NationStates Jolt Archive

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many benefits (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp)!

Because I'm lazy, dammit!

I don't care....And most people only speak ONE language.

I speak English fluently, and can understand most French. Ironically, I used to be the opposite.

The state school system tried to make me learn German but it didn't work and I don't remember a word.

I speak fairly good Spanish as well as English. I did it to A Level in school, and am very glad I did as being (I think) the third most spoken language in the world, it's a good tool to have. I'd need to brush up a bit though - I'd intend to do this when I return to university in the Autumn. I also did German to GCSE, but sadly have forgotten most of it.

I don't care....And most people only speak ONE language.
That doesn't make the world a better place, just more of a tribal one. C'est triste que tu ne veut pas comprendre plus qu'une langue. D'ou viens-tu, alors?

I haven't learned another language because, frankly, I don't have the time.

The closest I've come to another language is Latin, which, despite being defunct, is helpful in other areas of study.

i only speak one language i just intend to go through life oppressing those around me into speaking my language.

Not everyone has the time or interest in learning another language. To do so successfully you have to have a good reason to want to speak another language. It is not sufficient to do so just because you think it would be cool or whatever. If this is the case you will learn a few phrases, maybe a reasonable amount of vocabulary, but you will not "know" the other language, you will only know some words and some gramatical structures.

To truly know a secont language you have to live and breathe it for a longish period of time (a couple of years at least).

Why don't you learn a programing language Sin? Or maybe try some tensor calculations in abstract mathematics? Each person has things that they can do more easily and other things that they find difficult.

If you find learning natural languages easy, then it will be a mystery why others don't bother. But some of us have a great deal of difficulty with learning a second language. This does not mean that we are linguistically handicapped, we can be extremely competent with our mother tongue. It is simply the way we learn is not appropriate for learning languages. Therre is no rhyme or reason to most natural languages. The answer to most "why" questions concerning them is "just because it is that way". This makes language acquisition extremely difficult for those of us that learn by understanding how things work rather than by memorising and recognising patterns.

I don't care....And most people only speak ONE language.
Actually, that's not true. More and more people are becoming multilingual (http://www.askoxford.com/languages/culturevulture/general/speak/) than monolingual.

Also, it's not expected that English (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4387421/)will be the 'lingua franca' for much longer.

I took years of two other lanquages and I intend to further both.

I have been thinking of a new language.

Hedging between French and Chinese.....

I remember being taugh French in school, but the only things I can remember are "Bonjour" and "Je suis un ananas" (yes, I know what I'm saying). I think I'm going to try to relearn it, though.

I haven't learned another language because, frankly, I don't have the time.

The closest I've come to another language is Latin, which, despite being defunct, is helpful in other areas of study.
It may be defunct, but it still has benefit, as you've no doubt found.

Actually, that's not true. More and more people are becoming multilingual (http://www.askoxford.com/languages/culturevulture/general/speak/) than monolingual.

Also, it's not expected that English (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4387421/)will be the 'lingua franca' for much longer.


Then why is 90% of the world making sure they speak english? I mean singapore fears it will fall behind China.

Not everyone has the time or interest in learning another language. To do so successfully you have to have a good reason to want to speak another language. It is not sufficient to do so just because you think it would be cool or whatever. If this is the case you will learn a few phrases, maybe a reasonable amount of vocabulary, but you will not "know" the other language, you will only know some words and some gramatical structures.

To truly know a secont language you have to live and breathe it for a longish period of time (a couple of years at least).

Why don't you learn a programing language Sin? Or maybe try some tensor calculations in abstract mathematics? Each person has things that they can do more easily and other things that they find difficult.

If you find learning natural languages easy, then it will be a mystery why others don't bother. But some of us have a great deal of difficulty with learning a second language. This does not mean that we are linguistically handicapped, we can be extremely competent with our mother tongue. It is simply the way we learn is not appropriate for learning languages. Therre is no rhyme or reason to most natural languages. The answer to most "why" questions concerning them is "just because it is that way". This makes language acquisition extremely difficult for those of us that learn by understanding how things work rather than by memorising and recognising patterns.

Some people are completely bent on becoming as diverse as possible.

I don't care....And most people only speak ONE language.

If that's true, then the rest of us need to learn another. Monolinguism promotes isolation, and while that might have been ok in the past, it's not anymore. Everyone needs to speak multiple languages, no matter where you live.

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many benefits (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp)!

It wouldn't at all be efficient. I am an attorney, so by law, all of my legal transactions need to be in English. Everyone I could realistically theoretically do business speaks English. Virtually everyone in my community speaks English.

I agree that I COULD learn another language, but why devote hundreds of thousands of hours to learning a language that I can obviously do without when that time could be spent working, making money to pay my debts and give a better quality of life for my family, or advancing the job skills that I actually use? If I make $195/billable hour, why would I spend hundreds of hours learning another language when I could just hire a translator who, on the extremely rare occasion when I need it, will translate what I need for $15/hour? That doesn't seem to make sense to me.

If that's true, then the rest of us need to learn another. Monolinguism promotes isolation, and while that might have been ok in the past, it's not anymore. Everyone needs to speak multiple languages, no matter where you live.

I respectfully disagree.

I haven't learned another language because, frankly, I don't have the time.

The closest I've come to another language is Latin, which, despite being defunct, is helpful in other areas of study.

Latin is helpful when understanding English,Italian, Spanish and French-as well as anatomy and astronomy. I guess its a good foundation as when studying, many people have no idea what they'll be doing a few years down the road.

Not everyone has the time or interest in learning another language. To do so successfully you have to have a good reason to want to speak another language.

I've already given some reasons for learning another language, but here (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp) they are again.

And as for the idea of 'use it or lose it' I agree completely. But in North America and Europe at least, there are so many opportunities to immerse yourself in the language without having to travel. And the younger, the easier...if you don't know another language, at least consider having your children do so. They soak it up like sponges.

I took years of two other lanquages and I intend to further both.
Which ones?

If that's true, then the rest of us need to learn another. Monolinguism promotes isolation, and while that might have been ok in the past, it's not anymore. Everyone needs to speak multiple languages, no matter where you live.



I only know one language and do perfectly fine. There are far to many languages to counter isolation unless we all speak the same one as a second language.

Then why is 90% of the world making sure they speak english? I mean singapore fears it will fall behind China.
Because for the time being, English is still important as a second language...meaning these people are still multilingual. But many predictions say that English is losing it's dominance. You can't rely on being the 'most common' language for business forever.

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many benefits (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp)!

I love the link. The Educators are saying that we should spend more time and money learning! There's a shocker!

Some people are completely bent on becoming as diverse as possible.
Or completely bent on not.

I agree that I COULD learn another language, but why devote hundreds of thousands of hours to learning a language that I can obviously do without when that time could be spent working, making money to pay my debts and give a better quality of life for my family, or advancing the job skills that I actually use? If I make $195/billable hour, why would I spend hundreds of hours learning another language when I could just hire a translator who, on the extremely rare occasion when I need it, will translate what I need for $15/hour? That doesn't seem to make sense to me.

In your circumstances, it would only make sense if you started taking clients that were bi-lingual and you wanted to better communicate or impress/make them more comfortable, or as a hobby.

Plus-you've already learned a second lanquage-Legalese.

Languages I speak fluently.
English
Bad english
American
Canadian
Pidgen English

Languages I am slightly fluent in
Austrailan

Languages I can baby talk in.
Japanese.

If I make $195/billable hour, why would I spend hundreds of hours learning another language when I could just hire a translator who, on the extremely rare occasion when I need it, will translate what I need for $15/hour? That doesn't seem to make sense to me.
It makes less sense for adults, because it becomes harder as you age. And you've already gone into a profession where you don't need another language. Younger people, however, in order to widen their horizons and employment/travel opportunities should be encouraged to learn other languages. Again, the younger the better.

Or completely bent on not.

The very virtue of my life has made me very diverse, Sin. Dont implicate me there.

My native language is English, but I've reached the advanced college level in Spanish. I didn't mention it though because I haven't spoken it very much in the past few years in spite of my family being from Cuba and despite the fact I see them occasionally. I just haven't practiced the way I ought to.

I haven't taken a French class in over a year and I fear I've lost some of that. I also took Italian for a few weeks but have lost most of that.

English is my primary but I took Spanish in HS and Italian in college. I am not fluent in either of the latter two but I know a good deal of words. I can read a little German, sometimes, but I can't pronounce it for squat.

I love the link. The Educators are saying that we should spend more time and money learning! There's a shocker! Yes, it clearly makes them wrong. :rolleyes: Maybe you'd prefer a private company who sells language software to be endorsing the idea?

Which ones?

French, then Spanish.

In your circumstances, it would only make sense if you started taking clients that were bi-lingual and you wanted to better communicate or impress/make them more comfortable, or as a hobby.

Plus-you've already learned a second lanquage-Legalese.
LOL. No shit! Seriously...the layman can no more speak your language than they could start spouting off in Swahili with no study. You already HAVE spent hours learning a different language:). I think you can rest now!

Languages I speak fluently.
English
Bad english
American
Canadian
Pidgen English

Languages I am slightly fluent in
Austrailan

Languages I can baby talk in.
Japanese.
Don't forget Pig Latin! :D

The very virtue of my life has made me very diverse, Sin. Dont implicate me there.
I no more implicated you there than you implicated me with your original quote. Both our statements are valid in a general sense.

One thing I particularly love having more than one language, is being able to read literature in its native language, and being able to understand the music...I enjoy music from other countries much more when I can comprehend what they are singing about. I might like the melody and the music otherwise, but it probably won't stick around if I can't grasp the language being used.

Then again, books and music are kind of a priority with me :)

I learned French through most of elementary school but dropped it after grade 9. I took Spanish in grade 11. I've probably forgotten most of them by now. I know high school French - "Je suis, tu est, il es, elle es, nous sommes, vous etes, ils sont!" That'll be real useful in France or Quebec..."I am, you are, what kind of crazy philosopher are you?" This year I'm going into first year university though and I decided to take Modern Standard Chinese. Should be interesting.

The reason I don't learn another language is because my university only offers Iberian and Slavic tongues, and I didn't want to learn any of those...

I live in Delaware, USA... almost no-one here speaks another language unless they also speak English.

Sure, knowing another language would be better than not knowing one, but outside of using it to understand what they are talking about on Telemundo I'd hardly ever use it... I could look for those types of situations to practice a language, but I know already that I couldn't be arsed. Hell, I can barely be arsed to write this post, let alone practice my spanish (assuming I knew any, which I don't).

There's lots of things that I don't know how to do that would be kinda cool to know and would be helpful in the right situation. I don't know how to play the piano. I don't know how to climb a tree. I don't know how to fly a plane. I don't know how to load and fire a bazooka. What makes learning french or german so special?

I know, like, 6 programming languages. Do I get dap for that?

One thing I particularly love having more than one language, is being able to read literature in its native language, and being able to understand the music...I enjoy music from other countries much more when I can comprehend what they are singing about. I might like the melody and the music otherwise, but it probably won't stick around if I can't grasp the language being used.

Then again, books and music are kind of a priority with me :)Gah! Don't get me wrong, but I don't think French is suitable for good literature...

What makes learning french or german so special?The fact that they get captialized... :p

I know, like, 6 programming languages. Do I get dap for that?Uhuh, can you SPEAK them? :D

The reason I don't learn another language is because my university only offers Iberian and Slavic tongues, and I didn't want to learn any of those...
I really wanted to take Chinese in university, but they only offered Cantonese, and I wanted Mandarin:(. And had I known I could take another language by correspondance (other than French I mean) in high school, I definately would have. Now kids in Alberta get to start learning a second language in Grade 4. I got cheated :( and now I'm too lame and old to really learn another one well. Unless I go live somewhere and it becomes a necessity.

Gah! Don't get me wrong, but I don't think French is suitable for good literature...
MON DIEU!!!! Oh come on...there's some great stuff out there I'd rather read in its original French than in the bastardised English translation...

Fluent:
English
English Sign-Language ((which I guess is english))

Studying:
French
Spanish
Japanese
Sanskrit
German

Baby:
Chinese

I'm 15 so I feel I should have enough time to speak fairly well with these languages. I am adapt at learning languages, structure, spelling and usage. That is why I am hoping to learn most of these by 27.

One thing I particularly love having more than one language, is being able to read literature in its native language, and being able to understand the music...I enjoy music from other countries much more when I can comprehend what they are singing about. I might like the melody and the music otherwise, but it probably won't stick around if I can't grasp the language being used.

Then again, books and music are kind of a priority with me :)
I agree with the books. In spanish class we read simplified versions of various things to help learn. We also listen to music, but that doesn't help as much, seeing as I can't understand what is being sung in English music half the time. If the teacher gives out the lyrics, I ususally try to understand them, but otherwise it's a waste of time for me.

I really wanted to take Chinese in university, but they only offered Cantonese, and I wanted Mandarin:(. And had I known I could take another language by correspondance (other than French I mean) in high school, I definately would have. Now kids in Alberta get to start learning a second language in Grade 4. I got cheated :( and now I'm too lame and old to really learn another one well. Unless I go live somewhere and it becomes a necessity.Well, I got forced to learn a second language in Kindergarten (one grade before 1st), but that's because my school is German-American :D
Then French was mandotory at grade 7 and elective classes in grade 9 allowed another language (Latin or Spanish), but I went for informatics class instead.

First: English

Second: Spanish (semi-fluent)

Bits and pieces of: Italian, Czech, French, German

First language: Dutch
Second language: English (can almost speak it fluently... but my English teacher keeps noting the slightest mistakes I make, dammit!!)

Third languages (in the process of learning): French, German, Spanish

I desperately need to learn to speak Spanish fluently, because I'm moving to Spain in a few weeks! And I'm not going to one of those English schools. Sigh, the difficulties of life...

I speak spanish, english, portuguse, italian and I’m looking for a scholarship to go to Taiwan to learn mandarin.
I`m from south america so my mother language is spanish, and because both, portuguese and italian have the same root (latin) they are very easy to learn if you speak one of them. If you do and have the time and interest, try it.

Well, I used to be able to speak/write German, French, latin and a little Spanish (or should that be Spamish for NS?), but after I stopped studying them in school...well...I forgot pretty quickly. I can barely string two sentences together in German nowadays, and the others have fared worse over the years. :(

Dutch of course. And English. And bits of German and French. Oh and I know the word for "beer" in several other languages

Dutch of course. And English. And bits of German and French. Oh and I know the word for "beer" in several other languages
That and curse words are of course the most useful thing you can learn:).

That and curse words are of course the most useful thing you can learn:).
Fingers in the air works on both occasions :D

First:Irish
Second:English(which is unfortunately better than my irish)
Learning:German,for 7 years now.wow.then again ive been learning irish for *counts quickly in his head* for 13 years and im not fluent.pretty good though.

That and curse words are of course the most useful thing you can learn:).Things our French teacher made sure we knew :D

i have heard this said countless times...
i speak 2 and am learning a third. it's time consuming. but whatever. i still do it.

I am fluent in more than six million forms of communication, and can rea...

Enough of that. :)

Languages I'm 'fluent' in: English

Languages I can struggle through: French

Languages I can say "I am a vacuum cleaner" in: English, French, German, Japanese

That and curse words are of course the most useful thing you can learn:).

Yah

**(note to familiars: don't think "yeah" ... rather, think northern Wisconsin/Germany/Scandinavia and Jah)**

I had a housemate in college from China who taught me how to say something awful about someone's mom in Cantonese

came out sounding like doo lay lomo HI

Je suis Ecosse, mais j'adore parler francais! J'ai fait un GCSE en ca aussi, mais j'attends pour les résultats avec impatience!

Oui, oui, J'ai cherché "results" dans une dictionaire, mais...c'est bon!

Fluent:
English
English Sign-Language ((which I guess is english))

Studying:
French
Spanish
Japanese
Sanskrit
German

Baby:
Chinese

I'm 15 so I feel I should have enough time to speak fairly well with these languages. I am adapt at learning languages, structure, spelling and usage. That is why I am hoping to learn most of these by 27.

Good for you! You are very ambitious-I am impressed. It takes a unique mind to learn that many-and such diverse languages.
You will likely have many opporotunities available to chose from when you note these on resumes and applications.

Best wishes!

MON DIEU!!!! Oh come on...there's some great stuff out there I'd rather read in its original French than in the bastardised English translation...I've read Etranger and I couldn't stand it. French seriously seems too simple for proper literature... It just doesn't feel right when I read something in French... :(

Fingers in the air works on both occasions :D
But that's sign language...an official means of communication too:)

I spent a lot of time in South America (well only 6 months) and understood most of what was being said to me. I also spoke pretty well. Although I had problems with the accent just because it goes totally against my nature to slur my words (fine for speaking clearly in English but gives you a shitty accent in South America) so I had a shitty accent. I now have no practise time at all (England) and whenever I meet someone who speaks Spanish (rare) I have to speak it. Normally to the surprise of the person I'm talking to.

Either way i now spend a lot of time watching Spanish films and any program which might contain Spanish.

I've read Etranger and I couldn't stand it. French seriously seems too simple for proper literature... It just doesn't feel right when I read something in French... :(
That's fine, as long as you realise, this is just your opinion:).

I have decided not to choose what language I will learn as a fourth. I will learn Mandarin, Russian and Arabic this year. I already speak French, Spanish and English.

I tried taking German for 3 1/3 years, but the teacher was completely unprofessional, and had no real teaching skills. He, literally, spent the class time talking about world politics, and news events. It wasn't Deutsch Klasse, it should have been called Homeroom.

I know limited German. I wish I could speak more. I'd love to learn more. I despise xenophobes who can't even try to learn another language, it's such a learning and cultural tragedy.

German, English, some French, little Spanish.

You can't teach this old dog new tricks.

You can't teach this old dog new tricks.
Repeat after me:

ee-hoe day la grahn pootah kay tay pah-ree-OH.*

Now don't say I never taught you anything!

*(hijo de la gran puta que te pareo...son of the biggest slut that ever spat you out)

Okay, I take that back, as I've learned to read the language of signs and omens. It's not an officially recognized language, though, and I doubt it would look good on my resume.

Okay, I take that back, as I've learned to read the language of signs and omens. It's not an officially recognized language, though, and I doubt it would look good on my resume.
Anything coming up we should know about?

I'm no good at languages whether they be human or computer. I've had four years of Spanish and two years of programming in my school career, and I floundered through all six. Give me a bunch of equations, though, and I'll solve them in nothing flat.

In order of my knowledge:

English*
Spanish*
Latin*
German*
Polish
Croatian

*= Formal class. Next year's classes in language: German I/II A, Latin II, Spanish III H, English 10 H.

Does leet count as a language?if so 7h3n 1 7h1nk y0u'|| f1nd 1 h4v3 m4573r3d 7h3 |4n6u463.

That and i can speak in binary encoding.and a few others,eg ROT13

Does leet count as a language?if so 7h3n 1 7h1nk y0u'|| f1nd 1 h4v3 m4573r3d 7h3 |4n6u463.


Nope. Sorry. It's only a cipher.

I've studed two years of Spanish, although I don't remember much of anything from it, and three years of Latin. Latin was much more fun to me, and I remember a lot more from it that I do from my years in Spanish.

However, aside from this, I don't see a reason to speak fluently in a foreign language unless I'm actually prepared to vacation/move to a country where English is not predominant. I'm of the mindset that you should learn the main language of whatever country it is you moved to. That includes immigrants to the United States, where English, while unofficial, is the dominant tongue. If I move to, say, Germany, I would have myself, including others, expect me to learn German/Deutsche.

Practical logic, if you ask me...*shrug*

I don't really know another langauge because I'm not a langauge person.

I tried learning French... two years and I can still barely speak it. I could, possibly, exist by reading/writing it, but saying it is just way out of my reach. :headbang:

i know three languages- english, irish/gaeilge and spanish. fluent in them all(sorta......)

Nope. Sorry. It's only a cipher.


Ah crap it anyway.all those leet classes were for nothing.

And i dont even know what i'm gonna do with binary
011101110110100001100001011101000010000001100001001000000111011101100001011100110111010001100101


And that isnt a random series of 0's and 1's.

i have been forced to learn french and spanish at school, hated it, and have never been good at either, but i am now starting to learn BSL and im loving it!, im not deaf and i dont know anyone who is, but its fun to learn. does BSL (british sign language) count here?

Ah crap it anyway.all those leet classes were for nothing.

And i dont even know what i'm gonna do with binary
011101110110100001100001011
101000010000001100001001000000111011
101100001011100110111010001100101


I know...WHAT A WASTE:)

Yes, it clearly makes them wrong. :rolleyes: Maybe you'd prefer a private company who sells language software to be endorsing the idea?

Perhaps you would? Your post doesn't make sense to me because at first you seem to criticize my observation that your information is derived from an organization that is in the business of educating. Will we ever see the day when they say, "pre-kindergarten is nothing but state-sponsored daycare", or "kids who learn to read at school, not from their parents, have stunted reading capabilities and sub-average learning capabilities"? Sure the information may be correct, but the relability of the information is completely compromised by its source.

THEN, you suggest that I may prefer studies on these matters that instead come from a language software company. Of course not. But that's my whole point, which seems to have completely escaped you: either way, you can't rely on the information, and so you shouldn't.

Perhaps you were trying to suggest that, yes, the information may be questionable, but it's the most reliable source available. This would be a misassertion because there are plenty of unbiased sources that could and would study just this sort of thing.

So in closing, learning a foreign language would be an inefficient and unuseful expenditure of my time. :)

Mothertongue: Dutch
Very well: English
Understand, but not able to express myself very well: German
Besides that, a bit of French, and some Latin and Ancient Greek

Sure the information may be correct, but the relability of the information is completely compromised by its source.

So, even though the infomation is right, discard it because you don't care for the source. Interesting viewpoint. :rolleyes:

Perhaps you would? Your post doesn't make sense to me because at first you seem to criticize my observation that your information is derived from an organization that is in the business of educating.
By the way...where are you getting this idea that learning a second language is something that would make the Ministry of Education money? If you're enrolled in public school, your education is funded through taxes, whether you take a second language or not. And once you're an adult, your learning is at your own expense, and not an issue for this Ministry...so...?

I'm English. IF I SPEAK LOUD-LY AND SLOW-LY EE-NUFF ALL THE FOR-RUN-NERS CAN UN-DER-STAND ME.

Sorry ;)

Seriously: I don't speak to many people in English and have no reason to think any other language would be different. There are a few things I would vaguely like to read in their native languages, but not enough to learn ancient Norse or medieval German. I struggled at GCSE French, for crying out loud...

I occasionally feel like learning Latin just to be pretentious, but not much comes of it.

I know plenty of programming languages, though, they're much more useful.

English is my first language & I also speak French. I enjoy learning another language, it keeps my mind active. It's a real challenge thinking & talking about abstract or hypothetical ideas in a second language.

I speak English (obviously) and used to be fully fluent in French, but haven't had the opportunity to speak to any francophones in several years, which means I can no longer talk without pausing every few seconds to say "euhhh," forgetting to use the subjunctive mood, and so forth. It's very sad. :(

I can also speak tourist-German (i.e. I can say things like "Good morning! Where is the hotel? I am an American!" but that's about it), know all of the Latin you get from being raised Catholic with a biologist for a mother, and know a very tiny smattering of Italian. Oh, and a little bit of Quenya (high elvish) for the dork-factor. :)

At present, I'm trying to find someone to teach me Swedish, Finnish, or Welsh, primarily on the grounds that I like the sound of all three (though obviously in different ways for each), and I'm sort of bored with "mainstream" languages.

I've been working on learning Japanese but it has been slow going. Those kanji are a pain.

I know Chinese, Cantonese and English. I'm beginning to pick up French!!

I know English and am learning Mandarin. 11 years now and I still haven't gotten the hang of it: I'm in the beginners class at school. :(

I was learning French, but I decided to drop it. It was either French or Art and I chose Art. I want to start learning again, especially after watching A Very Long Engagement. It's such a pretty language.

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many!

I'm learning spanish to raise my pay as a csr at a call center but its not going to make America or the world a better place. It just gives me another buck an hour.

Why does it bother you so much if someone only speaks one language?

I just don't really care at all. Not to put down any other languages, its just that I don't see myself using the language enough to justify the amount of time and work it would take to learn. Look at Poli, he hasn't used his in several years.

I soeak primarilly english. Because it's the most common second language in the world I usually have little other purpose for any other language. Except Spanish but I am a contracter and there is a lot of local labor that is fluent in Spanish and semi-fluent in English. So it helps on jobsites. My Russian used to be pretty good but I have'nt been in country for over a decade so I can't remember much of it. Oddly enough it was Latin I took in school.....

English, French, and a bit of Spanish. I used to know some Italian. What happened there?

"Look, lady, I only speak two languages -- English and Bad English." -- Fifth Element

I just don't really care at all. Not to put down any other languages, its just that I don't see myself using the language enough to justify the amount of time and work it would take to learn. Look at Poli, he hasn't used his in several years.

She, actually. :)

And I still read books and things in French - I just never have a chance to speak it. I certainly hope to have the opportunity to travel more someday when I'm not dirt poor, though, in which case I'm sure it'll be useful.

She, actually. :)

Sorry, I didn't know, so you got the standard pronoun. Me and my patriarchal habits.

And I still read books and things in French - I just never have a chance to speak it. I certainly hope to have the opportunity to travel more someday when I'm not dirt poor, though, in which case I'm sure it'll be useful.

I hope you get the chance. If you are American (trying not to assume things), we could use all of the goodwill ambassadors we can get right now.

Sorry, I didn't know, so you got the standard pronoun. Me and my patriarchal habits.

Pas de probleme, as they say in France (although they add an accent grave, which I can't figure out how to type on my new computer). :) I tend to assume everyone on here is male by default, seeing as females are very much in the minority.

I hope you get the chance. If you are American (trying not to assume things), we could use all of the goodwill ambassadors we can get right now.

*sigh* I know we could. If someone would simply foot the bill, I'd be happy to tour the world saying, "Look at me! I'm an American who respects your culture and doesn't particularly respect Bush! We exist! I promise!" Sadly, that's not likely to happen anytime soon, unless I win the lottery or something.

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many benefits (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp)!


Yeah, I agree it can't hurt. I'd like to learn Mandarin, Russian, German, Arabic and Japanese for communication purposes.

Also want to learn Gaelic, Cantonese and Latin for personal purposes.

Because anyone worth talking to speaks English.

Actually I can cuss people out in Latin quite well.

I've taken four years of spanish in school. I rember only a part of it. I've thought of taking Portuguese in college but my Brazilian friend keeps on warning me not to.

I speak Tamil (native speaker), Malayalam (fluent), Telugu (passable), Hindi (fluent) and ofcourse English. Can converse a bit in Spanish and some other Indian languages like Bengali, Bhojpuri, Kannada etc (courtesy of travelling all over the place)

But I have been wanting to learn Chinese for a long time. Is there any good resource on the net ? Which is better Mandarin or Cantonese (from a business POV) ?

I have been thinking of a new language.

Hedging between French and Chinese.....

French is crap. :rolleyes: Go with Chinese, especially if you are in business.

Gah! Don't get me wrong, but I don't think French is suitable for good literature...

I don't think French is suitable for anything. :p

Why don't I learn another language?

Because I am dyslexic and have enough trouble with the one language I already speak!

I do try with other languages but I just cannot seem to get the writing or speaking part, I can translate basic French and German if they do not speak to fast but that is about it.

It not like I am thick, I have a Bsc in Biological sciences and I am working on an Msc for Quantity Surveying but I do not think that my brain works in the right way for languages.

Why don't I learn another language?

Because I am dyslexic and have enough trouble with the one language I already speak!

I do try with other languages but I just cannot seem to get the writing or speaking part, I can translate basic French and German if they do not speak to fast but that is about it.

It not like I am thick, I have a Bsc in Biological sciences and I am working on an Msc for Quantity Surveying but I do not think that my brain works in the right way for languages.

I know a girl who's dyslexic. Her parents made her switch schools because she was getting to her point where her chinese was better than her English.

Maybe Chinese would be okay.

Watashi wa skoshi nihongo o hanashimasta.

I'm taking Japanese classes in collage, but only because I am majoring in international relations, plan on specializing in Asian studies, and because my school brought in a native Japanese speaker to teach us. There are good arguments on both sides, but I have to say that if you don't travel a lot and don't work in a job that would put you into contact with other languages (and won't be promoted to a job where you would) it really is a lot of work for very little reward.

Fluent:
English
Swedish

Understand easily:
Norwegian
Danish

Understand ok:
Spanish
Italian
Latin
French
Esperanto

Know a few words/phrases:
Japanese
German

I don't think French is suitable for anything. :pDo you even know how to speak French? :confused:

English, French and German. I have also dabbled in Italian but don't have the time at the moment to learn it properly. Would also like to learn British Sign Language, but again I am restricted by time.

Markuk']Watashi wa skoshi nihongo o hanashimasta.

I'm taking Japanese classes in collage, but only because I am majoring in international relations, plan on specializing in Asian studies, and because my school brought in a native Japanese speaker to teach us. There are good arguments on both sides, but I have to say that if you don't travel a lot and don't work in a job that would put you into contact with other languages (and won't be promoted to a job where you would) it really is a lot of work for very little reward.

AA! Watashi wa Piontek Lindsay desu. Nihongo o wakarimasu. Hajimemashite. Douzo Yoroshiku!

Well, that may be the case where you are, but here in Detroit, one must understand Ebonics, Arabic (both dialects of Persian, and Traditional), Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian and surprisingly, Polish. (Although considering I'm a Polok I shouldn't be surprised).

I happen to be fluent (in order of confidence of speaking): Japanese, Ebonics, English, German, Spanish, and unfortunately french. I do know bits and pieces of Italian, and I also happen to know old and new Latin. My native language is English. However I have become more comfortable with Japanese as I find their language to be much more concise than the dull, complicated edge of English.

I am now currently trying to learn Sanskrit. I have a feeling that Sanskrit may eventually become the main programming language for computers eventually, especially in Artificial Intelligence Programming.

Oh, why why why? So many reasons... I don't want to... I'm incapable of learning another language (trust me, I can't do it; I'm technically qualified to speak German but I can't remember a single phrase)... I don't have the time... I don't have a reason... I don't have the resources... I don't want to... I don't have a reason...

Fluent in German, English and French. I'm currently trying to learn Gaelic...

I don't think that you necessarily have to travel a lot to profit from knowing a foreign language. Contact with the language in your job isn't essential either.
Me, I'm fascinated with the human mind, particularly its perception of reality. And that perception is shaped, if not determined by the language(s) it has available. It's amazing to watch how thinking and understanding of every aspect of life evolve when learning another culture's concept of understanding and interpreting reality.
Also, I'm a bit of a literature-fanatic (not overly surprising in a librarian, is it?), and I find that translation of literature are flawed at best, inadequate or misleading at worst. So I enjoy and appreciate it being able to read works of literature in their original wording and meaning.

I speak Tamil (native speaker), Malayalam (fluent), Telugu (passable), Hindi (fluent) and ofcourse English. Can converse a bit in Spanish and some other Indian languages like Bengali, Bhojpuri, Kannada etc (courtesy of travelling all over the place)

But I have been wanting to learn Chinese for a long time. Is there any good resource on the net ? Which is better Mandarin or Cantonese (from a business POV) ?

I'm thinking Mandarin. Looked up the two on Wiki and it seems Mandarin(standard) is more the norm of Chinese language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Mandarin

"Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China on Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore."

I'm adding Mandarin to my list of languages to learn.

Danska och norska räknas inte!

I'm currently trying to learn Gaelic...Cool! You'll finally be able to read the other half of the museum entries then :p

Cool! You'll finally be able to read the other half of the museum entries then :p

I live here, so I think it's only polite :p

I live here, so I think it's only polite :pI've heard an Irish tourguide claim that the government completely mismanaged the issue of the Gaelic language. They should have made it illegal; THAT would have guaranteed its survival :D

I've heard an Irish tourguide claim that the government completely mismanaged the issue of the Gaelic language. They should have made it illegal; THAT would have guaranteed its survival :D

He's got a point there. Currently, every child has to learn Gaelic at school, and they hate it just as much as I hated (and still hate) Latin. So, as soon as they leave school, most of them forget about Gaelic completely.
And TG4, the Gaelic TV channel, doesn't seem to affect that too much, either...

He's got a point there. Currently, every child has to learn Gaelic at school, and they hate it just as much as I hated (and still hate) Latin. So, as soon as they leave school, most of them forget about Gaelic completely.
And TG4, the Gaelic TV channel, doesn't seem to affect that too much, either...Course he had a point. Gaelic was an official language on paper only... Not that I mind terribly, I don't speak it so for practical reasons it's better for me that way, though I did buy myself a Gaelic-English dictionary a while ago. It would be hilarious though if they had to look for people to translate Gaelic to Maltese or Gaelic to Finnish for the parliament though... :D

Course he had a point. Gaelic was an official language on paper only... Not that I mind terribly, I don't speak it so for practical reasons it's better for me that way, though I did buy myself a Gaelic-English dictionary a while ago. It would be hilarious though if they had to look for people to translate Gaelic to Maltese or Gaelic to Finnish for the parliament though... :D

Actually, it is still spoken in some areas. The Aran Islands are Gaeltacht, for example. Some regions in Kerry and Donegal as well... but it is in serious decline as a first language.

Actually, it is still spoken in some areas. The Aran Islands are Gaeltacht, for example. Some regions in Kerry and Donegal as well... but it is in serious decline as a first language.

I wish i'd had the chance to learn gaelic but going to a mainly protestant school in the north its not really a likely subject to be taught. O well i better make up for lost time

I wish i'd had the chance to learn gaelic but going to a mainly protestant school in the north its not really a likely subject to be taught. O well i better make up for lost time

That's too bad... :(
But then, I'm trying to self-learn the language, I've got a book and some tapes. I don't think they'll take me very far, but maybe it's a good start.

That's too bad... :(
But then, I'm trying to self-learn the language, I've got a book and some tapes. I don't think they'll take me very far, but maybe it's a good start.

Yeah i've just been borrowing old text books from friends to help me out and then constantly bugging them for pronunciation help.

fluent in english, spanish & french.

understand italian, portuguese

and girlfriend is teaching me norwegian slowly but surely

Good question I speak Polish,English,Italian, and a lil Germen and Spanish.

So, even though the infomation is right, discard it because you don't care for the source. Interesting viewpoint. :rolleyes:


Good heavens. Are you one of those people who believes everything that they read? :rolleyes:

"This information isn't reliable because the source is biased"

"That doesn't change the fact that the information is right"

"How do you know that it's right? There's no other available data to support the conclusion, and the publisher has a conflict of interest that could skew the result"

"I don't know that it's right! I'm just saying that you don't know that it's wrong!"

"I'm not saying it's wrong. So what's your point, and why are you making an assertion based on data that you don't know to be right."

"..."

By the way...where are you getting this idea that learning a second language is something that would make the Ministry of Education money? If you're enrolled in public school, your education is funded through taxes, whether you take a second language or not. And once you're an adult, your learning is at your own expense, and not an issue for this Ministry...so...?

I realize now that you are an obvious product of the public education system, so I'll try to use monosyllabic words and keep my sentences short. As ANYONE who works in the budgeting process in the Public Sector would tell you, Departments inflate the urgency of their needs and the value of their services to justify additional spending. This is sometimes to line their onw pockets, but it's also to perpetuate their own job security and rationalize their relevancy to whomsoever they are accountable. These are facts that are not in dispute. Further, increasing the demands on education would increase the demand on educators, raising the value of their services. Page one, paragraph one of that book on the fundamental principles of macroeconomics that you never opened will tell you that an increase in demand creates an increase in price. This means more money for all involved.

It's like talking to a brick wall... :rolleyes:

And TG4, the Gaelic TV channel, doesn't seem to affect that too much, either...

well, no wonder! all the shows worth watching on the channel are in ENGLISH.... the others are, well, crap. i mean, who wants to watch 'sponge bob square pants' in a loud, annoying gaelic accent? i say they should have more gaeltcht areas and have a bigger restriction on non-gaelic speaking in those areas.

well, no wonder! all the shows worth watching on the channel are in ENGLISH.... the others are, well, crap. i mean, who wants to watch 'sponge bob square pants' in a loud, annoying gaelic accent? i say they should have more gaeltcht areas and have a bigger restriction on non-gaelic speaking in those areas.


Hey dont knock 'Power Rangers sa spas'[/sarc]in all seriousness i agree,over 13 years i've been learnin irish and im only ok.it's ridiculous the way we dont even speak our own language.admitedly im not that great at irish,and i prob could try harder.i should really have gone to the gaeltacht(an irish speaking area,there are a good few scattered around the west,south west and i think north west of ireland).

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many benefits (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp)!

what do you call someone who speaks two languages... bilingual.
what do you call someone who speaks one lanuage...american! hehe

If you are one of the minority in this world who are completely monolingual...why? Why NOT learn another language? What could it possibly hurt? And it has so many benefits (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/languages/benefits.asp)!

I wish I could learn another language, but it appears I am simply unable to do so. I believe it is related to my ADD.

I took 3 years of high school and 1 year (actually 2 years with repeated semesters) of college French. I speak and read almost no French.

I took one college semester of Russian with even less comprehension.

I have tried to study Spanish.

Not all of us are monolingual by choice.

I can speak 4 languages down pat, and can speak enough to get by of 23 other languages.

well, no wonder! all the shows worth watching on the channel are in ENGLISH.... the others are, well, crap. i mean, who wants to watch 'sponge bob square pants' in a loud, annoying gaelic accent? i say they should have more gaeltcht areas and have a bigger restriction on non-gaelic speaking in those areas.

I hardly speak any Gaelic yet, but I regularly watch Spongebob on TG4, it's just sooooooooo freaky. I remember I once saw the Muppet Show in Gaelic as well. I was in stiches when Kermit spoke Gaelic...

I speak Swedish and English fluently. I can understand Norwegian and Danish (they are similar to Swedish). I learnt French in school, but I seem to have forgotten a lot of it (unfortunately).

I currently speak one, but I want to learn Japanese and Cantonese. Hmm, and possibly Dutch.

with all this spread of multi-linguism, the world is doomed. If a dominate portion of the world begins to embrace all other cultures with more than just a smile, eventually we will no longer be americans, canadians, koreans, chinese, or anything else to distingish between the peoples of the world. people will become 'earthlings.' all this diversity you people preach will simply end diversity as we know it. There will be one language. There will be one culture. There will be sameness.

with all this spread of multi-linguism, the world is doomed. If a dominate portion of the world begins to embrace all other cultures with more than just a smile, eventually we will no longer be americans, canadians, koreans, chinese, or anything else to distingish between the peoples of the world. people will become 'earthlings.' all this diversity you people preach will simply end diversity as we know it. There will be one language. There will be one culture. There will be sameness.
Thank you to two of the greatest philosophers of our time, Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

I learn English and Mandarin, and I am learned to speak German.

I'm thinking Mandarin. Looked up the two on Wiki and it seems Mandarin(standard) is more the norm of Chinese language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Mandarin

"Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China on Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore."

I'm adding Mandarin to my list of languages to learn.

But I hear the Cantonese is more popular in southern China and HK etc. Can any native Chinese help me with this ?

I wish I could learn another language, but it appears I am simply unable to do so. I believe it is related to my ADD.

I took 3 years of high school and 1 year (actually 2 years with repeated semesters) of college French. I speak and read almost no French.

I took one college semester of Russian with even less comprehension.

I have tried to study Spanish.

Not all of us are monolingual by choice.

Exactly. Learning another language is hard. Not all of us are capable of it. I'm trying hard, but I'm only so smart.

Exactly. Learning another language is hard. Not all of us are capable of it. I'm trying hard, but I'm only so smart.

Just learn languages in groups, and once you learn one new language the rest come easier.

Learn Italian, Spanish, Portugese, French and any other languages of love at once.

Then learn Russian, Estonian, Hungarian, and any other rough languages at once.

If you learn them in groups of similar languages, it is much easier.

I only know 2.

*Cry* I feel so ashamed...

But fear not! When I come of age, I shall be able to take many courses!

I'll learn Arabic, Hindi, Urdu(Hindi and Urdu are basically the same, but meh), Polish, and German. I already know English and Spanish. Only 5 more languages to go :D

I maintain that anyone worth talking to will speak English.

I took 2 years of French in HS but i had to drop it because my scheduale was too tight and i stopped learning anything. wish i didnt have to though.

I speak a little German.

Just learn languages in groups, and once you learn one new language the rest come easier.

Learn Italian, Spanish, Portugese, French and any other languages of love at once.

Then learn Russian, Estonian, Hungarian, and any other rough languages at once.

If you learn them in groups of similar languages, it is much easier.


I always figured that would make it even more difficult. I'd get what I'm learning confused with the other words I'm learning. I'm a one track minded type person unless I'm dealing with numersous things that I'm very familiar with. But.. I will give that a shot. I already have Russian tapes, book, CD ROMs. Would Mandarin or Cantonese be good to couple with Russian?.. or are they too different? Hmm.. maybe German would be good with Russian?

I'm doing a Linguistics degree, so I'm required to do at least two and a half years of a language other then English to complete it.
So, as it goes, I am learning Arabic as far as I can in school, and then hope to actually use it. I'm also taking first year university Spanish, which I will further by using it around the spanish speaking people I know.

On top of that, I can read my way through French, or listen my way through it if I'm forced. I know a little German, but not really as much as I used to. I know a little Taino, and I'm trying to pick up what we know of the long extinct Sumerian language.

times are a changin. And just cuz u live in canada dosent meen that most people in other parts of the world know 2 as well. Im learning spanish, which i need to if i wanna go to college... ill probably forget it in a couple years though... some of latin america also is going bilingual. Europe is. the rest of the world i really dont know the statistics so im not gonna get into it.

I've finished Spanish 1 for 9th grade. I'll be doing Spanish 2-4 for the rest of high school.

And this summer I learned little bits of German. Just the stuff that gets you ready to really get yourself in a language. Alphabet, numbers, I, you, he, she, How do you call yourself?, etc.

After I finish off those two languages, I hope to get French as my fourth. Perhaps Italian and Portugese after that....

...I have a growing list of languages I want to learn in my life.

. Oh, and a little bit of Quenya (high elvish) for the dork-factor. :)

Where did you find Quenya?