Learning Quenya - Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lhunardawen · 07-11-2005, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgwbs

Something both Kath and I had trouble with is pronouncing "h"s.

My, that was the worst lesson for me the first time around, too! I only got a measly one point in the exercises. Hopefully I'll do better as spawn and I start this week. We'll keep you posted.

the guy who be short · 07-12-2005, 06:28 AM

Lhuna: I still haven't memorised all the "h"s. Whenever I find one I'm not sure of, I look back at exercise and find out how to pronounce it. The underlying theory behind this is that eventually they will stick in my mind.

How Kath and I learn:
A step by step guide
1) Both read the lesson beforehand.
2) Meet at pre-appointed time on Instant Messenger.
3) Discuss the lesson. What we found easy, what we found hard and whatnot.
4) Help one another and try to explain things to one another if one of us finds something hard.
5) Do the exercises together. One of us writes the answer to an exercise, the other verifies that they think it's correct (or, if not, corrects it).
6) Check the answers and celebrate.
7) Arrange next meeting.
8) If we catch one another online between meetings, we talk to one another, interspercing Quenya into the conversation. This means we can keep up to date with vocab.

It works really well, actually. We've got to lesson 4 already.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-12-2005, 07:26 AM

You guys have got Encai and I beat. Due to me being rather busy right now, we've agreed to snail's pace for the next two weeks or so. We've both got the introduction and first five lessons downloaded and presumably started. Once I'm no longer insane enough to offer up my time modding (kidding.. it's worth it... game starts in five minutes), I'll have more time to sit in front of the computer doing other things.

Kath · 07-12-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

2) Meet at pre-appointed time on Instant Messenger.

Or, as is the usual way, try to meet at a pre-appointed time and then find that you have something else to do or your parents have chosen that particular moment to begin a 3 hour phone call and have to grovel later.

the guy who be short · 07-12-2005, 03:37 PM

I've just realised I'm the only male who's even signed up to learn Quenya (I think). Why's that, we wonders?

Kath · 07-12-2005, 04:03 PM

We thinks precious that it's because he has a strange fondness for languages (and is far too good at them in our opinion). He beats us at the exercises all the time - and we feel it is only a matter of time before he laughs at us for our inability to learn plurals!

Lúmen Rómello · 07-14-2005, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the guy who be short

I've just realised I'm the only male who's even signed up to learn Quenya (I think). Why's that, we wonders?

Pardon me? What am I, chopped liver?

Anyway, so far as I know, I don't have a study buddy, but I'm going to try to start up again on my own. If I ever get up the gumption to print off the exercises (again - they're so freakin' long!), I'll start up in earnest. Right now, they're just on my compy at home, so I'm stuck with only looking at them when I'm home.

But, I'm pysched about going at it again! I mean, I'm old enough to remember the good old days when we still had the Language forum! Anything to get that back is a good thing in my book.

-LR.

the guy who be short · 07-14-2005, 11:44 AM

Sorry Lúmen! I thought you might be male, which is why I added "I think" in brackets.

About study buddies - I looked at your stats, and it's quite hard to match somebody up with you because you've completed the entire course already, so it will be mucheasier for you to pick it up again. Also, you could only use PMs, which are quite restricted. However, if you want to get a buddy sorted out quickly, just PM anybody you'd like to go with and ask them (though if you do pair up, let me know!). I suppose you'd be more able to help people out, seeing as you'd be able to pick up the course more easily.

About the language forums - I don't think we'll see a return, even if more people display interest in joining. However, eventually we may have several threads running (other than the poetry competition ones).

Oh, and welcome (back?) to the Downs!

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 07-14-2005, 11:49 AM

Now, now, you are causing me pressure.

But of course I'll help if I can and if you want me to. Though I have to confess that I'm a bit lost with the h's, too. I haven't done the "h's" exercise yet. The "accents" one was much more comfortable!

Here's something for those who are not sure, how to pronaunce the vowels. Click. There are audio files for some words and separate vowels. As far as I'm concerned, they should be correct and accurate. Only the last sentence at the bottom sounds somewhat weird (incorrect?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lúmen

Anyway, so far as I know, I don't have a study buddy, but I'm going to try to start up again on my own.

Aww, but you have us all spurring you on here!

07-12-2005, 07:26 AM	#3
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	You guys have got Encai and I beat. Due to me being rather busy right now, we've agreed to snail's pace for the next two weeks or so. We've both got the introduction and first five lessons downloaded and presumably started. Once I'm no longer insane enough to offer up my time modding (kidding.. it's worth it... game starts in five minutes), I'll have more time to sit in front of the computer doing other things. __________________ peace

07-12-2005, 04:03 PM	#6
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	We thinks precious that it's because he has a strange fondness for languages (and is far too good at them in our opinion). He beats us at the exercises all the time - and we feel it is only a matter of time before he laughs at us for our inability to learn plurals! __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

07-12-2005, 06:28 AM	#2
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	Lhuna: I still haven't memorised all the "h"s. Whenever I find one I'm not sure of, I look back at exercise and find out how to pronounce it. The underlying theory behind this is that eventually they will stick in my mind. How Kath and I learn: A step by step guide 1) Both read the lesson beforehand. 2) Meet at pre-appointed time on Instant Messenger. 3) Discuss the lesson. What we found easy, what we found hard and whatnot. 4) Help one another and try to explain things to one another if one of us finds something hard. 5) Do the exercises together. One of us writes the answer to an exercise, the other verifies that they think it's correct (or, if not, corrects it). 6) Check the answers and celebrate. 7) Arrange next meeting. 8) If we catch one another online between meetings, we talk to one another, interspercing Quenya into the conversation. This means we can keep up to date with vocab. It works really well, actually. We've got to lesson 4 already.

07-12-2005, 03:37 PM	#5
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	I've just realised I'm the only male who's even signed up to learn Quenya (I think). Why's that, we wonders?

07-14-2005, 11:44 AM	#8
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	Sorry Lúmen! I thought you might be male, which is why I added "I think" in brackets. About study buddies - I looked at your stats, and it's quite hard to match somebody up with you because you've completed the entire course already, so it will be mucheasier for you to pick it up again. Also, you could only use PMs, which are quite restricted. However, if you want to get a buddy sorted out quickly, just PM anybody you'd like to go with and ask them (though if you do pair up, let me know!). I suppose you'd be more able to help people out, seeing as you'd be able to pick up the course more easily. About the language forums - I don't think we'll see a return, even if more people display interest in joining. However, eventually we may have several threads running (other than the poetry competition ones). Oh, and welcome (back?) to the Downs!