Over the dinner table recently somebody was accusing me of being particularly good at languages. I tend to demur on this question, ascribing whatever language proficiency I may have more to continual hard work than anything else.
However, recently Duolingo has started offering me the option (in my Japanese course) to "repeat back" type exercises in concentrated blocks of ten. I have discovered that I can do much better at this if I just close my eyes and listen than by looking at the characters. This suggests that I have strong aural/oral pattern recognition relative to reading.
It could of course also be that the Japanese writing system is such a cognitive stretch, which it is. I continue to try to learn all the characters but golly does it tax the old brain. Or maybe I'm good at listening and mimicking, which could also explain whatever musical talents I may have, many of which lie fallow as the whole reading/writing/languages project continues to soak up time. As does watching sports highlights and, sadly, work.
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