Learning new languages

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Do you think is there a relation between learning new languages and Asperger syndrome because of our particular way of thinking?

I mean, I'm not sure if some aspies may have a really bad ability for languages or, in the other way, there are some with an extraordinary good ability for learning them. This related of course to our unique way of thinking and use of language.

Do you think is there a relation?

What is your experience with learning languages?




P.D. For admins, I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this topic

I think this might have belonged to the general autism discussion.

As for the question, I think that on average we might have more difficulties with picking new languages than NTs simply because we're often less social. The best way to learn a new language is to use it in a real life situation, but an autistic person who has trouble holding a conversation even in their own language will certainly have trouble with doing so in a foregein one, too.

I don't see the point in learning a new language because I'm not good at talking even in my mother tongue. Once my French teacher in school said to me, my written French is good but that I can't put my French into spoken words very well. It made me realize it is of no point to learn languages. Language is there for communication and if I'm not going at communicating why would I put time and effort into trying to learn a new language? Plus what my teacher said, that I'm just bad at verbally using language anyway.

I have a knack for learning foreign languages.

Translated into a BA in Foreign Language and Lit. almost 40 years ago. Almost was a secondary school foreign language teacher. Master's in Library Science instead.

Fluent in French and Spanish. Know enough German to get myself out of trouble and enough Russian to get myself into trouble.

Best way to learn: Immersion. Turn on radio or TV in target language. Once you've done that for a couple of years, then actually take the classes. Your learning style may vary.

Your written English is better than that of many natives. Just thought you should know that. It might be easier for Germans than French or Italians, etc. but still it's supposed to be one of the hardest languages to learn because of all the borrowing of words and rules from just about everywhere. I suppose it doesn't have 6 cases like Russian or 15 like Finnish, but there are a lot of irregular things that you just have to memorize. Good job.

For me the point in it is to be able to read and watch stuff from other countries since only a very little stuff I'm interested in ever gets translated to my native language.

Me too - I'm fluent in 4 languages and manage in other two. Except for two of them that I actually use daily, I only use the others to read or occasional travelling - maybe some small talk with natives. I do some "maintenance" by reading (I appreciate when I can read something in the language it was actually written in) and watching the occasional movie/TV show.

Despite spending a year in your beautiful country though, Finnish was too intimidating to even try to learn more than "kiitos" and a couple of basic words

How can you live somewhere for a year and not learn more than that?

^
In my industry, English is the official language and everybody speaks it - and I went there as a consultant for a very specific problem they couldn't solve locally. Otherwise, the vast majority of people in Helsinki, regardless of age have at least basic English skills and are generally happy to speak it (have excellent manners too). Whenever I would ask my (Finnish) colleagues something they would usually respond along the lines - Finnish is a very hard language, why would you even bother if you're not planning to be here long anyway? (they did share things like sisu or kalsarikännit, but we were discussing the culture more than the language)

I could manage really basic, everyday things and the supermarket - the name of products wasn't a problem since most of the stuff is also in Swedish, but otherwise, between speaking in English at work, not having much free time and not planning to be there long... Finnish is a very complex and difficult language and (outside of Estonian or maybe Hungarian) no other language, nevermind the ones I speak would be of any help whatsoever. I apologise if it sounds insensitive though.

If the Finns don't make you learn it, and accommodate you, why go through the effort (unless you're interested in the language and its complexity).

People in most countries, in general, are very tolerant of those who don't know their language; they really dig you, though, if you learn a few basic words.

We, in the United States, are sometimes not so tolerant. Some people get really stupid about it.

I would probably be a failure in Finland should I be forced to learn the language.

We English speakers are lucky that our language has become sort of the "lingua franca" of the world.

I suppose you're right, though I think one should try to learn at least the basics if they plan to stay in a country for more than a month or two... But well, I suppose it depends a bit on what one is doing. Since you had some specialist job, you were probably really busy. Plus since it was Helsinki, I wouldn't be surprised if you had some collegues who didn't speak Finnish either.

What languages do you speak?

Yes you are. Few times I've seen native English speakers get mad when they've been in a country where English isn't the main language and the person at the cashier didn't speak good enough English. At those times I honestly can't decide if it's fun to watch (because they're making a fool of themselves) or painful to watch (because morons like that might get violent for nothing too.)

Fireblossom: Indeed, a surprising number of my non-Finnish colleagues weren't actually speaking Finnish, despite working there for some years, only those who decided to stay long term or had a Finnish partner/children did. But you really don't need to learn that much to check out your groceries in Finnish, even I managed What you're describing is grossly rude and disrespectful and I've seen it on occasions too.

English, Swedish, German and French. I manage in Italian and Dutch enough to get around.

Kraftie: I'm not a native speaker myself, but English became indeed the new lingua franca and I found that to be very useful, both personally and professionally. In Scandinavia and the Netherlands is almost impossible to find someone who doesn't speak at least basic English and other European countries are catching up fast!

We actually decided to raise our children bilingual, English being the language I always spoke to them.

As for the OP, I found learning languages and at least some (international) history to be very useful, both from a pragmatical POV and for developing your attitude towards other cultures and your general understanding of the world.

Yeah, you basically just need to be able to say hello, bye, understand when they ask if you want a receipt and then say either yes or no and, sometimes, need to answer the question of cash or card. Oh and sometimes they ask if you need a plastic bag, but that's about it. ABCs of grocery shopping in Finnish, I suppose.

^
And these days, the vast majority of supermarkets have self-checkout points anyway... And it's really easy to memorise/recognise the usual things cashiers normally ask - do you need a bag, the receipt, do you have a loyalty card.

The first phrase I learn anywhere is "I don't speak (insert local language)" and only after that ask if they speak English. I'm always polite and slightly apologetic in such situations and I've always been treated very politely and in an accommodating manner in return. Being able to articulate at least a few words in the local language will go a long way with how people respond to you and with all the apps and resources these days there's really no excuse not to.

It all boils down to attitude and being polite/respectful in my personal experience.