Talking A Bit about Grammar

Talking A Bit about Grammar

Grammar… The nightmare of many language learners…

It is possible to learn a language up to a certain level learning sentences by heart and try to use them in conversations with native or non-native speakers of that language and get some positive feedback. Then you end up thinking that you know a great deal of the language.

You can do it at a certain extent but some time will feel that something is missing and this is grammar. Even if informal conversations, having a good idea of the grammar of the language you are learning shows your conversation partner that you have some commitment with his/her native language.

I am saying the based on my own experience of many years in Japan.

Basically, your speaking ability is your business card!

My Japanese is not good yet but I try to speak it as well as I can and of course, I study a lot of grammar too. My mother language is Portuguese which belongs to the family of Romance languages (that is, derived from Latin) in which Spanish, French, Italian are included. For a Romance language native speaker, learning a language from other language family is not an easy task.

Why is it not so difficult for Portuguese speakers to learn Spanish?

Because …

1. Spanish and Portuguese belong to the same language family;

2. If they belong to the same language family, they have similar grammars;

3. Also, vocabulary is intelligible (be careful with “false friends”).

So, you can use the Portuguese grammar to some extent and acquire Spanish vocabulary. If the grammar is wrong, you can easily learn the new grammatical rule. Mentally, you will be using Portuguese grammar (because it is similar), learn Spanish vocabulary (because it is similar) and keep on talking until Spanish native speakers will point out your mistakes and you will easily correct them.

If you have not read my article on “Hard and Easy Languages”, please, read it by clicking here.

Going back to Japanese…

When a Portuguese native speaker tries to learn Japanese, s/he has no previous background to start with and adapt from. You will learn some sentences but in order to speak Japanese properly …

… You cannot escape from GRAMMAR!

Sad (for some) but true!

So, if you are learning a language, I have a hint for you. Try to balance the study of vocabulary, expressions and grammar.

If the language you are studying doesn’t belong to the language you’re your mother language (or another language that you know well) belongs to, try to pay special attention to the grammar.

Happy grammar study!

Alex.

Alexandre Scalzitti