Method and Conclusion. See here.
Results. A ratings system was designed in terms of how difficult it would be for an English-language speaker to learn the language. In the case of English, English was judged according to how hard it would be for a non-English speaker to learn the language. Speaking, reading and writing were all considered.
Ratings: Languages are rated 1-6, easiest to hardest. 1 = easiest, 2 = moderately easy to average, 3 = average to moderately difficult, 4 = very difficult, 5 = extremely difficult, 6 = most difficult of all. Ratings are impressionistic.
Time needed. Time needed for an English language speaker to learn the language “reasonably well”: Level 1 languages = 3 months-1 year. Level 2 languages = 6 months-1 year. Level 3 languages = 1-2 years. Level 4 languages = 2 years. Level 5 languages = 3-4 years, but some may take longer. Level 6 languages = more than 4 years.
This post will look at the Kwaio language in terms of how difficult it would be for an English speaker to learn it.
Austronesian
Malay-Polynesian
Oceanic
Central-Eastern Oceanic
Southeast Solomonic
Malaita–San Cristobal
Malaita
Northern Malaita
Kwaio is an Austronesian language spoken by 13,000 people in the center of Malaita Island in the Solomon Islands. It has four different forms of number to mark pronouns – not only the usual singular and plural but also the rarer dual and the very rare paucal. In addition, there is an inclusive/exclusive contrast in the non-singular forms.
For instance:
1 dual inclusive (you and I)
1 dual exclusive (I and someone else, not you)
1 paucal inclusive (you, I and a few others)
1 paucal exclusive (I and a few others)
1 plural inclusive (I, you and many others)
1 plural exclusive (I and many others)
Pretty wild!
Kwaio gets a 5 rating, extremely hard to learn.
