Chinese and other tonal languages such as Thai are either very easy to learn to speak or very hard as they are tonal languages which mean you need to memorize if the word is rising, falling, high, mid, low tone as well as the general sound. I find it completely unneeded and complicated as far as languages go and have no clue how they came about. Thai for example is almost baby talk when directly translated to english. No past, present, future tense, no plurals etc. Somethings isn't good, better, best but just directly translated good, good good.
I have this idea that language creates culture or maybe it is the other way around. If that is the case, then tonal languages fit well in cultures obsessed with style over substance such as Thai and Chinese. Or maybe I'm just pissed cause I can't seem to learn the damn tones, but really, are they necessary? What good comes from tonal speaking?
Japanese is therefore easier if you're partially tonedeaf like me. I've been told there are some difficulties such as putting the very to the very end of the sentence, but that is the same as in german.
It does piss me off that I find Thai so difficult, but also that it is such a feminine language where as Japanese comes much easier with the little I have studied.
I doubt I will attempt to really learn Thai. I think its past not making an effort at this point. Chinese could be useful and I've been told the tones are easier to get in chinese.
To add a third/fourth language, I think Spanish would be a more practical language.
so awesome
