Hacker News with Generative AI: Language Learning

Ask HN: Is anyone using AI conversation partners? (ycombinator.com)
I'm obsessed applying LLMs in language learning software. One thing I am not-so-obsessed with is a wave of conversational chat apps that many startups have begun offering.
Artificial Intelligence, Language Learning, Chatbots, Startups
22 points by rickcarlino 31 days ago | 35 comments
Duolingo CEO tries to walk back AI-first comments, fails (htxt.co.za)
Following backlash to statements that Duolingo will be AI-first, threatening jobs in the process, CEO Luis von Ahn has tried to walk back his statement.
Artificial Intelligence, Language Learning, Business, Technology, Controversy
459 points by Improvement 32 days ago | 325 comments
Lipu sona – Toki Pona Learn the language of simplicity (sekor.eu.org)
Language Learning, Toki Pona, Show HN
9 points by modinfo 38 days ago | 12 comments
Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary (dictionarygames.io)
There are more than 100,000 words in the English language. A typical native speaker knows more than 10,000. How many do you know?
Mobile Apps, Education, Language Learning, English
12 points by tomek_zemla 41 days ago | 21 comments
Ask HN: Conversational AI to Learn a Language (ycombinator.com)
Language Learning, Conversational AI, Artificial Intelligence
85 points by edweis 42 days ago | 61 comments
How to acquire any language (2018) [video] (youtube.com)
Language Learning, Video, Education
5 points by Curiositry 43 days ago | 0 comments
Show HN: NewWord – AI powered personal vocabulary collector (newword.app)
Supports the vast majority of languages, NewWord can expands your personal dictionary with AI.
Artificial Intelligence, Language Learning, Tools
4 points by Akring 43 days ago | 1 comments
Show HN: YapCards (iOS) – Voice-driven flashcards with AI feedback (ycombinator.com)
I wanted to be able to practice Spanish vocab while on my commute to work so I created YapCards. It's an iOS app focused on making flashcard studying hands-free & efficient.
Mobile Apps, iOS, Language Learning, Artificial Intelligence
20 points by DonEsquire 44 days ago | 9 comments
Accents in latent spaces: How AI hears accent strength in English (boldvoice.com)
We work with accents a lot at BoldVoice, the AI-powered accent coaching app for non-native English speakers. Accents are subtle patterns in speech—vowel shape, timing, pitch, and more. Usually, you need a linguist to make sense of these qualities. However, our goal at BoldVoice is to get machines to understand accents, and machines don’t think like linguists. So, we ask: how does a machine learning model understand an accent, and specifically, how strong it is?
Artificial Intelligence, Speech Recognition, Linguistics, Language Learning
245 points by ilyausorov 52 days ago | 128 comments
DuoBook: Generate bilingual stories to learn any language (duobook.co)
Language Learning, Storytelling, Generative AI, Software
95 points by celltalk 54 days ago | 79 comments
The language brain matters more for programming than the math brain? (2020) (massivesci.com)
A recent study published from researchers at the University of Washington showed that language ability and problem solving skills best predict how quickly people learn Python, a popular programming language.
Programming, Language Learning, Neuroscience, Research
415 points by smusamashah 56 days ago | 452 comments
Why is English so weirdly different from other languages? (aeon.co)
English speakers know that their language is odd. So do people saddled with learning it non-natively. The oddity that we all perceive most readily is its spelling, which is indeed a nightmare. In countries where English isn’t spoken, there is no such thing as a ‘spelling bee’ competition. For a normal language, spelling at least pretends a basic correspondence to the way people pronounce the words. But English is not normal.
English Language, Linguistics, Language Learning
20 points by ColinWright 57 days ago | 16 comments
LibreLingo – FOSS Alternative to Duolingo (librelingo.app)
LibreLingo was created by Dániel Kántor and various contributors.
Open Source, Language Learning, Education
804 points by hyperific 60 days ago | 363 comments
Duolingo will replace contract workers with AI (theverge.com)
Duolingo will “gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle,” according to an all-hands email sent by co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn announcing that the company will be “AI-first.”
Artificial Intelligence, Business, Language Learning, Labor
181 points by donohoe 60 days ago | 117 comments
Show HN: I built an app so I could read the 3 Body-Problem in Chinese (readly.ink)
No more time lost looking words up and adding to Anki flashcards. Do it all with Readly, in a single tap.
Software, Language Learning, China, Science Fiction, Productivity
29 points by alexSimpson96 66 days ago | 13 comments
Show HN: Duolingo-style exercises but with real-world content like the news (fluentsubs.com)
Education, Language Learning, News, Technology
472 points by ph4evers 88 days ago | 184 comments
To the brain, Esperanto and Klingon appear the same as English or Mandarin (news.mit.edu)
A new study finds natural and invented languages elicit similar responses in the brain’s language-processing network.
Neuroscience, Linguistics, Language Learning, Brain Research, Language Processing
9 points by ilamont 101 days ago | 4 comments
How to learn a new language like a baby (theconversation.com)
Learning a new language later in life can be a frustrating, almost paradoxical experience. On paper, our more mature and experienced adult brains should make learning easier, yet it is illiterate toddlers who acquire languages with apparent ease, not adults.
Language Learning, Cognitive Science, Education, Psychology
87 points by rwmj 104 days ago | 43 comments
Show HN: Wordazzle – Become eloquent by mastering elegant words, powered by AI (wordazzle.com)
AI, Language Learning, Games, Web Apps, Productivity
10 points by creature_x 110 days ago | 12 comments
Learn Arabic (arabic.fi)
Arabic is my life. Learning Arabic is the best thing I have done. Thanks to Arabic, I have discovered poetry. Learning Arabic is fun and easy, if you have the right tools. This is the website I wish I had when I started learning Arabic.
Language Learning, Arabic Language, Education
114 points by teleforce 111 days ago | 38 comments
The Japanese App Where Everyone Speaks Chinese (But Not Really) (sixthtone.com)
In December 2024, a solo Japanese software developer known as asa quietly uploaded a new program to the Apple and major Android app stores. Called Tsuita, it’s essentially an ultra-simple online platform with just a single, rudimentary function: allowing users to post short, text-only messages.
Japan, Social Media, Mobile Apps, Language Learning
20 points by hunglee2 115 days ago | 3 comments
Ereader Easy Swedish (ereader-swedish.fly.dev)
Upload *any* epub book and read it in easy Swedish.
Ereaders, Language Learning, Swedish, Education
114 points by cubbic 116 days ago | 66 comments
The Mandarin Scrolls (官卷) – A Mandarin Language Learning Mental RPG (mandoscrolls.com)
For Cantonese, check out The Cantonese Scrolls (粵卷).
Language Learning, RPG, Mandarin, Cantonese
4 points by fearedbliss 131 days ago | 0 comments
Show HN: A New Way to Learn Languages (langturbo.com)
Learn faster with podcasts and the latest language learning research.
Language Learning, Education, Podcasts, Research
67 points by sebnun 133 days ago | 53 comments
Duolingo Handbook (duolingo.com)
Education, Language Learning, Duolingo
28 points by shacker 137 days ago | 12 comments
Show HN: Ricotta – Language Learning to Replace Anki (affineur.io)
Language Learning, Software, Anki, Education
58 points by williamsss 141 days ago | 79 comments
Show HN: Grammarly-like extension for any language (chromewebstore.google.com)
Instantly improve your writing to native-level in any language with Nativish's AI-powered writing assistant
AI, Writing Tools, Language Learning, Chrome Extensions
10 points by BWStearns 142 days ago | 3 comments
The Cantonese Scrolls – A Cantonese language learning mental RPG (cantoscrolls.com)
Welcome to The Cantonese Scrolls (粵卷) - A Cantonese Language Learning Mental RPG.
Language Learning, RPG, Cantonese
126 points by fearedbliss 144 days ago | 54 comments
Show HN: Language Learning from YouTube content (fluentsubs.com)
Language Learning, YouTube, Education, Software, Web Applications
40 points by ph4evers 146 days ago | 6 comments
Show HN: Start Speaking Japanese Now (japanesecomplete.com)
Language Learning, Japanese, Show HN
6 points by jpcom 155 days ago | 5 comments