I want to learn one of two languages, that being Russian or Turkish. Notwithstanding the fact that Russian is understood throughout central asia and the eastern bloc, which one is more useful on a global basis? Which one would be easier to pick up as a native English speaker?
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Anonymous2009-06-04 0:42
Russian is one of the top 5 languages so it's most useful.
Its easier than other Slavic languages(though Slavic languages are hard for English speakers.) and there are heaps of resources for it.
Turkish is very logical and easy to learn since they revised their grammar system at the start of last century. Its very prefix/suffix based with a less retarded vowel harmony system then Finnish or Hungarian. Also the script is like a modified version of English alphabet so its easier to remember than Cyrillic. You'd probably only use it in southern Europe or Australia though.
Personally I'd go with Turkish
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Anonymous2009-06-04 1:37
If you want to learn an "easy" language, go with Italian or Spanish or something. But I'd recommend you learn a language that you really want to learn rather than what's easier or more "useful", because you won't learn the simplest language in the world if you get bored after a month.
That said, learn Russian out of the two. Cyrillic can be learnt in less than a week, and although grammar is a bitch, it's not impossible.
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Anonymous2009-06-04 1:55
OP here, thanks for the info. I'm from Australia, but I'd like to be able to emigrate post graduation. I've chosen these two languages as they interest me, and I'm passionate about the relative cultures. I'd like to be able to work in Europe or the Middle East, but I guess both languages are equally as useful in these locales :/
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Anonymous2009-06-05 16:29
Turkish is very easy, but Russian - while in decline - is utilized much more widely. It basically boils down to why you want to learn a language.
yup, russian isn't that hard, especially as the russians are spreading their derzhava everywhere, well you have to speak as they don't learn most local languages where they live (exception is english), like in finland, estonia, latvia or almost every other european country they don't learn the local language