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Read a book. Learn a language.
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Zak Erving

Prismatext — Read a book. Learn a language.

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Prismatext™ makes learning a language as easy as reading a book. We blend the most useful foreign words and phrases into your favorite novels and stories.
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Zak Erving
Maker
Hello PH! Years ago, I was reading Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" and became enamored with the way the author created a street slang spoken by the protagonist. Early in the book, readers are thrust into English sentences that used Russian words. After a few pages of seemingly incomprehensible ramblings, the meanings of those words started to take root. To this day, I remember "droog" as "friend" and "devotchka" as "girl," among other words. It inspired me to search for other literature that used this "blended language" approach to learning, but nothing at the time existed. Adding to this, language learning apps are having a heyday moment, but in using them I've found a few pain points: • Lots of dead ends: practice for the sake of more practice? No thanks. • Same old curriculum: I know how to ask where the library is in like, 6 different languages, but I've never had to ask where one was. • They're time-consuming and chore-like. Fifteen minutes per day doesn't sound like a lot until it is. It also takes you out of other activities—like reading a book—for which you have to make time. Prismatext is for people who want to add language learning to their reading habit. Prismatext leverages natural language processing to enhance popular literature, creating "blended language" versions in 16 languages (and multiple densities). An average Prismatext book will introduce to a reader over 250 foreign words, allowing them to quickly acquire useful words and phrases in their target language. Prismatext delivers a faster and richer learning experience by reinforcing retention through repetition, context and storytelling. We're spending this summer adding lots of contemporary titles to our bookshelf, so stay tuned and see if something jumps out at you! Or perhaps you spy a classic you've been meaning to read, but haven't yet: we've got those, too! In addition to new languages, densities, and difficulty levels, there are a ton of other features that we're excited to build for you. And we'd love to hear your suggestions, ideas, and feedback :)
Ankur Mehrotra
@zakerving I love the concept. I do have some feedback which may be of help, I am a German learner after I moved to Germany so this feedback is based on my own struggle. 1. Please be transparent that this method of Prismatext helps in building vocabulary. It does not help with grammer rules. 2. As a way to introduce users, you can show a page preview of the books you are selling i.e. in the product page show images based on languages. It helps understand what they are in for. 3. Add a complexity/readibility score i.e. books for beginners vs. advanced. 4. On the App i cannot view anything unless I sign up, I would rather allow users to browse the app a little before pushing for a login. 5. I disagree with the copy on home page that people have been taught the wrong way. No, but maybe the old way doesn't fit everyone and thus Prismatext offers a different option. 6. Will be nice to offer a free book or a free chapter to get users in the door, as an award for registering.
Zak Erving
Maker
@ankur_mehrotra1 This is awesome, thank you for your insight & feedback! 1. We focus on the independent clauses that exist within sentences, so there is an element of grammar that the books do teach (relationships between nouns & adjectives). As we continue to build and improve our models, we'll be able to introduce more advanced grammatical concepts (noun cases, particles, indirect vs. direct objects, etc). 2. Excellent suggestion! 3. Also a great suggestion—although we are also trying to take the approach that a reader of any ability can pick up any of our books, since you're able to alter the density. You'll also be able to customize your experience according to vocabulary you'd like to learn (in development). 4. We just released a new version that allows you to read from a selection of samples without having to even create an account. 5. I appreciate this insight! 6. See #4 :)
Basharath
It's an interesting idea. Cool product. Congrats and all the best.
Zak Erving
Maker
@basharath Thank you!