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How hard is it to build an open source alternative to Duolinguo? (feddit.it)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

+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.

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