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 Tibetan language in terms of how difficult it would be for an English speaker to learn it.
Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman
Western Tibeto-Burman
Bodish
Central Bodish
Central
Tibetan probably has one of the least rational orthographies of any language. The orthography has not changed in ~1,000 years, while the language has gone through all sorts of changes. A langauge learner in Tibet can get by using phonetic spelling. The problem comes when you try to spell using the Classical Alphabet. For instance:
Srong rtsan Sgam po (written)
soŋtsɛn ɡampo (spoken)
bsgrubs (written)
d`up (spoken)
While the orthography is etymological and completely outdated, it is quite predictable.
Tibetan gets a 5 rating, extremely hard to learn.