More than 190 days now of learning Haitian Creole. A few things I’ve learned along the way, in no particular order:
In some ways, it is far simpler than I expected. Once you get the sounds right, spelling is easy. One sound, one letter/letter combo (p.e., ui or ou or en). One letter combo, one sound (p.e., e, en, è always sound different from each other).
You can’t learn Haitian Creole w/o learning about Haiti. Not just because learning a national language requires you to do so with respect for those who speak it. But also so much of the language is explained by the nation’s history.
Every time I think I’ve moved from my rank beginner ranking, I have a conversation or read a text and I realize I am barely able to speak or read the language.
Yet also, when I have a conversation and my partner has some patience with me I pick up about 90% of what I’m hearing.
Becoming fluent is different than speaking well like a native. That takes having a great ear for sound and then being able to speak those sounds. M rayi aksan mwen an!
I sometimes wish I was living in a community where only HC was spoken so I’d be forced to listen and think in HC. Living here in the PNW gives me few opportunities for that.
I make do with Duolingo, several tutors, and connecting with people on several Discord servers.
#AprannKreyòl #KreyòlAyisyen