how many languages do you speak?
Jun 9th, 2004, 01:18 PM
#101
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was an English Major, too. Before that, I was a French Lieutenant (but there was a problem with a woman - you may have heard about it).
Actually, I majored in English and minored in French, so I'm fluent in both - in an academic sense. But there aren't any Anglo-Saxons or Middle Englishmen to chat with any more, and the conversational French taught here is all but useless when haggling in les Halles.
I have also studied German and Russian, so I can read the signs and ask questions, but I rarely understand spoken answers without asking for simplification. <i>"Nein - das heisst, ich <u>lerne</u> Deutsch..."</i>
Actually, I majored in English and minored in French, so I'm fluent in both - in an academic sense. But there aren't any Anglo-Saxons or Middle Englishmen to chat with any more, and the conversational French taught here is all but useless when haggling in les Halles.
I have also studied German and Russian, so I can read the signs and ask questions, but I rarely understand spoken answers without asking for simplification. <i>"Nein - das heisst, ich <u>lerne</u> Deutsch..."</i>
Jul 3rd, 2004, 01:20 AM
#104
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting that this post has been around since 2000 - and is still getting replies!
Aside from the obvious English..French, Italian, Latin, Greek (needed for historical research), limited German (sister lives in Berlin so I can get around while visiting there), Spanish, and Afrikaans. Goal is to learn Russian - my aunt and uncle live in Moscow and I want to visit soon!
Aside from the obvious English..French, Italian, Latin, Greek (needed for historical research), limited German (sister lives in Berlin so I can get around while visiting there), Spanish, and Afrikaans. Goal is to learn Russian - my aunt and uncle live in Moscow and I want to visit soon!
Jul 3rd, 2004, 01:52 AM
#105
Guest
Posts: n/a
I speak English, Spanish and French. I am Anglophone. I learned my French in Canada but I also have spent a lot of time in France. My accent is definitely Quebecois. When I speak French outside of Canada people say" Vous venez du pays de Celine Dion, ne c'est pas? You come from the country of Celine Dion! Pretty funny! In Quebec they know I am anglophone of course. But I always use French there and even after a weekend I feel totally immersed. Its a great place to learn and people really appreciate the effort. Its also pretty essential when you leave the touristy areas.
I lived in Spain for 2 years but strangely enough, the accent that I have is more Latin American. I have travelled quite a bit there too. I could never capture the rythm of the Spanish from Spain. I can immitate the accent but it does not feel natural to me.
I studied 2 years of Italian way back when but during a trip to Italy. I actually remembered enough to get by.
There are tons of Lusophones(portuguese speakers) where I live but my brain is much too cluttered to learn another language. Quite honestly, I dont have any desire to learn to speak it. Portuguese seems very different than Spanish. Id rather maintain or improve my Spanish and French and maybe Italian . This a great thread!
I lived in Spain for 2 years but strangely enough, the accent that I have is more Latin American. I have travelled quite a bit there too. I could never capture the rythm of the Spanish from Spain. I can immitate the accent but it does not feel natural to me.
I studied 2 years of Italian way back when but during a trip to Italy. I actually remembered enough to get by.
There are tons of Lusophones(portuguese speakers) where I live but my brain is much too cluttered to learn another language. Quite honestly, I dont have any desire to learn to speak it. Portuguese seems very different than Spanish. Id rather maintain or improve my Spanish and French and maybe Italian . This a great thread!
Jul 3rd, 2004, 06:33 AM
#106
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm fluent in English. My French is horrible, but quite functional, and noone has ever laughed at me - to my face, that is! I can have basic conversations in (Lebanese) Arabic, and can follow a slightly more complicated discussion. My theory is that if you know 20 words in any language, you can survive, and I've survived in Spanish and Italian.
Unfortunately, I also know more Latin than my 9th grader...
Unfortunately, I also know more Latin than my 9th grader...
Jul 3rd, 2004, 09:12 AM
#107
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Native tongue: American English
Passable: Mexican Spanish, which I learned traveling around Mexico as a young child. I have forgotten a lot from lack of use, but it comes back very easily (just ask the guy I told off at the gas station in Hermosillo a few years back).
Rudimentary at best: German. Took three years in high school and a year in college, but if anybody asks, ich habe viel vergessen.
Currently trying to learn at least to pronounce some Irish and Welsh, if only to avoid embarassment during our upcoming trip when asking directions to places with Irish or Welsh names.
Passable: Mexican Spanish, which I learned traveling around Mexico as a young child. I have forgotten a lot from lack of use, but it comes back very easily (just ask the guy I told off at the gas station in Hermosillo a few years back).
Rudimentary at best: German. Took three years in high school and a year in college, but if anybody asks, ich habe viel vergessen.
Currently trying to learn at least to pronounce some Irish and Welsh, if only to avoid embarassment during our upcoming trip when asking directions to places with Irish or Welsh names.
Jan 27th, 2006, 07:18 PM
#108
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Americans are waiting.
"Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?" he asks. The two Americans just stare at him.
"Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?" he tries. The two continue to stare.
"Parlate Italiano?" No
response.
"Hablan ustedes Espanol?" Still nothing.
The Swiss guy drives off, extremely frustrated. The first American turns to the second and says,
"Y'know, maybe we should learn a foreign language."
"Why?" says the other. "That guy knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good."
"Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?" he asks. The two Americans just stare at him.
"Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?" he tries. The two continue to stare.
"Parlate Italiano?" No
response.
"Hablan ustedes Espanol?" Still nothing.
The Swiss guy drives off, extremely frustrated. The first American turns to the second and says,
"Y'know, maybe we should learn a foreign language."
"Why?" says the other. "That guy knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good."
Jan 27th, 2006, 09:13 PM
#110
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I SPEAK three languages: American English, German, and Spanish.
I understand two languages: American English and German.
I need a total immersion in Spanish before I will be able actually to understand native speakers.
I understand two languages: American English and German.
I need a total immersion in Spanish before I will be able actually to understand native speakers.
Jan 28th, 2006, 02:20 AM
#112
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fluent: English
Can survive in: German and Korean
Looking back at the time and money my parents, the US educational system, and I spent for me to "learn" various languages (Spanish, French, German, Korean) at various times, it was really pretty much a waste of both the time and the money.
Over the past 50+ years, I just haven't had enough opportunities to use the languages to make it a wise investment. A couple of 2 week vacations in Germany and visits back to Mrs. Fly's family in Korea certainly didn't make "learning" those languages worthwhile in terms of costs and effort involved.
Even living in the American southwest for many years didn't make the years of Spanish classes worth it.
For most English speakers, spending time and money really learning a foreign language (I'm not including learning some useful phrases for a vacation trip as "learning"
might be a nice hobby, but not especially cost effective.
However, for someone aspiring to any sort of career involving frequent contact with people speaking other languages, it would certainly be useful and cost effective. And with increasing globalization, more and more such careers are opening up.
Much more useful have been various courses covering world cultures, religions, and history.
Can survive in: German and Korean
Looking back at the time and money my parents, the US educational system, and I spent for me to "learn" various languages (Spanish, French, German, Korean) at various times, it was really pretty much a waste of both the time and the money.
Over the past 50+ years, I just haven't had enough opportunities to use the languages to make it a wise investment. A couple of 2 week vacations in Germany and visits back to Mrs. Fly's family in Korea certainly didn't make "learning" those languages worthwhile in terms of costs and effort involved.
Even living in the American southwest for many years didn't make the years of Spanish classes worth it.
For most English speakers, spending time and money really learning a foreign language (I'm not including learning some useful phrases for a vacation trip as "learning"
might be a nice hobby, but not especially cost effective.However, for someone aspiring to any sort of career involving frequent contact with people speaking other languages, it would certainly be useful and cost effective. And with increasing globalization, more and more such careers are opening up.
Much more useful have been various courses covering world cultures, religions, and history.
Jan 28th, 2006, 03:37 AM
#113
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mother tongue: Dutch (Flemish)
Fairly Fluent: English, French and Spanish
Basics: German, Italian and Catalan
I can get some basic Portuguese and Swedish for example, by comparing them with related languages I do know.
Fairly Fluent: English, French and Spanish
Basics: German, Italian and Catalan
I can get some basic Portuguese and Swedish for example, by comparing them with related languages I do know.
Jan 28th, 2006, 03:55 AM
#114
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mother tongue- English
speak- Russian and Spanish
want to study more- Korean and Italian
know enough -French
And as a child, my mom's best friend (who speaks Mandarin Chinese) taught us polite expressions in Mandarin. I thought it was really cool then, but mostly she used it to tell us things in public ("don't stare", "say hello", "try one piece", etc...)
I wish I still remembered those expressions! I would guess that if I heard a child getting reprimanded in public in Mandarin, I might have a flash back!!
speak- Russian and Spanish
want to study more- Korean and Italian
know enough -French
And as a child, my mom's best friend (who speaks Mandarin Chinese) taught us polite expressions in Mandarin. I thought it was really cool then, but mostly she used it to tell us things in public ("don't stare", "say hello", "try one piece", etc...)
I wish I still remembered those expressions! I would guess that if I heard a child getting reprimanded in public in Mandarin, I might have a flash back!!
Feb 20th, 2006, 07:25 AM
#115
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 19,230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wasn't around when this thread started. I've missed a lot!
English: native
Italian: fluent. Started studying after college
French: HS and college. It improves when I'm in France
Spanish: learning. Get by because of similarity to Italian
English: native
Italian: fluent. Started studying after college
French: HS and college. It improves when I'm in France
Spanish: learning. Get by because of similarity to Italian
Feb 21st, 2006, 02:06 PM
#116
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some interesting replies.
My mother tongue is American English.
I can get a museum ticket or a restaurant table in German, French, or Italian (which is actually rather sad, since I studied a couple of those for years).
My uncle tried to teach me Attic Greek when I was a child, but I was as impervious to learning it as I was to learning modern Greek years later. I visited Athens knowing how to say nothing more than "Hello," and "Thank you." And now I've forgotten even that.
Once I could read Latin with great fluency and recite Roman poetry almost beautifully (I thought), but it all rotted right out of my head years ago.
My mother tongue is American English.
I can get a museum ticket or a restaurant table in German, French, or Italian (which is actually rather sad, since I studied a couple of those for years).
My uncle tried to teach me Attic Greek when I was a child, but I was as impervious to learning it as I was to learning modern Greek years later. I visited Athens knowing how to say nothing more than "Hello," and "Thank you." And now I've forgotten even that.
Once I could read Latin with great fluency and recite Roman poetry almost beautifully (I thought), but it all rotted right out of my head years ago.
Feb 21st, 2006, 02:55 PM
#117
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting thread, so I should add to it, although nothing distinguished.
Mother Tongue: English
Reasonably good French (lived there one summer and high school courses)
A little bit of Russian (college courses)
Limited Italian and Spanish (what I studied for trips)
I'd love to learn Swedish, but it's so easy to get by in Sweden with English.
Mother Tongue: English
Reasonably good French (lived there one summer and high school courses)
A little bit of Russian (college courses)
Limited Italian and Spanish (what I studied for trips)
I'd love to learn Swedish, but it's so easy to get by in Sweden with English.
Feb 21st, 2006, 03:02 PM
#118
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 665
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I speak, read and write English, French and Italian - all fluently.
I can get by in Spanish, both speaking and reading, and I read Latin fairly well thanks to several years of Latin in school.
I know some traveler's mandarin chinese (about 300 words probably) and took one year of russian and can speak about 20 or 30 words, so basically have forgotten most of my russian! I also learned some arabic for my trip to Jordan and Egypt, but just enough to be polite and gracious when eating or shopping.
I can get by in Spanish, both speaking and reading, and I read Latin fairly well thanks to several years of Latin in school.
I know some traveler's mandarin chinese (about 300 words probably) and took one year of russian and can speak about 20 or 30 words, so basically have forgotten most of my russian! I also learned some arabic for my trip to Jordan and Egypt, but just enough to be polite and gracious when eating or shopping.
Feb 21st, 2006, 03:09 PM
#119
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bilingual: Spanish and English
Fluent: French and Catalan
Conversational (no writing, hardly any reading): Norwegian and German
Forgetting (but not without a fight) Mandarin Chinese
Learning: Syrian Arabic
Key phrases: Cherokee (thank you, Daddy!)
Claire
Fluent: French and Catalan
Conversational (no writing, hardly any reading): Norwegian and German
Forgetting (but not without a fight) Mandarin Chinese
Learning: Syrian Arabic
Key phrases: Cherokee (thank you, Daddy!)
Claire
Feb 21st, 2006, 05:42 PM
#120
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fluently: English only
But I can do basic tourist communication (verbal and written) in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italain, German, Dutch and the German-based Scandinavian languages. And I learned about 25 words of Hungarian for my trips (but everyone wanted to practice their english).
But slavic languages are a complete mystery to me - and those are my next goal - as well as learning the Cyrillic alphabet.
Oh - and I have about 8 phrases in Japanese.
But I can do basic tourist communication (verbal and written) in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italain, German, Dutch and the German-based Scandinavian languages. And I learned about 25 words of Hungarian for my trips (but everyone wanted to practice their english).
But slavic languages are a complete mystery to me - and those are my next goal - as well as learning the Cyrillic alphabet.
Oh - and I have about 8 phrases in Japanese.
