Thursday, February 22, 2018

Welcome

This is a website where I share frequency lists and Anki decks.

I made this website in 2016 to post my Anki flashcard decks. 

8 years later, this site has over 2 million page views, and my Anki decks have over 900 000 combined downloads. This is really nice!

Over the years I had new ideas on how to improve my Anki decks, and I updated my decks to implement those ideas. I still have new ideas, so check my decks every year to see if I updated them. 

Good studies, and remember... Learning languages is a wonderful exercise for your brain.


Index of blog posts:

Frequency lists:
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Russian Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Japanese Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Korean Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used French Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Spanish Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Mandarin Chinese Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used German Nouns

> The 2980 Most Frequently Used German Nouns (With Plural)

List of sentences, with audio on Anki, sorted by the average frequency of the words on them:
> 5000 Spanish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 German Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 French Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Dutch Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Polish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Turkish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Russian Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Italian Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

"5000? Why so many sentences?"

 Memorizing the meaning of individual words... is pretty much pointless. If you want actual fluency, you need to see a word in as many example sentences as possible. That makes the language start to flow in your head. That shows you how to use the word. How it is combined with the other words. And many other things. 

 We think that effort always converts into fluency. This is not true. If you memorize the meaning of individual words you won't get fluent and you will spend a ton of effort. But studying sentences is the real deal. Is the method of learning that actually converts effort to fluency. 

 Get some basic grammar, some basic vocabulary, then just dive into sentences and more sentences until you're fluent.

 ~

It is OK to memorize individual words if:
1) You don't have enough vocabulary to focus your study on sentences, or
2) You are a very advanced learner

 Otherwise, it is better to just focus on learning and memorizing sentences — instead of memorizing individual words. 

- Also available on Anki - 

If you have technical issues with Anki you should ask the developer: https://apps.ankiweb.net/docs/help.html

I am not affiliated with the developer of Anki. I'm just the rare user who is willing to contribute instead of consuming.


I was getting automated spam everyday so I disabled new comments in 2017. But as usual you can still reach me at: neribrandao2@gmail.com

"Without music, life would be a mistake." —Nietzsche

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Thursday, November 30, 2017

The First Thing You Should Do When Learning a Language


Learn 100% flawless pronunciation.

It's much easier to memorize a word's meaning when you know the correct pronunciation.

This is because the sound a word makes is always eerily reminescent of it's meaning.

The occurrence where the sound of a word seems to mirror its meaning is called phonetic symbolism or sound symbolism. This phenomenon suggests that the elements of a word like vowels, consonants, and syllables can carry meaning that aligns with the actual definition of the word. This is different from onomatopoeia, where words like "buzz" or "whisper" mimic natural sounds.

There are different factors to consider in sound symbolism:

- The Kiki-Bouba effect: The Kiki-Bouba effect is a fascinating phenomenon often observed in sound symbolism studies, where individuals consistently match certain speech sounds to specific visual shapes. In this particular case, people tend to associate the invented word "kiki" with a sharp, spiky shape, and the word "bouba" with a soft, curvy shape. The assumption is that these arbitrary words exhibit a certain inherent quality that creates a subconscious connection between the auditory aspects of the words and the physical properties of the shapes they represent. This effect suggests that even in the absence of a direct linguistic association, our minds are able to perceive and create a relationship between sounds we hear and the corresponding shapes we see. 
Read more about it on the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouba/kiki_effect
  
- Vowel sounds: For instance, high front vowels like 'i' in 'tiny' are often linked with smallness, while low back vowels like 'o' in 'gloomy' suggest largeness or darkness.
  
- Consonant sounds: Words with hard consonants, such as 'k' or 't', tend to be perceived as more aggressive or forceful compared to those with softer consonants, like 'l' or 'm'. For instance, the words "kick", "attack", "cut", and "hit" all imply strong action or force, reflecting the sharp, harsh sounds of 'k' and 't'. On the other hand, the words "lamb", "limber", "mellow", and "calm" contain softer consonants, and they are associated with gentleness or relaxation.

- Cultural variations: While some sound symbolism appears to be universal, such as the Kiki-Bouba effect, much of it can change depending on the individual culture's language and sounds. For example, in English-speaking cultures, the word "hiss" mimics the sound a snake makes, but in Japanese culture, the word is "shaa". Similarly, different languages may use different words to mimic the sound of a crying baby or a loud crash, demonstrating that cultural context greatly influences sound symbolism.

- Applications: Sound symbolism is widely used in branding to create product names that suggest certain qualities or feelings. This can influence a consumer's perspective of a product or service. For example, the brand "Twitter" may evoke the idea of small, rapid-fire communication, akin to the tweeting of birds. "Ferrari" conveys the potential power and luxury associated with the product, offering subtle phonetic suggestions of a fast, daring, and elite vehicle. In contrast, a company named "SoftBank" tries to communicate an image of reliability, comfort, and financial stability through its name.

- Linguistic relativity: Linguistic relativity posits that our language influences our cognitive processes and the way we perceive and experience the world. For example, Inuit languages have numerous words for different kinds of snow, which might offer them a more nuanced understanding of snow compared to someone who speaks a language with fewer such terms. Similarly, the Russian language makes a distinction between light blues and dark blues with different words (goluboy and siniy respectively). This leads to debates around whether Russians perceive these color shades differently from non-Russian speakers. Basically, the discussion revolves around how our linguistic system might shape our cognitive abilities and influence our world view.

Even though sound symbolism is a noted occurrence, it's more like a subtle effect rather than a clear-cut rule in language. The definitions of most words are decided by societal agreement, not only their sounds.

Phonoaesthetics studies whether sounds are pleasant or not and how these sounds might bring up feelings or impressions. Words like "mellifluous," which means sweetly or smoothly flowing, have soft sounds. In contrast, the word "grating," meaning an unpleasant noise, has harsh sounds.

Cultural or historical experiences can also link certain sounds with specific meanings or concepts. For example, in English, the "gl-" sound, as in "glow," "gleam," and "glisten," often suggests light or brightness. Similarly, the "sn-" sound can suggest slyness or stealth, as present in words like "sneak," "snitch," and "snoop."

Examples of words which sound like their meaning include "eerie", "slither", "gargantuan", "crisp", and "babble". In these instances, sound symbolism enriches the listener's understanding of the words and reinforces their meanings.

The sounds of certain words can cause a sensory or emotional response that mirrors the word's meaning. Phonetic symbolism implies that certain sounds may bring up a feeling or image consistent with the word's meaning. For example, the word "whisper" sounds soft and quiet, showing the idea of a gentle, hushed tone. Similarly, "gargle" sounds like the act it describes, creating an auditory and sensory connection.


Another example of sound symbolism is phonaesthemes.

In linguistics, phonaesthemes are sound sequences that, across a set of words, suggest a common meaning or theme. They are not just confined to the initial sounds; they can also be in the word endings or middles. This indication of meaning through sounds contributes to sound symbolism. To expand, consider the following examples:

- The initial sound cluster “gl-” as in "gleam," "glitter," "glisten," "gloss," "glint," "glory," and "glossy." These words all suggest a sense of brightness or shining.

- Pay attention to the "sn-" sound, typically found in words connected with the nose or quick, stealthy movements. Words such as "sneeze," "sniff," "snort," "snot," "sneak," "snitch," "snake," and "snappy" exemplify this.

- The "fl-" sound in words like "flicker," "flash," "flame," "flutter," and "flare" often suggests quick or bright movement. 

- The 'tw-' sound often indicates smallness or a pair, as seen in words like "twig," "twin," "twine," "twist," and "twinkle."

- The "cr-" sound in words like "crack," "crush," "crunch," "crumble," and "crisp" often signals something breaking or being broken.

- The "-ump" sound at the ends of words such as "dump," "lump," "bump," and "thump" generally signifies a heavy fall or hit.

While these are not hard and fast rules of the English language, recognizing these phonaesthemic patterns can help in predicting some aspects of a new or unfamiliar word's meaning. Sound symbolism in this way brings an additional layer of richness and intrigue to language, as the sounds within words can help to subtly convey meaning.


Overall, sound symbolism helps create a deeper understanding of word meanings by evoking strong emotions, associations, and mental images. This language phenomenon makes language more engaging and richer by using phonetic cues and associations.

So a good first step in language learning, is to learn perfect pronunciation first. So you have an easier time memorizing the words' meanings.

The author Gabriel Wyner said that if you don't learn 100% flawless pronunciation right from the very start, you will end up learning two languages instead of one. Don't find out about it the hard way.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Study Hints


General Tips

  • If you see a word and immediately check it's translation, you'll hardly memorize it at all. If you try your best to recall what the word means before checking the translation, the chances of memorization are much better.
  • It is much easier to memorize a word's meaning when you know how to pronounce it corretly, so get it right.   
  • Go to Youtube and search for as many videos as possible about how to learn pronunciation on your target language. Don't limit yourself to a couple videos: see as many as you can because sometimes one video will get something wrong, so the other videos will fix it.
  • Pronunciation guides have a strong tendency to have over-simplified information that is misleading or just plain wrong. So at the end of the day, the best way to learn good pronunciation is by listening to a native speaker and trying to replicate it well, not by reading a guide.
  • If you want to type some sentences of my books into Google Translate (to see alternative translations, to hear the pronunciation) you might want to learn how to type faster. "Touch typing" is a technique in which you type with all ten fingers of your hand, and when you get good at it you can type as fast as you're reading this sentence. It's a skill that takes little time to master and will be useful all your life. You can learn it by searching "touch typing" on google or visiting the following sites. http://www.keybr.com/ and https://www.typingclub.com/

Getting rid of Distractions

    The two following tools are designed specifically for Windows and macOS operating systems.

    "Cold Turkey" is a productivity software that helps users limit their digital distractions by blocking access to time-wasting websites, apps, and games. It's recommended for increasing focus, reducing procrastination, and promoting healthy work habits by enforcing self-discipline and preventing online distractions. You can download it here:
     
    "Micromanager" software, created by the same maker as "Cold Turkey," restricts access to non-essential apps, allowing only whitelisted ones for enhanced productivity. It prevents multitasking, promotes focused work, and minimizes distractions. An example of use: you can use this software to block yourself from leaving the Anki app for one to two hours, thereby eliminating distractions. This software, combined with the Speed Focus Mode add-on for Anki, is very effective in boosting your focus during your study sessions. You can download it here:
     
    There are apps for Android that serve a similar purpose. Such as the app called "Stay Focused": 
    Stay Focused: Site & App Block - Apps on Google Play
    Do some research and find what distractions-blocking app best suits you.

Improving Anki with Addons

    What are Anki add-ons?
    Anki add-ons are like extra tools that you can add to the Anki flashcard app. They give you more options and features to personalize your studying. With add-ons, you can change how the app looks, add new types of flashcards, automate tasks, and connect with external resources. They help you customize Anki to fit your learning style and make studying more effective.
     
    Where can I install Anki add-ons?
    Anki is available on the following platforms:
    1. Anki Desktop for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
    2. AnkiMobile for iOS devices.
    3. AnkiDroid for Android devices.
    4. AnkiWeb, which is a web-based interface accessible through a browser.
     
    But Anki addons are available for Anki Desktop only.
    I should mention that I have no affiliation with the developers of Anki. I only make decks and share them.
     
    What add-ons do you recommend? 
    This add-on helps you focus when you're studying, and I think it's a must have:
    The first version of this addon was actually commissioned by me, then it became a very popular add-on.
     
    These add-ons allow you to add audio to the cards of a deck. I recommend them if you want audio on all cards, or if you wish to try out different voices for a deck.
    AwesomeTTS is better if you wish to add audio for many cards all at once, as HyperTTS may crash when selecting over 1000 cards.
     
    This add-on allows you to use a gamepad/joystick to study on Anki. It makes study more a lot more comfortable:
    For the sentences deck, it's very useful to have a shortcut to suspend a card.
    To suspend a card means: remove that card from the deck.
    It's useful to have a shortcut to suspend a card, because you're supposed to remove cards that are too easy for you, or cards that teach you nothing new.
    You can configure this add-on to have a joystick shortcut to suspend the card:
    • When you install this add-on, go to the main screen of Anki, click Tools → Controller Opions → Add → In the Action column, type 'Suspend', in the Shortcut column type '@' → click 'Controls' → click 'Review' → select the RB bu (or whichever button you prefer) → select 'Suspend' → click 'Save'.
    This will add a shortcut that suspends the card whenever you press the RB button in your joystick.
    You should suspend:
    • cards that are repeated
    • cards that are too easy for you
    • cards that contain nothing new to you (for example: no new vocabulary, no new word pattern)
    You should remove or suspend those cards, otherwise your 'due reviews' will pile up to a big number.
     
    This add-on shows a little pop-up confirming which option you picked (Again/Good/Hard/Easy). It goes well with the previous add-on that I recommended, because it lets you know you selected the right option.


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Friday, August 19, 2016

5000 Polish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made:

 1) I grabbed a list with the 5000 most frequently used Polish words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 20 000 translated Polish sentences from the internet 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest.

The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.




To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.

These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:

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