In order to shortlist the foreign language I must have a goal fixed. What I want to gain out of learning languages though its not bad to learn as many languages as possible. But as I dont aim to become a linguistic expert or study only languages in my life time, I need to focus on some languages which would be enough for fullfilling my aspiration of globetrotting with understanding and knowing people, their culture.
As I browsed few websites like BBC for taking tips in how to go about, I came up with my own framework for going about shortlisting the languages I would pick up as I go on.
The objective goal:
To know (conversation level) the optimized number of languages which would cover the maximum geographical areas with high business & professional relevance putting me in much comfort level when it comes to conversing with the local people, even from professional circle.
Criteria to shortlist and to achieve the goal in short-midium time duration: ( % points in brackets indicates the weightage given to the criteria)
With these criteria, the languages will be ranked for importance and prioritization in learning.
Criteria 1: Need to categorize and group languages in languages family. languages of the same family would be easier to lear and pick up. Here is the blog on world language family to refer. Languages with same family of my known language would be given highest weightage (1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0)
Criteria 2: Need to come up with the list of countries for future travel ( business & professional tour, leisure, working & living on short and long term) with the language requirement details of the countries. Here is the analysis on this parameter. Countries will be classified into three categories: High, Medium & Low. The mapped languages would be given weightage as 1, 0.75 & 0.5
Criteria 3: To come up with the list of languages with number countries its the official language. The listed languages would be classified into three categories: high, medium & low with weightage 1, 0.75 & 0.5
Criteria 4: To refer to the UN official language list. Here is the reference. All the listed language will be given weightage of 1.0. Non UN language would be given 0% weightage.
Criteria 5: Languages would be ranked on the basis of popularity among students, language learners for demand as secondary language to learn in colleges, universities. Languages would be grouped in three categories: high, medium & low with weightage 1, 0.5 & 0.0
Criteria 6: To come up with a rank of languages on the basis of cultural, historical legacy and modern influence on international trade. Here is the analysis
Criteria 7: To refer to the list of languages with number of native speakers in the world. Languages with over 100 million native speakers to be given weightage 1.0, with 50-100 million native speakers to be given 0.75 and with below 50 million to be given 0.5 weightage. Here is the analysis.
Using this methodology a list of foreign languages would be prepared. This list would be refered to as the top languages of high importance to learn.
Priority would be set on the basis of ranking, score on the "easy to learn" criteria1 and criteria 2.
( Result of the analysis would be published in part-III)
As I browsed few websites like BBC for taking tips in how to go about, I came up with my own framework for going about shortlisting the languages I would pick up as I go on.
The objective goal:
To know (conversation level) the optimized number of languages which would cover the maximum geographical areas with high business & professional relevance putting me in much comfort level when it comes to conversing with the local people, even from professional circle.
Criteria to shortlist and to achieve the goal in short-midium time duration: ( % points in brackets indicates the weightage given to the criteria)
- Economies of scope & Ease of learning: Targetting those languages which are rooted in the same source as the languages i'm already proficient in (20%)
- Probable future foreign geographical areas for living and working ( short & long term) and the mapping of language with target countries (25%)
- No. of countries the language is an official language of (10%)
- Whether the language is United Nations official language (10%)
- Popularity of the language (15%)
- Languages with strong cultural legacy and trading influence in the global area (10%)
- Number of native speakers (10%)
With these criteria, the languages will be ranked for importance and prioritization in learning.
Criteria 1: Need to categorize and group languages in languages family. languages of the same family would be easier to lear and pick up. Here is the blog on world language family to refer. Languages with same family of my known language would be given highest weightage (1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0)
Criteria 2: Need to come up with the list of countries for future travel ( business & professional tour, leisure, working & living on short and long term) with the language requirement details of the countries. Here is the analysis on this parameter. Countries will be classified into three categories: High, Medium & Low. The mapped languages would be given weightage as 1, 0.75 & 0.5
Criteria 3: To come up with the list of languages with number countries its the official language. The listed languages would be classified into three categories: high, medium & low with weightage 1, 0.75 & 0.5
Criteria 4: To refer to the UN official language list. Here is the reference. All the listed language will be given weightage of 1.0. Non UN language would be given 0% weightage.
Criteria 5: Languages would be ranked on the basis of popularity among students, language learners for demand as secondary language to learn in colleges, universities. Languages would be grouped in three categories: high, medium & low with weightage 1, 0.5 & 0.0
Criteria 6: To come up with a rank of languages on the basis of cultural, historical legacy and modern influence on international trade. Here is the analysis
Criteria 7: To refer to the list of languages with number of native speakers in the world. Languages with over 100 million native speakers to be given weightage 1.0, with 50-100 million native speakers to be given 0.75 and with below 50 million to be given 0.5 weightage. Here is the analysis.
Using this methodology a list of foreign languages would be prepared. This list would be refered to as the top languages of high importance to learn.
Priority would be set on the basis of ranking, score on the "easy to learn" criteria1 and criteria 2.
( Result of the analysis would be published in part-III)
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