by C. M. Erickson

Created on: January 21, 2012   Last Updated: March 20, 2012

The easiest languages to gain fluency in are the ones closest to your own native language. Your areas of similitude to consider are alphabet, origin, and probability of practice.

• Alphabet

You will have a much easier time learning a language that shares your alphabet. A native English speaker is well prepared to learn any Western European language, but would stumble at the alphabet used by Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, or Japanese. However, a native Japanese speaker would be prepared for the character use of Mandarin. Korean, while appearing to use characters like the Japanese, really use their symbols in a way more like the American alphabet, and would be easier for an American to learn than Mandarin. Those fluent in Arabic would do well to seek out other languages that use their script.

• Origin

You are always better off learning a language with as close an origin as possible to your native language. Languages fall into several families with parent languages that modern languages evolved from. Staying inside your parent "proto-language" group will help you learn a new language the easiest.

For example, Spanish speakers would probably learn Portuguese the easiest. After that, they should try other Romance (this refers to their Roman origin, not love) languages like Italian or French.

Several languages around the world follow a tonal tradition that would make it very difficult for someone to learn who is not coming from a native tonal language. Tonal languages convey great meaning in the inflections, or tones, of the language, and that nuance is very difficult for many individuals to learn who do not come from a tonal language background. I strongly recommend that native English speakers avoid tonal languages, such as Chinese, if they are looking for an easy language to learn.

• Probability of Practice

You will learn a language the easiest if you have many opportunities to practice. Learning Latin in Iowa will be a challenge. Learning Spanish in Miami will be much easier. Learning Arabic in Deerfield, Michigan, would also provide you many opportunities to practice the language.

• Easiest Languages for English Speakers

English speakers will usually be able to learn the following languages with relative ease: Spanish (especially if you live in the American south), French, and Italian. Those who are more adventurous, or with strong family histories would do well to learn Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, or any other language in the Germanic family.

Learn more about this author, C. M. Erickson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.