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The most interesting thing you’ll learn while you shift your business from its single language market, is the language myths that’ll pop up throughout your transition. While you work with your language translation services, you’ll find myths popping up everywhere. It’s fun to hear them and it can be educating, but also understand that the majority of them are just plain wrong. Here are some of the best myths out there to entertain you:
1. CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH MEMORIZATION
Children do not learn through memorization; it’s about repetition and understanding WHY they need to use the words in that way. There are even tests and studies that prove children do not use memorization.
2. LANGUAGES FALL APART AS TIME GOES BY
The phrase “kids these days” is something anyone over the age of 5 has heard. But it’s not about kids these days or about language falling apart; it’s about language evolving as society evolves. Language is evolving with the rest, and everyone else is just having a hard time keeping up.
3. READING AND WRITING ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF LANGUAGE
Reading and writing came many hundreds of thousands of years after the first word was spoken, and have required lots of education and study before they have been effectively learned.
4. CHINESE AND ENGLISH ARE THE HARDEST LANGUAGES TO LEARN
It’s all subjective. Trying to learn a language on the opposite end of the world can be difficult, whereas one with similar nuances can feel like a walk in the park. Depending on your native tongue, it’ll change how you learn it.
5. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN A LANGUAGE AS AN ADULT
It could be easier, since you’re more focused as an adult and know exactly what you want out of it. It’s different, definitely, but it is not impossible.
6. IT’S WRONG TO START A SENTENCE WITH AND OR BUT
It is completely fine to start a sentence with and or but; just make sure the style calls for it. We’re sure in school you heard it was not right to use them, but on the internet nowadays, that just isn’t true anymore.
7. NOT ALL LANGUAGES ARE CREATED EQUAL
Languages evolve alongside everything else; they ebb and flow with this world and are, indeed, created equal.
8. ANIMALS SPEAK THEIR OWN LANGUAGE
Animals do not speak their own language. They, in fact, speak through body language, but there are no spoken words exchanged.
9. LANGUAGES NEVER DIE
Many languages die all the time; in fact, Italian is a prime example of a language that is built off of multiple languages that no longer exist today; also, don’t forget Latin.
10. EVERYBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH OR IS LEARNING IT
Although English is a very dominant language, it’s not known or being taught by the entire world. You believe, since it’s your native tongue, that everyone also thinks it’s the coolest thing since sliced bread. This isn’t true; not everyone speaks or is learning to speak English. Now that these myths are completely debunked and your company’s copy is translated and up to par, enjoy conversing with your new clientele by using these fun conversation starters. It’s hard to know where to start within any new language, so use these as an ice breaker.
