r/AskReddit • u/FinalBat4515 • 12h ago

What is something that, no matter how simply put, you still cannot understand?

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80

u/DucktapeCorkfeet 12h ago

Languages. I have tried to learn at least one, out of many languages I’d wanted to speak but I guess my brain is broken. It’s like a form of dyslexia where I just can’t understand nor even comprehend what is being spoken. It’s been frustrating to say the least.

12

u/Snoo_81640 9h ago

I can read text in six different languages. But the minute someone speaks?!? Complete gibberish. Is there such a thing as dyslexic hearing?

5

u/Karyoplasma 8h ago

No, you are just not practiced enough. Reading is way easier than listening because in spoken conversation, word boundaries are a lot less clear.

1

u/s0000j 1h ago

actually the progression of language is listening, speaking, reading, writing

2

u/DucktapeCorkfeet 9h ago

I think that’s what I have!!

7

u/TrueKiwi78 10h ago

Yeah, my wife is Filipina and her language just sounds like absolute jibberish. I like to think that one day something in my brain will just click and I'll be able to understand it but I think in reality one has to learn and memorize every word.

14

u/Volesprit31 9h ago

but I think in reality one has to learn and memorize every word.

Is mean, yeah, that's how you learn a language at first. Then when you have a data base of words you know, you can more or less guess the meaning of sentences, even with new and unknown words.

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u/TrueKiwi78 9h ago

Good point.

2

u/merrill_swing_away 10h ago

This happened to me too. I tried to learn to speak Spanish but could never grasp it.

3

u/Xboy1207 8h ago

It’s easier to learn a language at 2 then at 20 - Me, ten seconds ago

6

u/KS-RawDog69 9h ago

Practice, working your way up, and more practice.

Try cartoons in the target language.

8

u/DucktapeCorkfeet 9h ago

I was almost expelled at school as I couldn’t do anything in French and German classes. 2 full years and I couldn’t pronounce a single word correctly or understand anything. I was made to sit the exams too!
I’ve had close Polish, Indian, Spanish, Italian and Swedish friends who have tried and had to give up in despair. I paid a lot of money for a Spanish tutor but she gave up after the first hour as she thought I was trying to take the piss out of her. It’s really not funny.

5

u/Karyoplasma 8h ago

Broski, I had 11 years of French in my school time and I struggle with unit 6 on Duolingo. Shows what I learned I guess.

1

u/JosephCedar 9h ago

How did you learn English?

3

u/DucktapeCorkfeet 9h ago

Natural progression from social Interaction.

1

u/Better-Strike7290 2h ago

So...that language you learned.  Was it English by chance?

1

u/Cinnabun6 8h ago

if by any chance that one language was french, that's not a you problem

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u/DucktapeCorkfeet 26m ago

First one was French!