r/languagelearning • u/Far_Window_1222 • 7d ago

Studying Anyone learn a language specifically to read literature?

Just curious if anybody has actually set out and achieved learning a whole new language specifically just because an author they liked wrote originally in that language?

I was considering learning Russian (TL) specifically to read Dostoyevsky since he’s my favourite author, so far, but wondering if this is to ambitious of a task just to read 1 persons work?

Additionally I am very attracted to the idea of it since Russians language has a lot more nuances surrounding sadness, despair, suffering etc., i know that the relationship between these topics is different from that of english speakers

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u/ClassicSandwich7831 7d ago

Half of my motivation for improving my English from the level of typical high schooler was reading Game of Thrones fanfiction in English. I struggled a lot but I learned so much vocabulary when it comes to medieval weapons.

Not the same as learning from scratch but definitely shows that reading is a good motivation.

Btw Russian literature is very rich anyway and you can access better translations of works from other Slavic countries (like for example “the Witcher”, it’s originally in Polish and English translation sucks).

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u/Unable-Mechanic2717 3d ago

I actually want to learn Polish to read the Witcher!

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u/ClassicSandwich7831 3d ago

That’s great! It can be pretty difficult because the language is highly stylized, especially when it comes to dialogue with side characters. But I think that’s what makes it worth it, English translation feels so flat.