Re:Ask HN: To those who became fluent in a second language, ...
by babuskov on Sunday October 16, 2016 @09:55AM
(#12718588)
> hint: you need to use words like tinder, kindling, flint, etc.)
My language doesn't have a word for "kindling". If you want to translate it, you would use something like "material used to start the fire". So, by you reasoning, for someone from my country to be fluent in English, they also have to know that concept of "kindling" exists and has a name?
Thinking about it, I can't say I disagree. You have to know about the way people reason about stuff, not just words to name them.
My language doesn't have a word for "kindling". If you want to translate it, you would use something like "material used to start the fire". So, by you reasoning, for someone from my country to be fluent in English, they also have to know that concept of "kindling" exists and has a name?
Thinking about it, I can't say I disagree. You have to know about the way people reason about stuff, not just words to name them.