/lit/ - Literature

>>18412172
>all the books I want to read are in German
What's good in German literature if we put aside Holderlin, Meister Eckhart and Thomas Mann?

>>18412172
I think French. It is to do much fwith literature I have read literature in French sometimes but even if it is hard do try to keep tabs on the grammar and verb forms they are simular to many other forms therefore sometimes there is can arise confustion if you have any questions do not hesitate to consults a book of grammar language good luck on your journey to French literacy

>>18412172
Tried to do this with japanese. I'm not good enough to read a real book yet but I can generally read manga and simpler stuff like that with little issue. Might start with russian after I feel more comfortable with jap. My general advice is to try and start with things that are easier than literature (like movies, music and comics) and then move on to the classics.

Also, you should just go with whatever language interest you more. Even if it's “harder” if you are more interested in German books you'll be more motivated to continue.

>>18412172
Learn Russian

>>18412360
hello I am poster above your post. I would not recommend janapese , wow it is difficult -- start with "comfort point" of linguistical entry into foreign land , I mean French

>>18412353
I agree with this. In terms of both breadth and quantity, the object best language is probably be English but French is a close second. There’s a lot of literature written originally in French and much more translated to French from another language. It’s probably the most translated to language after English still if I had to guess.

>>18412172
Italian and French are the only languages you need to achieve a serious culture.

Latin is the basis of both, so you can learn it as a plus.

>>18412172
What’s your native language? English?

>>18412374
>It’s probably the most translated to language after English still if I had to guess
which means absolutely nothing

>>18412353
cringe esl trying to recommend French. The absolute state of this shit board.

>>18412371
No thanks, I hate French.

>>18412382
It obviously means it grants you access to more things to read you buffoon.

>>18412391
>the most translated to language after English
This is also not true, just take a look at the classics collections of Italy or France. So many ancient authors who don't even exist in the English clownworld.

>>18412348
Günther Grass, Thomas Bernhard, Goethe, Schiller, Kleist, Jünger, Hesse, Döblin, Patrick Schlink, Sebald, Fontane.

All the most important works of modern philosophy.

>>18412408
It’s not. In fact, English is so translated to that it’s used to measure how much other languages are translated from and to. The second most translated language (from and to) is French. French is followed by German and Italian in that order.

>>18412411
>Günther Grass
Literally who?
>Thomas Bernhard
One good book, the rest is meh
>Goethe
Most overrated author in history. There is at least one European author for each literary genre of the 19th century that was better than him.
>Schiller
lmao theatre
>Kleist
Not something worth learning the language for.
>Jünger
Not something worth learning the language for.
>Hesse
One decent book
>Döblin
Literally who?
>Patrick Schlink
Literally who?
>Sebald
Not something worth learning the language for.
>Fontane
Literally who?

>All the most important works of modern philosophy
Do you mean Kant and Heidegger? Sure, I don't like the former personally but I recognize his greatness. I hope you didn't have in mind some shit-tier memes like Nietzsche, Hegel, Fichte, Freud, Adorno, Schopenhauer and Wittgenstein when you typed that post. I mean, it's pretty clear that if you have read the Greeks, Christian and Renaissance philosophy, reading german schizo rants would be the same as polluting your mind.

>>18412434
Source? Your ass? Reddit data that include translations from Ghana and South Korea do not apply.

>>18412348
For fic, I like Goethe a lot and I want to read Schiller's poems in their original form. For non-fic, mainly because as I read Shopenhauer the text just felt so off in English.
>>18412353
French is attractive to me because it is such a lovely sounding language. I also hear it is the easiest to learn.
>>18412360
Thanks anon. Goodluck with Russian and continuing your Japanese. Truly, having a second language must be a wonderful thing. I envy those who acquired one early.
>>18412364
Too scary
>>18412381
Yes, English

>>18412453
Huch, aufs Tiefste herausgefiltert!

>>18412453
Can you give an example of what you think is good literature? Do you like Carl Jung, for instance?

>>18412679
Carl Gustav Jung? Yes. I like him.

>>18412172
Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic (for the Masoretic text), Greek (for the Septuagint), and Latin (for the Vulgate).

>>18412172
Check out the Loeb Classical Library

>>18412172
>I am leaning towards German, however I've been told that it is significantly more difficult than the other 3
Latin is definitely the hardest my domie.

>>18413950
Oh! They're the ones that have the original next to the text, right? I have a copy or Cicero's On the Oratoe

>>18412371
french is cringe and japanese is fun, plus there's a lot to read.
My strategy to work on my reading comprehension is buy classics translated to japanese.

>>18412172
Italian.

>>18412477
>lovely sounding
???

I can’t decide between French, Italian, and German myself.

>>18412172
My vote goes for french as a third language. Good literature and lots of continents for you to put it in practice.

>Best language for reading?
>Best fruit for eating?

latin has the most over all but it doesnt really have novels in it.
if you want novels german or french.

>>18414090
>if you want novels german or french.
Not even a debate them. French wins with novels.

>>18414005
not really.

>>18414090
>latin has the most over all but it doesnt really have novels in it.
>if you want novels german or french.
What you learn latin for?

>>18414120
poetry, plays, philosophy, and history.

>>18414140
>poetry, plays, philosophy, and history.
Give me some small list.

>>18414068
Nein
>>18414078
Yes :) lovely. Pretty. Secy.
>>18414081
French is definitely attractive. I think i may end up going with it.
>>18414084
BANANA/STRAWNERRY > Orange > Grape > Cherry >>>>>>>>>>>> KIWI
>>18414090
Leaning to French desu famalam

What about Greek?

>>18414151
about as lovely as getting spit at

>>18412172
you would be a fool to not learn to read Latin

it will make learning any Romance language trivial and all other European languages significantly easier

>>18414148
George Buchanan covers a lot of ground for Latin.
One of the most important humanists, certainly the most important from Northern Europe, wrote many plays and poetry.
His history of Scotland remained the main text for studying latin in scotland until when it stopped being taught in scotland.

I am interested in Chinese but I feel like I’ll be missing out if I don’t learn something like French instead. This will be my 3rd language and realistically, my last.

>>18414157
Hey.... don't be so mean anon. Please. Only love in my thread (unless a Platonist appears, retards don't deserve kindness)
>>18414158
Latin seems spooky.....
>>18414164
I envy you anon

>>18414155
not worth learning.
anything worth reading has been translated
>b-but its a highly inflected language
read the latin translation then

>>18414151
>esl retard tries talking english
If I didn't know any better I'd think you were french yourself

>>18414155
>What about Greek?
I was thinking about greek but then I thought it's too hard and have too few great literature to justify it.

>>18414157
pretty girls spitting on me...

>>18414173
Italian is your best choice. Their translation school is the best in all of Europe. There are Mishima novels that are not even translated in English but they are in Italian. And this is true for lots of other authors. Italians in general are underrated. Germans are overrated, especially their fiction.

French

>>18414183
I speak native >:( what makes you think otherwise
>>18414208
But can you prove this empirically

>>18412172
Latin of course. Try the Dowling method then it's easy.

>>18414255
Prove what?

>>18414287
*Gwynne's Latin

>>18414173
>I envy you anon
Why?

>>18414329
Because you read retarded chink shit and like it.

>>18414335
What? I specifically said I DON’T know Chinese even though I wish I did?

If I can make a recommendation, it would be English, my friend.

>>18414372
>English
Soulless. Pick any Romance tongue or German.

>>18414287
What's that
>>18414291
Wow...
>>18414329
Because you said you're on your 3rd language. I can barely speak this one.

>>18412172
it's a bit of a paradox.
The more similar a language is to your native (all else being equal), the easier it will be to learn.
BUT, the more similar a language is to your native, the less is lost in translation and the less you gain by reading in it.

>>18414255
>what makes you think otherwise
the fact that you don't

>>18414208
This.

>>18412172
Polish is the one

>>18414563
Karma Polish?

>>18414387
You should definitly kys.

>>18414506
But can you prove that empirically

>>18412172
Then fucking learn german you pussy. Life is hell.

No but for real, if your interests lie in german literature, then it is your best bet. Personal motivation is the most important thing to learn a language. Whether a language is more or less difficult than others is irrelevant, or at least secondary. Most people who complain that a language is too hard is because they do not have their motivations in order and/or are not using the right methods. The only thing i'd argue would make your language learning more difficult, is a lack of resources in the language, but that is not the case for most major languages.

Now, personally i have learned 4 languages mainly to read literature (and other things as well), and i speak 6 in total. I can tell you that you need two things: exposure to the language and knowledge of vocabulary. Memorize the most frequently used words in german and start watching and listening to things in it. Do these things, as well as reading simple texts, for some time until you feel ready to read literature. You will know when you will be able to read, so do not rush it. Neither should you feel dissapointed if you feel you are stagnating. Language learning requires patience and consistency.

Take my advice as a starting point, but try to find things that work for you as well. There is a big community of polyglots on the internet with different techniques that might be useful to you. Have some introspection to learn how to learn, and how you learn. Good luck.

>>18414674
You got me with the first line, I thought your whole post was going to be a jockoesque rant, and was pleasantly surprised to find it was honest advice. Thank you. I'm thinking that children's literature may be a good way for me to start learning, alongside accumulating a vocabulary. My main worry is the grammar, but I suppose that just comes with practice such that you get a feel for it in the same way we all intuitively know the diff functions of a and an.

>>18414824
Hehe i was doing it as a joke first but then i decided to actually help you. You know, i studied language teaching in college i got to see how much bullshit there is in regards to language learning from people who should know about it, since it's their job. Almost all of my teachers spoke spanish and english, and a few spoke a third language because they have been to France or whatever. They were trying to teach me about language learning while not doing any of it themselves. There is a lot of misconceptions that i am happy to clarify at least one person at a time.

About grammar, you can read about it to get a feel of how the language works, but not try to memorize the rules, because it sucks. I see grammar as sort of a puzzle you have to figure out yourself, in order to know how it actually works. Reading children's books is a great idea too.

>>18414918
Wonderful? Have you any other general advice or warnings? In particular, I want your opinion on Duolingo. I hear it is quite bad. However, looking at it, it seems perfect for learning simple words and phrases.

How’s Assimil? Particularly for french

>>18414991
I just started the "Advanced" course (Using French) today and I've great success with Assimil so far. My only gripe is that the vocabulary in the beginner course is a bit lacking and there's too much technical terminology I will probably never use in some of the later courses. If your goal is simply to read French you may want to look elsewhere, but j'en ai été très heureux.

I’m studying right now.

>>18414972
I haven't bothered with Duolingo in years so i am not familiar with its current state. Some opinions i've heard about it is that their sentences are sometimes nonsensical, and that it generally is just boring. I guess you could use it if you like it, just know that it should not be your only resource. I use Anki and look for decks with frequent words and sentences. I guess it work too.

II'd recommend you watch movies and series you have seen before but with a german dub. You could also start watching gameplays if you are ok with those kind of videos. Watching youtube videos on topics of your interest is great in general.

>>18415143
I tried Duolingo for French a few months ago. The mobile app is nice enough, the desktop one not so much. Howeveer you're right, it got boring quick
>II'd recommend you watch movies and series you have seen before but with a german dub. You could also start watching gameplays if you are ok with those kind of videos. Watching youtube videos on topics of your interest is great in general.
This is something I'll absolutely give a shot. I imagine it'll be hard till I have a vocabulary base. Thank you for all the advice anon.

>>18412172
you learn latin, then you can read any literature from 100 BC to 1700 AD. also, when you learn latin, you basically already know french, spanish and italian.

>>18415996
Wtf why didn't they tell me that in school

>>18416166
The school system is literally useless.

>>18415996
>when you learn latin, you basically already know french, spanish and italian.
lmao no

>>18412172
>Unfortunately, all the books I want to read are in German
Then learn German, Jesus. Wanna read Russian books? Learn Russian. French? French. That's not fucking rocket science, is it

>>18417158
Look around and see, 30 unique posters, all chatting cordially and kindly about why they think what about what. Yet not you. No, you have to be bitter, vulgar, and rude. For what reason? We are just chatting here anon, it isnt that serious. We don't know each other. Just simmer down and join us, rather than standing on the outside. Nothing is at stake here.