Learning Lithuanian

A long time ago I had chosen to learn to speak Italian because many of my friends, neighbors and even co-workers were Italian immigrants. I learned quickly and enjoyed having conversations with interesting and sometimes very colorful people.

Then I thought to myself…”Why not study Lithuanian ?” After all, I could already understand a fair amount of spoken Lithuanian. Even though I really had to struggle to hold a simple conversation.

But Lithuanian was not as easy as I had thought it would be! I won’t bore you with the details of
structure and grammar…but forget about relying on your knowledge of other European languages and their commonalities! The difficulty in learning Lithuanian is found in word placement, word endings, and making them “agree” with each other. So that you don’t screw up the ability of your “listener” to make sense of what you are saying. Some aspects are simple and enjoyable…Don’t let me discourage you from learning. It’s worth the effort.

Knowing when to “shift” the emphasis from one syllable to another when the situation demands is also tricky. If you are lucky enough to know a native speaker they are usually very helpful. But be warned! Some of the “old timers” and those who learned from them may not be on the same page with you and can often confuse matters.

The reason for this is most likely that they left Lithuania long ago. Languages change even over short periods of time. Lithuanian as taught and spoken by “modern Lithuanians” has undergone some significant changes since the turn of the previous century. Many descendants learned a “Familiar” form of Lithuanian that would usually be spoken only with family members and close friends.

They might offer strange looks if you speak with them in more “Polite” terms which
are intended to convey a sense of respect towards a new acquaintance or elderly person.