alt Hacker NewsWell, for a native speaker of Dutch who doesn't speak English at all (not many left since my grandmother died in 2014), I'd say old English is actually easier to read than modern - starting around 1400.
Around 1000, English and Dutch must have been mutually understandable.
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vaylian • today at 6:59 PM
A native Frisian speaker would probably have an even easier time, given that Frisian is the closest language to English. However, Frisian is still more similar to other west-germanic languages than English.
trueismywork • today at 7:26 PM
I am Indian. I read easily to 1400. But then 1300 is suddenly difficult to read
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dboreham • today at 6:31 PM
My experience traveling to the Netherlands as an English speaker is that people are speaking English, but they're drunk!
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tried to read Prince and I assume it is a translation to English from Italian or whatever.
Assuming that translation was done a while ago (100+ yrs?)... It is hard to read. I can understand it if I try. But the phrasing is not current. 100 pages will take double the time at the least.
Almost think AI needs to rephrase it into current English.
Probably has these double negatives, long sentences, etc.