Podcast Episode 39

André Müller: Studying linguistics and learning scripts

Kris Broholm welcomes guest André Müller to discuss his experiences. They explore André's journey studying linguistics and the practical aspects of learning various writing systems and scripts. The conversation provides insights into language acquisition from a linguistic perspective.

December 5, 2014 · 47 min

EP 39: André Müller: Studying linguistics and learning scripts

0:00 / 46:34

Guest

André Müller

What You'll Hear

  1. 1 Podcast Intro, Events & Tutoring Tips
  2. 2 Guest André Müller: Forvo & Pronunciation
  3. 3 André's Language Journey: Scripts to PhD
  4. 4 Linguistics: Science, Not Just Language Learning
  5. 5 Anki's Impact on Learning Chinese
  6. 6 Esperanto: Community, Culture & Gateway Language
  7. 7 Conlangs: Klingon, Star Trek & Toki Pona

Questions Covered in the Show

How did Andre Müller get into language learning and linguistics?- 12m
Andre's passion for languages began in primary school with writing systems like Cyrillic, Arabic, and Japanese. This initial fascination with scripts naturally broadened into an interest in the languages themselves, prompting him to collect dictionaries and grammars. This journey culminated in his decision to study linguistics and Chinese at university.
What is it like to study linguistics at an academic level?- 16m
Academic linguistics differs significantly from casual language learning; it's a scientific discipline focused on analyzing how languages function, their underlying patterns, and their interaction with the human brain. It involves abstract, technical study, including elements of statistics and theories about language structure, rather than teaching individual languages or translation skills.
How did Andre Müller choose which languages to learn from all the scripts he knew?- 22m
Andre often learned scripts without learning the associated language. His active language learning journey truly started in 11th grade with Esperanto, finding its ease inspiring. He then explored various languages like Finnish, Bulgarian, and Russian, and later took university courses in Tibetan, Indonesian, and Xhosa, primarily driven by an interest in their grammar and internal workings rather than achieving fluency.
How did Anki help Andre Müller improve his Chinese?- 29m
Andre was struggling with Chinese vocabulary and considered giving up until a fellow polyglot introduced him to Anki. The spaced repetition system simplified vocabulary memorization by automatically managing review schedules, eliminating the need for manual flashcard organization. Within a year of consistent Anki use, he significantly improved his Chinese, enabling him to thrive during a year spent in China.
Why should people learn Esperanto?- 36m
Learning Esperanto is valuable because its simplicity helps individuals realize they are capable of learning and speaking a language fluently, boosting confidence for further language acquisition. Beyond its linguistic advantages, Esperanto fosters a unique international community and culture, offering a distinct environment for global communication and connection without the dominance of any single national language or culture.
Why did Andre Müller learn Klingon?- 39m
Andre learned Klingon due to his lifelong passion for Star Trek combined with his interest in languages. He explains that Klingon is a genuine, grammatically unique constructed language, not mere gibberish, designed by a linguist to incorporate exotic features from various natural languages for the Star Trek universe.

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Kris Broholm

Kris Broholm

Founder, Actual Fluency

Kris is the founder of Actual Fluency, and has spent the last 10+ years becoming an expert in language learning software, methods, and techniques.