a new conversation topic

How do I make my everyday vocabulary more sophisticated?

Use everyday/simple sentence structure and replace one simple word choice with another more sophisticated word that is equally apt to the message you're trying to convey

If you're ever confused about whether a particular synonym makes sense to use IRL, look at how it is used in the dictionary sentence examples and in other books/articles

Ik the general advice to read books and converse with people etc, but how do I actually apply it irl?

Reiterate a concise, simplified version of the other person's anecdotes to convey your understanding. Drive the conversation forward by asking specific follow-up questions based on one "part" of the idea or story

Use cultural parallels to convey your understanding of what the other person is saying (sounds like this TV show character, like a certain artist, historical/current event, etc.)

Leverage metaphors to connect the dots between the points you and your conversation partner are making. Make an insightful connection to break up the air time between their anecdote and contribution

Conversational word choice should be used to create vivid images in people's minds – to paint a picture of the concept, scene, emotions, or sensations one would engage with or experience if the person was living your conversation in the present moment

Learn how to use wit conversations – context and delivery are vital to its success and positive reception

Hope this helps xx

[greentrickster]

Me: (trying to reach for my tiny bit of Japanese while showing a Japanese couple the sites where I live)

My brain: J- J- Jerman?

Me: Japanese.

My brain: German.

Me: Japanese!

My brain, proudly: German! ❤️

Me: (turns to a fellow English speaker for a moment)

My brain, brightly: Japanese?

Me, in tears: ENGLISH!!!

.

(Had this fun but odd experience last Sunday. I'm not even anywhere near fluent in anything other than English, and my Japanese is barely there at all. The couples' English, fortunately, was better than they gave themselves credit for, and my knowing how to spell words so I could type them into the English-to-Japanese app for them was a more useful skill than might be expected, given the different writing systems English and Japanese use. Communication wasn't the easiest thing, but they had a good time, and so did I!)

[wildfishmark]

[alwaysbewoke]

[fantasticenthusiasttale]

I was thinking, Donald Duck is called "Paperino" in italian, in the same way Daisy Duck got "Paperina", and if you work logic on that, you will see that is like, in english, their names were "Donald" and "Donalda"!! Italian Donald shows up in home with his girlfriend for the first time and Della is like DAFUQ

AND IT HAPPENS because in portuguese, Grandma Duck's real name is Donalda! So, yeah, Mrs. Donalda raised her grandson Donald (that by the way was probably named by his dad Quackmore in honor of his own mother)!!