Language Learning Explosion
It is easy to overlook the math when learning a new language. “What is the Math of language learning?” you ask.
Answer: The math of language learning is the geometric growth of vocabulary and the exponential growth of items such as verb conjugations.
There is also the matrix-multiplying ability to connect new words in never-ending new combinations.
What this means is that new learning and new possibilities for using the target language seem to “explode” with each new area of study.
If you are studying in a language class, you encounter this phenomenon as soon as you reach the “irregular” present tense verb forms. Your mind may start to feel like you are being “slapped silly” when you encounter the irregular verbs, but your mind is “blown out of its easy chair” and knocked to the floor when verbs explode with the past tense. Every verb that you learned previously instantly doubles in number of conjugations.
Geyser of New Word Forms
What English does with phrases and idioms, languages such as Spanish does with verb conjugations.
So, in some ways, the huge number of verb conjugations in Spanish are easier than learning the endless number of idiosyncratic phases (English idioms). At least the Spanish conjugations remain stable over time. The English idioms constantly change with new phrases being introduced by television and movies…all the time.
The Saving Grace of Verb Conjugations
The saving grace of verb conjugations is the fact that if you get things approximately right, native speakers can figure out what you are trying to say.
With a bit of clarification, they will understand the verb form meaning that you intended; and, if they are kind, they will tell you what verb form you should have used.
Implications…
Prepare yourself for the explosion, not by entering a “bomb shelter” to protect yourself from the blast, but “have a blast” (one of those English idioms) by enjoying the amount of language learning that you are able to acquire.
The tendency of classroom learning is to focus upon eliminating “mistakes” instead of focusing upon the sheer volume of language learning success.
Amaze yourself. Amuse yourself. Praise yourself for the huge success of your language learning efforts. Appreciate yourself, and reward yourself.
Admire your language learning skills, and those skills will increase at an exponential rate to match the explosion of new language learning.
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