Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages

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Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages

Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages

One of the hardest parts of learning English is dealing with words that look similar. This difficulty stems from the fact that my native language, Japanese, rarely uses the alphabet. Simply put, I’m not used to recognizing words written in alphabetical characters.

My eyes aren’t yet trained to instantly distinguish one word from another. Even very simple words can appear confusing, and I often find myself pausing while reading aloud. For example: taking and talking, chef and chief, through and though, firm and film.
Sometimes I notice the mistake because the sentence stops making sense. Other times, I just keep reading without realizing anything was wrong.

Other pairs like storage and shortage, or problem and program, are also confusing. The list could go on forever.

Japanese presents a similar kind of problem, but in a different form.
I don’t think I’m the only one who has accidentally pressed the wrong elevator button — for example, pressing “close” when I meant to press “open,” almost shutting the door on someone trying to get in.
Even as an adult, I’ve repeatedly made writing mistakes with characters like 「体」 and 「休」, or 「軽」 and 「転」, ending up with things like 「自軽車」 or 「夏体み」 by mistake.

What’s fascinating is this:
In English, I tend to confuse similar words when reading.
In Japanese, however, the problem shows up when writing.

What these errors have in common, I suspect, is a kind of breakdown — a failure of coordination between what I see, what I know, and what I actually do.

言語の単純で深遠な難しさ
英語の学習の難しさの一つは、単語である。そもそも私の母語である日本語はアルファベットで表記することはほぼないため、アルファベットの識別に慣れていない。私の眼は、一瞬でアルファベットの羅列を見極める力がないのだと思う。非常に簡単な単語でさえ、似通っているように見えるので、音読するときは一回ごとに立ち止まってしまうことがある。
例えばtakingとtalking、chefとchief、throughとthough、firmとfilm。間違えて読んで、文意が通じないので気付くこともあれば、全く気付かないで読み進めてしまうこともある。
storageとshortage、problemとprogramなども似ている。例を挙げればきりがない。
日本語では漢字で同じような問題が起こる。私だけではないと思うのだが、例えば「開と閉」。エレベーターで違うボタンを押したことは数えきれない。滑り込んでくる人を見て「閉」ボタンを押し、ドアでその人を挟みそうになってしまった。「体・休」や「軽・転」は、大人になってからも何度も書き間違えた。「自軽車」「夏体み」。
面白いことに、英語での単語の見間違いは読むときに起こるが、漢字の単語の間違いは読むときではなく書くときに起こる。共通するのは、脳がきちんと働いていないということだ。あるいは目や指の動きに脳がついていっておらず、体の各部の協調ができていないのかもしれない。

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Corrections

rerindou

Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages One of the hardest parts of learning English is dealing with words that look similar.

This difficulty stems from the fact that my native language, Japanese, rarely uses the alphabet.

"the alphabet" is a little ambiguous, but is not incorrect. I would say "the English alphabet" or more accurately "the Latin alphabet". "alphabetical/English/Latin characters" could also work!

Simply put, I’m not used to recognizing words written in alphabetical characters.

My eyes aren’t yet trained to instantly distinguish one word from another.

Even very simple words can appear confusing, and I often find myself pausing while reading aloud.

For example: taking and talking, chef and chief, through and though, firm and film.

Sometimes I notice the mistake because the sentence stops making sense.

Other times, I just keep reading without realizing anything wais wrong.

Other pairs like storage and shortage, or problem and program, are also confusing.

The list could go on forever.

Japanese presents a similar kind of problem, but in a different form.

I don’t think I’m the only one who has accidentally pressed the wrong elevator button — for example, pressing “close” when I meant to press “open,” almost shutting the door on someone trying to get in.

Amazing use of "I don't think I'm the only one"! This makes me think of your entry about going to your friend's house.

Even as an adult, I’ve repeatedly made writing mistakes with characters like 「体」 and 「休」, or 「軽」 and 「転」, ending up with things like 「自軽車」 or 「夏体み」 by mistake.

What’s fascinating is this: In English, I tend to confuse similar words when reading.

In Japanese, however, theis problem shows up when writing.

What these errors have in common, I suspect, is a kind of breakdown — a failure of coordination between what I see, what I know, and what I actually do.

Feedback

Great job! I see tremendous growth in your vocabulary and ability to convey ideas naturally. :)

oceandrive76

Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages

Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages One of the hardest parts of learning English is dealing with words that look similar.

This difficulty stems from the fact that my native language, Japanese, rarely uses ~~the~~an alphabet.

Simply put, I’m not used to recognizing words written in alphabetical characters.

My eyes aren’t yet trained to instantly distinguish one word from another.

Even very simple words can appear confusing, and I often find myself pausing while reading aloud.

For example: taking and talking, chef and chief, through and though, firm and film.

Sometimes I notice the mistake because the sentence stops making sense.

Other times, I just keep reading without realizing anything wais wrong.

Other pairs like storage and shortage, or problem and program, are also confusing.

The list could go on forever.

Japanese presents a similar kind of problem, but in a different form.

What’s fascinating is this: ¶
I in English, I tend to confuse similar words when reading.

In Japanese, however, the problem shows up when writing.

What these errors have in common, I suspect, is a kind of breakdown — a failure of coordination between what I see, what I know, and what I actually do.

Feedback

Great job! Just a few corrections!

Simple but Profound Difficulty in Languages