What languages do you know and how do you learn new ones?

[schweb]

This is why I hated Latin. While I still know it, I don't count it as there's no one to speak it with. Go figure.

I love Latin, hence why I took it for 8 years and it was my major in college.

Interesting thing about it though is that what you learn is formal written Latin. There was a most likely a simplified spoken version but there's very little known about it since it wasn't usually written down.

 

[Dysfunction]

Go to the Vatican? I'm pretty sure it would be somewhat useful there.

Where do you think I learned it in the first place?! A Jesuit school!

 

[Dysfunction]

I love Latin, hence why I took it for 8 years and it was my major in college.

Interesting thing about it though is that what you learn is formal written Latin. There was a most likely a simplified spoken version but there's very little known about it since it wasn't usually written down.

I agree, there very likely was. I'm under no illusion that our ancestors were any less informal than we are in our speech. I salute you sir, anyone that can put up with that for 8 full years has my respect! (high school was enough for me)

Although, I do have to admit.. it made Life of Brian much MUCH funnier.

 

[iWhat]

I took some German in high school and have loved it ever since. Unfortunately, after high school, I haven't had much luck in being consistent in actively practicing it. I blame myself and the college I went to for not having the best language program.

I really got addicted to wanting to learn Dutch at one point. But I procrastinate too much, but I'll make that a thing of the past this summer. And I'm going to take a stab at Korean; I always wanted to try an Asian language. I find North Korea very interesting and the younger generation's culture of South Korea very intriguing.

I'm also going to add that I'm disappointed that Germanic languages aren't as popular to learn. I'm so good with pronunciation of the Germanic languages. I find it funny how well I can mimic German words better than most students, yet I can't speak it as fluently. Oh well.

I'm also really fascinated with Scandinavian countries. I thank the Amazing Race for that. Swedish is on the back burner, but my plate is already full of options.

 

[RavingMac]

Fluent in English and Arkansan

Latin 2 yrs
French 2 yrs
German 3 yrs
Spanish 2 yrs
1 sem Russian
Greek Currently self-studying

 

[pigoo3]

Fluent in...Arkansan

Yeah...this is the scariest language of the bunch! "Get 'er dun!"

Especially for someone who used to live in Boston.

- Nick

 

[BrianLachoreVPI]

Fluent in English and Arkansan

These are mutually exclusive... ;D

 

[schweb]

I've always wanted to take a stab at Russian, but honestly, for some reason I always struggle with languages that have a different alphabet.

 

[Kevriano]

Plain old English, and general drunken gibberish.
Did German at school, but have forgotten the majority.
I don't really have need to learn any new ones, though I did toy with learning Egyptian Arabic, as we go away there usually, however, recent troubles there have put pay to that.

 

[schweb]

God dag Schweb,har sta del till ?

Jag är bra, och du?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Fluent in English..

I can also manage
- Hindi (Conversational, not my "thinking" language though)
- Kannada (Understand perfectly, have lost a little fluency by not using it)
- Tamil (speak very sparingly, understand my family's dialect perfectly)
- Spanish (2 years in high school, very basic)

 

[iggibar]

I speak English and Albanian fluently. I know Italian, but am not able to carry a vocal conversation. I did a year of spanish class, but didn't like it at the time. Italian is similar, but I only became interested because of a relationship and I'm still learning BrianLachoreVPI was right on that one, a relationship will QUICKLY make you learn a language, and will make you want to learn until you understand it.

 

[McBie]

Flemish, My main language
Dutch, sort of flemish
French, fluent
English, up to you to judge -_-
German, fluent


In Belgium we have 3 official languages, so we all need to be fluent.

I am tempted to learn one of the many Chinese languages ....

Cheers ... McBie

 

[McBie]

... I'd love to learn Dutch but I don't really know where to start.

Well, I will help you ... we have just started.

Goede morgen.
= Good morning.

Cheers ... McBie

 

[vansmith]

In Belgium we have 3 official languages, so we all need to be fluent.

Is it a requirement in schools that you become fluent in Dutch, French and German? I wish that becoming fluent in English and French were a requirement here.

Well, I will help you ... we have just started.

Goede morgen.
= Good morning.

Cheers ... McBie

Excellent. I'm one millionth of the way there.

 

[McBie]

Is it a requirement in schools that you become fluent in Dutch, French and German? I wish that becoming fluent in English and French were a requirement here.

Excellent. I'm one millionth of the way there.

It is indeed a requirement at school to master the 3 languages, and then you need to pick a fourth one, which was English in my case.

You have to start somewhere mate ....

Biertje ?
= would you like a beer ?

Cheers ... McBie

 

[Moss]

I have spoken both English and Romanian all of my life. I have taken 2 years of Spanish at school, so I can get by with a very basic understanding of it I think.

 

[vansmith]

It is indeed a requirement at school to master the 3 languages, and then you need to pick a fourth one, which was English in my case.

Wow, we could use that kind of mentality here. Given that there can be some antagonism between the linguistic groups here though, trying to force people to learn the other languages could be quite the issue.

Biertje ?
= would you like a beer ?

You've taught me to ask for a beer and how to say good morning? What kind of mornings do you generally have?

(I'm jealous that you know four languages or at a minimum, have a passable level of comprehension).

 

[dero]

Jag är bra, och du?

Jag er ocksa god , tack .

The wheels are grinding and there is smoke...;P

 

[JUKE179r]

I always try and learn as much of the native language at wherever country I go to.
I can say "Hello... how are your doing?", "Can I please have a beer?" and "Thank you." in 13 languages.