Factors that make a language harder:
* Linguistic distance: Languages that are less closely related to English (e.g., Mandarin Chinese, Arabic) have more different sounds, grammar, and writing systems, making them more challenging to learn.
* Writing system: Languages with non-Latin-based writing systems (e.g., Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean) require significant effort to learn.
* Grammar: Languages with complex grammar rules (e.g., German, Hungarian) can be difficult to master.
* Tonal languages: Languages like Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese use tones to distinguish words, which can be challenging for speakers of non-tonal languages.
* Cultural differences: Differences in cultural norms and communication styles can make it harder to learn a language and integrate into a new culture.
Examples of languages generally considered harder for English speakers:
* Mandarin Chinese: Difficult writing system, tones, and grammar.
* Arabic: Complex writing system, right-to-left reading direction, and different grammar.
* Japanese: Three writing systems (hiragana, katakana, kanji), complex grammar, and honorifics.
* Korean: Unique alphabet (Hangul), complex grammar, and honorifics.
* Hungarian: Highly complex grammar with no cognates to English.
* Finnish: Unique vowel harmony system, agglutinative grammar, and complex verb conjugation.
* German: Complex grammar, compound words, and different pronunciation rules.
However, it's important to remember:
* Individual learning styles and preferences: Some people find languages with complex grammar challenging, while others find tonal languages difficult.
* Motivation and immersion: The more motivated and immersed you are in a language, the easier it will be to learn.
* Previous language learning experience: Having learned other languages can make learning new ones easier.
In conclusion, the difficulty of learning a language is subjective and varies from person to person. However, certain languages generally present more challenges for native English speakers due to their linguistic features and cultural differences.