Are you tone deaf, or think you might be? Really, tonal languages are not that hard to master.
I'm no language expert, but I can tell you how many tones these languages have:
Mandarin - 4 tones
Thai - 5 tones
Cantonese - 9 tones
Vietnamese - 8 or 9 tones, depending on whom you ask
I'm not tone deaf, but Vietnamese is a really tough language to learn! I can manage words, order food, count from 1 to 10, bargain a bit when shopping, and overall, get by without being cheated, esp since I look like a Vietnamese.
I may be a Cantonese, but sometimes my tones and inflections still get mixed up. I definitely don't get enough speaking and listening practice. Reading is completely out for me. I read and type in Mandarin, not Cantonese! Cantonese is a strictly oral language for me.
My very strict Thai teacher, Mr Kim Song, taught me how to speak proper Thai clearly. He drilled me over and over again until I got the sounds right. For that, I am eternally grateful. I may speak Thai slowly, but I've got the right accent. It was so hard, though!
I learned Thai as an adult and managed to function quite well in the language, being able to follow meetings, church services, and conversations without problem.
Tones? They're a breeze only after you've put in sweat and effort to get them right. Bane? Only in your mind. Get down and cracking, if you really want to learn a language. Nothing comes easy, but the rewards are immeasurable.
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