So since I spoiled you all (read: really tuckered out the ol’ brain box) by writing two posts last month, I’m taking this month off, so this is just going to be a quick little language-learning update. It’s been quite a busy month as it happens – I took a trip into Northumberland to my favourite second-hand book shop to see if it would inspire me to pick up a new project, a little something new to dabble in… and weirdly, it absolutely didn’t. I ended up coming back with a book in Swedish (that I now realise had been translated from Danish) and a grammar of Classical Greek. Nothing else leapt out at me! I’m taking that as a good sign that the projects I’m actually working on are sticking! And that’s… quite a new sensation for me, as those of you who have followed this blog for a while might have realised! So let’s get started on the update:
So, starting with Korean. As I think I mentioned a few months ago, I’m working my way through the first TTMiK book, and I’m finding it really great. I do want to pick up the pace a little with this one though, as in an ideal world I was thinking about trying a TOPIK exam next year (which is an ambitious and possibly recklessly optimistic goal, I know), I think I need to diversify my learning a bit. I do love these books and I’ve already learned a lot from the chapters I’ve done so far, but there’s no denying that they are quite expensive and ordering them from South Korea does take a hefty chunk of time. I’m definitely going to be continuing with the series but I’d love some suggestions on what else I can use in the meantime – even if it’s just recommendations for K-dramas on Netflix, just to get me used to hearing the language more in the day-to-day (and definitely not because I’m absolutely speeding through Schitt’s Creek, which is a sentence I’m absolutely begging you not to take out of context). If you have any resources you think I’d enjoy using or recommendations for Korean-language content, either leave a comment down below or I’ll be posting the links to my social media at the end of the post, as always. And with that, let’s move a little closer to home!
As much as I absolutely adore Welsh, my progress with this one has sort of… well, not stalled, because I do find myself doodling the odd sentence here and there (and believe me, some of them are very odd indeed), but I haven’t opened my textbook all month. The thing is with Welsh, I’ve actually been quite surprised how much I’ve been able to produce with relatively little effort – with just one construction, I can say a huge range of things. The problems arise when people start to reply, and I have absolutely no idea what any of the words they say mean. I mean, what’s a conjugated verb? Damned if I know. And while I do seem to have a handle on soft mutation (or y treiglad meddal, as we professionals call it), I am completely lost when it comes to the other two. So there’s still quite an adventure to be had in terms of Welsh, there’s no denying it, but due to time constraints it’s been put (some might say unfairly) on the back burner, and it’s the sort of thing I pick up when I would normally have dabbled in something new. But in a way, it’s quite nice to have that to fall back on. Maybe in about twenty years I’ll be able to write enough to do a quick blog update like this, who knows?
And of course, how could I do an update without talking about my ✨secret language✨? (And no, before you ask, I am physically and emotionally unable to write it without the sparkles.) Well, that’s been priority number one these past few weeks, and while I’m still not ready for the big reveal, I’m pretty pleased with my progress. I’ve been keeping a glossary of words and some grammar constructions that I’ve picked up along the way – at the moment I’m deep into the chapter about times and dates, which also touches on seasons and the weather… it’s quite a broad chapter, but I might just be about ready to talk about how blustery it gets in October, even if I can’t effectively introduce myself, my interests or what I do for work. And I think that’s something to be proud of.
Well that’s all for this month! As always, thank you all for reading, it’s greatly appreciated! And if you want to get in touch, as always you can leave a comment or find me on Twitter or Instagram (I’m @sprakskatan on both). And until next month, take care of yourselves and each other!
– J.
den språkliga skatan 