How hard is it to build an open source alternative to Duolinguo?
Speaking as a total ignorant from a coding perspective. But I guess that wouldn't be the hard part, considering that most of Duolinguo is just boxes and text inputs. How difficult it is to create a database of competent linguists with an efficient training who can progressively enhance your understanding of languages?
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I've used Language Transfer with good success. Don't even need to sign up, you can just go, click on a course and start streaming lessons. You can also download them locally.
https://www.languagetransfer.org/free-courses-1
The idea is to create rules that help you "transfer" words from the source language into the target language, hence, "Language Transfer".
For example, going from English to Spanish: Words in English that end in ation, will end in acion in Spanish.
Confirmation -> Confirmación Conversation -> Conversación
Further, words following this rule are "ar" verbs. Confirmation -> Confirmación -> confirmar
Another one is words ending in al, which came to Spanish and English via Arabic... are the same. Just said with an accent.
Normal -> Normal Formal -> Formal
A few rules might get you a few hundred words. And while some words might be more formal than how something is typically said, you should still be understood.
They're completely donation based, ad-free, and no sign-up required.
Looks really good! I'm sad they don't have Dutch though, that's what I'm struggling to learn
+1 for LT. The guy that runs it certainly has an open source ethos. The German one despite being a "Complete" series is frustratingly very incomplete, but that aside it was a useful way into the language. The word order explanations were particularly good. Everything is always free and the project as a whole is expanding with the help of volunteers and donations. It's a good thing to be a part of.
No mandarin offered though