Language Myth-Busting: Debunking Common Misconceptions About Languages

Do Eskimos really have 50 words for snow? Are some languages objectively harder to learn than others? And what about those “untranslatable” words—are they really impossible to express in other languages? Today, we’re diving into the biggest myths about languages, breaking them down one by one, and uncovering the truth behind the tales. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about how we communicate!

1. The 50 Words for Snow Myth

This is the granddaddy of language myths. The idea goes something like this: Eskimos (more accurately, Inuit people) have 50—or sometimes even 100—different words for snow. The reality? Inuit languages like Inuktitut use a system called polysynthesis, which allows speakers to combine root words and suffixes to describe snow in super-specific ways.

For example, they might say qanuk for “falling snow,” matsaaq for “wet snow,” and pukak for “crystalline snow.” But instead of being 50 separate words, these are more like creative combinations. English has snow-related words, too—think “sleet,” “slush,” or “powder.” Does this mean English has dozens of words for snow? Not quite, but it’s not far off!

So while it’s true that Inuit speakers can describe snow in ways we can’t, the idea of a mystical “snow dictionary” is more myth than fact.

2. Untranslatable Words? Not Exactly.

Have you ever heard about “hygge,” the Danish word for cozy contentment, or “schadenfreude,” the German word for taking joy in someone else’s misfortune? These words are often described as “untranslatable,” but that’s not entirely true.

Untranslatable doesn’t mean the concept is impossible to explain—it just means there isn’t a one-word equivalent in another language. Instead, we need a phrase to capture the idea. For example, the Japanese word tsundoku describes the act of buying books and letting them pile up unread. Sure, there’s no direct English word for it, but every book lover knows exactly what it means.

Languages are full of these quirky, specific words that highlight cultural differences, but nothing is truly untranslatable. It just takes a little creativity to explain!

3. Are Babies Really Language Geniuses?

There’s a popular belief that babies are born as linguistic sponges, capable of learning any language effortlessly. And while it’s true that infants have an amazing ability to hear every possible sound in every possible language, this superpower starts to fade around 8 months old.

After that, babies begin focusing only on the sounds they hear regularly. That’s why a child growing up in a bilingual household might pick up both languages easily, while an adult learning a second language might struggle with unfamiliar sounds.

So, are babies language geniuses? Kind of—but they still need consistent exposure and interaction to actually learn a language. Sorry, parents: plopping your baby in front of a French TV show isn’t going to make them fluent.

4. Are Some Languages Harder to Learn?

It’s a common question: is Mandarin the hardest language to learn? Is Spanish the easiest? The answer depends entirely on your perspective.

For English speakers, languages like Spanish or French might feel easier because they share vocabulary and grammar patterns with English. On the other hand, someone who grew up speaking Mandarin might find Japanese easier because the two languages share similar writing systems and vocabulary.

The truth is, the “hardest” language is the one you’re least motivated to learn. If you’re passionate about learning Klingon or Elvish, you’ll probably master it faster than someone who’s forcing themselves to study Spanish because they think they “should.”

5. Quick-Fire Language Facts That’ll Blow Your Mind

• Myth: Shakespeare invented 1,700 English words.
  Fact: Shakespeare was a creative wordsmith, but many of those words already existed—he just popularized them through his plays.
• Myth: Sign languages are universal.
  Fact: There are over 300 distinct sign languages around the world, each with its own grammar and vocabulary.
• Myth: You need perfect grammar to be fluent.
  Fact: Most native speakers can’t explain grammar rules, but they communicate just fine. Fluency is about communication, not perfection!