I would suggest that chess is not a language, but merely a CODE. If you think about it this way, then chess becomes something you slowly learn to "break" over time and many games.
I do believe that music IS a type of language .... one speaks it and one listens to it, gaining its 'meaning' on varying levels depending on the listener. I write symphonic music and commercial music (for a living), and I've given this subject quite a bit of thought over the years.
Chess, however (to me), resembles more of a code one learns to get better at cracking over time.
I would support the idea that learning chess takes some of the same skills as learning a language, or music. One has to learn the 'rules' of a complex system in order to become fluent.
In language, these are rules of syntax and grammar - children who have learnt many words make lots of mistakes in the way they express themselves, and gradually improve over time. Yesterday I heard three-year-old say "I done it" instead of "I did it".
Chess has the basic moves of each piece, which probably everyone at RHP knows (although the en passant move has been known to catch a few out), but the skill of putting those moves together to attack and defend properly takes much longer.
Originally posted by GambitzoidSorry dude, but that is absolute rubbish! There is no better way to improve than to play through lots of GM games. In fact, i'd go as far as to say it's the only way to improve.
i totally disagree, chess is nothing like learning a language.
learning a language involves learning by imitation and certainly learning by simply viewing thousands of GM games is a poor way tp improve at chess.
although i agree than younger people have an easier time of learning chess because younger minds learn everything better, but not at all because its like a language,
(No offense BTW 😉)