I said I learn 'languages' in plural but
I pretty much only know Japanese as a third language (My second being English, first Bangla).
Every other language that I'd tried to pick up was just too difficult in one way or the other.
Japanese is also difficult, don't get me wrong, and I claim exactly... 2% proficiency in it,
but the Kanji, man the Kanji are a god-send.
It's way easier to remember kanji compounds than seemingly random strings of alphabets, in my opinion.
I'd tried picking up German but the gendered grammar terrified the bones out of me.
It's like having to learn a single word twice over, and that shit adds up fast. Too much brainpower required. No can do.
If Kanji is so convenient to me, why not pick up Chinese? The tones... I am very bad at controlling my vocal cords, be it singing, speaking or otherwise.
Chinese is just entirely impossible for me, I fear.
But, but, but! I am learning Hanzi. But just for reading comprehension.
I also like learning surface-level concepts about linguistics in general
Forgot to mention, I only claim 2% proficiency in Japanese reading. Listening? I don't get enough practice.
And expressing my own thoughts through speaking and writing? Treading fantasyland territories here, buddy.
I know I'm sounding so lame rn, but I do love learning Japanese,
and I really can read and understand a decent portion of simple manga series I swearrr.
I'm at N3 vocabulary-wise.
Grammar, I don't even know. I wanna say N4 but it could even be N5.
Obviously, the primordial harbinger was anime. Because of anime, I'd gotten interested in anything Japanese,
so I started listening to J-pop. While listening to Hakujitsu by King Gnu for the hundredth time,
I thought to myself, "It'd be so cool if I could just close my eyes and chill and understand what they're singing,
without having to look up the lyrics." and so, on an impulse,
I downloaded a Hiragana flashcard app (which I can't seem to find anymore :( unfortunately)
I had exactly zero experience with language-learning prior to that,
and I'm seriously not the type to step outside my comfort zone ever, because i think "Obviously I'm gonna fail"
So the only reason I could thoughtlessly, optimistically, start my Japanese journey was bcz I was so blinded by my love for its culture,
that I forgot to tap into my insecurities and think 'nooo ill fail itll be embarassing i shouldnt even start'.
And I think that's gotta be the meaning of life `3` to experience that freeing sensation caused by sheer love for an interest.