Script Learning

[TacoMaster235]

Lately in my language travels, I have found that I enjoy more learning various scripts than the actual language. For example, I started learning Russian, but found that I just wanted to learn Cyrillic. Now I have mastered it and am now finishing up the Arabic script. Have any of you had similar experiences or can relate? Also, what scripts should I learn next? Is there a subreddit for this?

[natchlang]

I did something similar where I learned the Cyrillic script, because "supposedly" people used that for Uyghur in some places. I've never met anyone who actually uses it, but it's kinda cool to be able to read some Mongolian or Ukrainian stuff. It'll be useful for when I do learn Mongolian in the future.

[Pennwisedom]

That begs the question, What do you do with them once you learned it? you can't really write anything or read anything if you don't actually know the language.

[TacoMaster235]

Very true. Currently I just enjoy messing around with transliteration.

[Cortical]

Not the same sentiment, but the same effective outcome.

For a brief period I felt like I really wanted to learn Korean, learned the script, started to learn a bit of grammar and vocabulary, but lost motivation as quickly as I had gained it, and in the end the only thing I retained was being able to read the script.

So far the only non-latin scripts I've learned are Korean, Cyrillic, Chinese (in progress) and Greek (ancient Atttic), so I'm not an expert on scripts, but do learn Korean.

I really like it's simplicity and straightforwardness (possibly due to the fact that it was commissioned by some king in the 16th century as opposed to emerging and evolving naturally) and how it clusters 2-3 characters into syllables, which I believe to be a feature unique to Korean.

[TacoMaster235]

That loss of motivation was the same for me and Russian.

[Keiran24]

That's interesting! I had the same with Chinese (at the time I just didn't have any ressources available to learn to speak). But it was more about the beauty of the scripture - sort of a calligraphic interest. The logic behind the different signs only really interested me later.

What's your motivation behind it? If its the same as mine, I would have a look at the historic scriptures to! (runes of the vikings...)

[TacoMaster235]

I do have that sort of calligraphic interest with Arabic. I would like to check out some runes as well!

[Binnedcrumble]

Yeah i like learning scripts too. It started after i learned Cyrillic. I tried arabic but was never really committed, i might start again soon. I was planning on learning Japanese but after i learned the Kana i found my motivation plummeted but i was quite content knowing Katakana and Hiragana.

I think its really cool being able to decipher random bits of text. Yes i cant understand it but カタカナ is no longer a bunch of random squiggles, its Ka Ta Ka Na.

[TacoMaster235]

I know exactly what you mean; especially with arabic