Lessons from a teenage polyglot | Tim Doner | TEDxTeen

Tim Doner shares how becoming fluent in more than six languages offered him meaningful opportunities that went beyond broadening his vocabulary. This talk was filmed at TEDxTeen.

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[YoMateo.]

Whoever's reading this, i pray that whatever you're going through gets better and whatever you're struggling with or worrying about is going to be fine and that everyone has a fantastic day! Amen

[cheetobuzz]

This goes right into how getting things on media can tear up the fun in learning or doing things for oneself. Similar to how many who have a writing hobby with fans can go onto find professional writing a grudge. It's nice to hear how this is broken down and kept as social endeavors, because that is part of what language is. Of course when it gets broken down for interviews, it's just turned into more ways to humor the lowest and lazy.

[dalwinkoh]

"You can translate words easily, but you can't quite translate meaning." Discuss.

Hmm, I guess he is referring to how a word in a language can have a different meaning or even nuances in the meaning or interpretation when being translated into a different language.
I am thinking of synonyms in particular, how a word can have multiple synonyms. They would essentially have the same meaning which can be translated into a word encompassing that same meaning. Yet to translate the different synonyms into different words encompassing those nuances in meanings can be next to impossible to do so.
In my experience, since I am fluent in both English and Chinese, I can say that it is definitely true. For instance, the synonyms for "happy" would include "estatic", "elated", and "joyful" just to name a few. The nuances in the meaning of the synonyms would be the degree of happiness; they would generally mean very happy. Translating the word "happy" in Chines would be 开心 (Kai Xin). To translate the general meaning of being very happy into Chinese would simply be "很开心" (Hen Kai Xin) or "非常开心" (Fei Chang Kai Xin). Yet if you would to ask me to translate the multiple synonyms of happy into Chinese would be difficult. I can think of some synonyms for happy in Chinese, lke "高兴" (Gao Xing), "快乐" (Kuai Le), “喜悦" (Xi Yue), and "愉快" (Yu Kuai), but to say that any of these words would be able to match the meaning of the above English words exactly would be incorrect to say so.


What are your thoughts on it?

[dianagusprioutomo]

We learn about a new languange. We learn about a new culture. Therefore, we need to respect each other, as like learning a new languange.

[bukurie]

Thank you for your talk!Best is to know some language...and it is easy to comunicate only where we go!Fantastic🌟🙏

[Edgarsantosofficial]

I’m Brazilian and always fascinated with the art of learning a new language, my biggest problem l start to learn Italian, 6 months later after learn the basic l drop and move to Hebrew . Eu nao entendo por que faço isso 😢

[lariklaqin]

Hello, I'm Frome Cambodia. I love TEDx Talks.

[aerilistaryliasae]

Im stuck at japanese language, it reading system baffles me. Loves this speech.

[emmanueltorresgonzalez]

Yo también lo dejé. Estoy aprendiendo italiano. Los primeros meses hacía mucho eso de traducir. Hasta que un amigo que me repasaba me explicó que ese era uno de mis problemas y borrar Duolingo fue el paso 1. Porque era donde más hacía eso. 100% de acuerdo.

[mizfrenchtwist]

hello, kudos, young man, you, for sharing

[karennadeau]

It's easier to understand a new language then speak it.

[ezekielstewart]

“You can translate words but can’t translate meaning “ why ? Because of the languages cultural attachment.

[alang.]

Why would I care about lessons from a kid that learns many leanguages for no reason?