Beware of False Friends while Learning New Languages
They sound the same, some even look the same, but something’s missing
When a person knows one or several foreign languages, sometimes things can get complicated. Or funny. Let us consider this situation. You receive a text message from someone, reading:
“I have a Gift for you!”
If the message is entirely in English, the capitalization can be down to that person being enthusiastic about meeting you and offering you a present. However, if the sender is learning German and tries to incorporate it into everyday life, you might want to clarify what they want to offer.
Have you ever tried learning another language?
Maybe it was a hobby or a class in high school or university. Or you went abroad, spent time there, and learned the local language. Or maybe you just watched TV and, reading the subtitles, started to make connections.
Whatever your method of acquiring a new language in your toolbelt, congratulations.
Depending on your native language, you may find similarities and connections. Because of how we evolved, our languages improved with us. They molded and collided and borrowed from one another.
