NationStates Jolt Archive

By foreign, I, of course, mean any language that is not the native tongue you speak. I'm curious to see how many peeps on here know a foreign language or two. I myself find it incredibly hard to grasp a foreign language, and as such only know bits and peices of others. ~_~

I speak one foreign language: French.

English for me ;) And a few words of German and Spanish, but only a few words, so I don't count them.

My native language being French.

English (my mother tongue), and basic French

My native language is English, but I can speak passable Spanish.

does C++ count? :p

does C++ count? :pCan you speak it :p

does C++ count? :p
Negative. >_>;

What do you mean by "know" a foreign language? In addition to English I speak Russian fluently, German to a limited extent and have studied Serbian/Croatian but wouldn't claim to "know" or speak it.

int main
{

bool speakit;

speakit = true;

if (speakit)
cout << "yes" << endl;
else
cout << "does typing count?" << endl;

return 0
}

I speak Japanese in addition to my native english.

I speak English (native tongue), passable Japanese, and I learnt a bit of German back in the olden days.

Weird question. I grew up speaking Punjabi till I was 5 or so because that's all anyone spoke at home. Eventually through school, I would say that I'm more fluent in English than Punjabi now. But I can converse with both nonetheless.

Right now I can only speak English but I have to learn another language for my major so I'm taking Japanese. I wanted to learn it even before I chose my major, the fact that I can use my hours in it toward my degree just gave me a reason to stop putting it off.

I am English, so I can speak that....I can ask for directions to the station, bakery, butcher etc etc and buy a ticket, loaf of bread, ham, pineapple etc etc in French.....so basic school learnt French.

Oh and I am quite fluent in American and Australian and actually an expert in Canadian. (what with a Canuck in my bed an' all, eh)

Oh and I am quite fluent in American and Australian and actually an expert in Canadian. (what with a Canuck in my bed an' all, eh)If we count those as languages, I get to add Bavarian and North German to my list! :D

(ARGH!!! WHY IS THE :D GONE ALL OF A SUDDEN?!?!:mad:)

Foreign languages?
I speak passable Spanish, high quality Latin (not that anyone else I know can lol), and of course I know a few words here and there from several other languages:p

Irish and German. Esperanto is next on the list.

Oh and I am quite fluent in American and Australian and actually an expert in Canadian. (what with a Canuck in my bed an' all, eh)
er, i'm pretty sure those qualify as dialects or something. even though certian words can have very different meanings in the USA, England and Australia, those countries still speak "English".

"I only speak two languages: English and bad English!"
- Korben Dallas, Fifth Element

:D

er, i'm pretty sure those qualify as dialects or something. even though certian words can have very different meanings in the USA, England and Australia, those countries still speak "English".

I was ummmm Joking......

I DO realise that its all the same language, I was just thinking of the other thread about American and English...:fluffle:

French and Japanese. Poorly.

I was ummmm Joking......

I DO realise that its all the same language, I was just thinking of the other thread about American and English...:fluffle:
looking back, i think the only reason i felt the need to reply to your obvious joke with a correction is because i've gotten WAAY too little sleep this entire week, hehe :p

Well...I suppose I know English, as well as German. I can understand (if not spoken excessively fast) and read Platt as well, but I never really got to speak it.

I also did Japanese at school, and ended up with a B-. Considering that I had to play catch-up with the other kids who'd done it for five or more years, not bad. But I can't claim to be able to read, understand or speak it decently.

My next one on the list would be Arabic. But I never have the time, money or actual drive to start.

looking back, i think the only reason i felt the need to reply to your obvious joke with a correction is because i've gotten WAAY too little sleep this entire week, hehe :p

It's OK, I was just a little scared that you thought i was serious....

*have a nice mug of fresh coffee and a bit of chocolate cake* :D

It's OK, I was just a little scared that you thought i was serious....

*have a nice mug of fresh coffee and a bit of chocolate cake* :D
or sleep - NO, EVIL SLEEP!

but on a more "less crazy-random" note, never underestimate the potential stupidity of people on internet forums. for instance, a quote from "Bachah," a player's name in World of Warcraft: "Actually I dont think there are 1 billiion chinest people existing. Stop being racist." :headbang:

I speak good french, so-so english and bad german, apart from some phrases in arab and italian. Spanish is my mother tongue.

Latin idioms are easy for me to understand and learn (But romanian :p )

go 5+ languages :)

russian will be next

[QUOTE=Neu Leonstein]Well...I suppose I know English, as well as German. I can understand (if not spoken excessively fast) and read Platt as well, but I never really got to speak it.

What the hell Platt is?

Treekicker']go 5+ languages :)

russian will be next

What 5?

What the hell Platt is?Northern German Dialect, similar to Dutch.

What 5?

I'm cheating with latin and greek. Dutch is my native language and i've learned french, english and german together with those ancient languages (i did refuse to learn spanish in school tho).

I speak good french, so-so english and bad german, apart from some phrases in arab and italian. Spanish is my mother tongue.

Latin idioms are easy for me to understand and learn (But romanian :p )
then i have a great quote for you:
"Beati hispani, quibus vivere bibere est."

Translation: "Lucky the Spaniards, for whom living is drinking."
(A reference to the Latin accent of the Spanish, in which "v" was pronounced as "b")

then i have a great quote for you:
"Beati hispani, quibus vivere bibere est."

Translation: "Lucky the Spaniards, for whom living is drinking."
(A reference to the Latin accent of the Spanish, in which "v" was pronounced as "b")

What's Irish in latin? Cos I want to use that quote, but as lucky the Irish.


Hmmm, I wonder if the romans even knew about Ireland?

int main
{

bool speakit;

speakit = true;

if (speakit)
cout << "yes" << endl;
else
cout << "does typing count?" << endl;

return 0
}


#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

class Error
{
public:
void SetErrorString(string s) { errorString = s; }
string ErrorString() { return errorString; }

private:
string errorString;
};

int main()
{
Error error;
error.SetErrorString("It is supposed to be int main()\n");

while (1)
cout << error.ErrorString();

return 0;
}



What? I have too much spare time? Who told you that?

On-topic: I know English and Swedish, though my Swedish is pretty rusty due to lack of use.

Yes they knew, it was hibernia, so

Beati hiberni, etc.

What's Irish in latin? Cos I want to use that quote, but as lucky the Irish.


Hmmm, I wonder if the romans even knew about Ireland?
well, the underlying humor of that quote is that the latin word "bibere" (to drink) is pronounced the same way as the latin word "vivere" (to live) by the spanish.

and yes, they knew about ireland, since "Britannia" was under their control for a good long while and it'd be very un-Roman-like of them to have not scoped out it's surroundings (if you've ever heard of Hadrian's Wall... courtesy of Emperor Hadrian).

will try to find the translation or term used by them for ya, though :)

Yes they knew, it was hibernia, so

Beati hiberni, etc.
beat me to it!

man, i shoulda just checked my Rome: Total War map :D

Northern German Dialect, similar to Dutch.

Ah, ok, thanks, it's call Frison in Spanish (from Frisia, maybe Frisland?)

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

class Error
{
public:
void SetErrorString(string s) { errorString = s; }
string ErrorString() { return errorString; }

private:
string errorString;
};

int main()
{
Error error;
error.SetErrorString("It is supposed to be int main()\n");

while (1)
cout << error.ErrorString();

return 0;
}



What? I have too much spare time? Who told you that?


doh! i can't believe i forgot the parentheses! i was pretty sure i needed to add the semicolon after "return" as well, but man... parentheses? :rolleyes:

and yes... nerds rock :p

[QUOTE=Plumtopia]well, the underlying humor of that quote is that the latin word "bibere" (to drink) is pronounced the same way as the latin word "vivere" (to live) by the spanish.


You're right but we are generous so we can all share alcoholism as a way of living.:p

English and French (though my French is really, really rusty).

I also learned basic Spanish a couple years ago, but I only remember a few words (maybe actually doing the homework would have helped *shiftyeyes*) and, years ago, I studied Burmese for 2 years - but all that's left is "Thank you" and a few random other words. :(

well, the underlying humor of that quote is that the latin word "bibere" (to drink) is pronounced the same way as the latin word "vivere" (to live) by the spanish.

and yes, they knew about ireland, since "Britannia" was under their control for a good long while and it'd be very un-Roman-like of them to have not scoped out it's surroundings (if you've ever heard of Hadrian's Wall... courtesy of Emperor Hadrian).

will try to find the translation or term used by them for ya, though :)

Wewt!

Ya, I should have know they'd know we were here. I just figured since they never got around to conquering us, it might have been because they couldn't find us.

Ah, ok, thanks, it's call Frison in Spanish (from Frisia, maybe Frisland?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_German
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisian_language

They're somewhat similar, but not quite the same, as I understand it.

class WhatToDo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Should we stop posting code? - "+Random.randBoolean());
}
}
class Random {
public static int randInt(int min, int max) {
int n = min + (int)(Math.round(Math.random()*(max-min)));
return n;
}
public static boolean randBoolean() {
return (Math.random()<(double)0.5);
}
}

[QUOTE=Plumtopia]well, the underlying humor of that quote is that the latin word "bibere" (to drink) is pronounced the same way as the latin word "vivere" (to live) by the spanish.


You're right but we are generous so we can all share alcoholism as a way of living.:p
the majority of my ancestry is German - another people renouned for their drinking :D

now if i could have just had some Italian in me to claim their food as my own, i'd be set

Wewt!

Ya, I should have know they'd know we were here. I just figured since they never got around to conquering us, it might have been because they couldn't find us.

Maybe there were nothing interesting to conquest :p

Maybe there were nothing interesting to conquest :p

Shows what the Romans knew. Sure they can make straight roads, but they suck at choosing who to conquer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_German
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisian_language

They're somewhat similar, but not quite the same, as I understand it.


Ok, thanks again, but it's something like schwebish (¿?) or bayerish? I mean, a dialect?

Ok, thanks again, but it's something like schwebish (¿?) or bayerish? I mean, a dialect?
Most people would say yes, but if I remember correctly, Neu Leonstein likes to insist it isn't. ;)

Shows what the Romans knew. Sure they can make straight roads, but they suck at choosing who to conquer.

Je, je, unfortunately, we, mediterranean people, don't like wet countries and beer was a barbaric drink (we have learned since that time):p

Wewt!

Ya, I should have know they'd know we were here. I just figured since they never got around to conquering us, it might have been because they couldn't find us.
actually, it's more accurate to say they couldn't conquer you.

if i remember correctly... as long as the irish didn't cause too much trouble, the romans more or less left them alone, letting the british deal with any minor problems that arose. this was because the warrior mentality being so ingrained in the irish peoples, combined with the rugged terrain and harsh climate, ment any roman attempt to dominate hibernia through traditional military methods would have led to year- or decade-long campaigns, suffering great attrition from guerrilla-like tactics on the part of the irish.

hopefully i'm not remembering that totally inaccurately, but bottom line was: conquering hibernia (ireland) would have taken WAY more effort, troops and supplies than rome was willing to expend. ;)

Maybe there were nothing interesting to conquest :p
now, my Latin is pretty rusty, but i think there might be something telling in the fact that they called it Hibernia - know of any words that sound familiar? :p

spelled "Hibernia", not "Hybernia". doh!

Wewt!

Ya, I should have know they'd know we were here. I just figured since they never got around to conquering us, it might have been because they couldn't find us.

Seriously talking, they had even Ireland maps (made by a "roman" greek, Ptolomeus)

Most people would say yes, but if I remember correctly, Neu Leonstein likes to insist it isn't. ;)
http://www.plattmaster.de/spraak.htm :p

"Hibernia may derive from the Latin term hibernus that translates as wintery."
- from wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernia

http://www.plattmaster.de/spraak.htm :p
*grudgingly hands over winner's cookie* :p

spelled "Hibernia", not "Hybernia". doh!

Both are correct, I think to remember 'cause the name come from greek, so y it's ypsilon, but latin has just a single i.

anyways, i've got to "wake up" for class in three and a half hours, so even though this thread's been fun, i gotta head out.

oh, and i'm not knocking the irish- my german side, that is; the english side doesn't mind taking a few jabs at you though :D

English and French (though my French is really, really rusty).

I also learned basic Spanish a couple years ago, but I only remember a few words (maybe actually doing the homework would have helped *shiftyeyes*) and, years ago, I studied Burmese for 2 years - but all that's left is "Thank you" and a few random other words. :(Homework, shomework. I remember one of the most successful French lessons I had was were I only read a summary of Rhinoceros and spent the entire hour talking about it. :D

Ok, thanks again, but it's something like schwebish (¿?) or bayerish? I mean, a dialect?
A dialect like those, yes. But most certainly very, very different from those two :p
(though some people claim that Bairisch is a language all to itself...;))

Well, i speak dutch and english fluently, all though i must say my english is better than my dutch. Seeing as Dutch was the first language i learned, english should be seen as a foreign language, i guess...

I also speak a bit of french, some german, a really little bit of russian... and that's pretty much it apart from random things in arabic and greek (i guess those don't really count)

I speak functional French, but I really need to go to spend some more time in France (I haven't been there since I started to get serious about studying French) to iron out some of the really horrible grammatical errors in my speech/writing.

Good thing I'll be spending next spring in Angers :D

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "knowing" a foreign language. French is the only one I would say I "know". I can speak passable Italian, although it's becoming ever more rusty from lack of use. Other than that, I know a few words (literally) in Spanish, Tagalog, German and Flemish, but that's really it.

My foriegn langague classes in high school were a disaster. I've recently gotten more interested in languages, but my Spanish is limited to a few phrases. "Yo quiero Taco Bell" ;) "Donde esta el bano?" and the most important of all, "No hablo Espanol". :)

I'm currently learning Japanese, and I can translate a few words/sentences of Spanish... I'll say one.

I definitely know two foreign languages: Portuguese and French. (My mother tongue is English). The question is whether I can count myself as knowing Spanish? I can read it with virtually no problem at all (one word or another may catch me out - 'polvo' for example) and I understand 70% + of spoken Spanish, but I can neither speak nor write it.
(My comprehension of Spanish derives purely from my fluency in Portuguese, I have never studied Spanish at all. In Portuguese polvo means octopus - in Spanish I understand it means powder)

Well, if you don't live in the UK, US, Australia, Canada and/or New Zealand, you're bound to have at least some sort of english as foreign language. So that's 1.

My second and third foreign language would be german and french. And ofcourse dutch as a native tongue.

Italian, Spanish and basic French (directions etc)


Oh, and the odd "useful" phrases in Dutch and Norwegian;)

Well, if you don't live in the UK, US, Australia, Canada and/or New Zealand, you're bound to have at least some sort of english as foreign language. So that's 1.


Of course no one ever moves from their country of birth to one that speaks a different language. (If you do move you do not have to speak the native language there. Anyone that speaks English could survive very well in most Northern European countries speaking only English).

I can only speak English. :( I'm trying to learn Italian currently, and eventually I think I'll try German and Spanish. Luvverly languages, all. :)

Apart from Dutch (native), I speak fluent English and German. My Italian is pretty good, Modern-Greek is rusty, but it used to be pretty good. I also understand (but dont speak it) Frisian and Swedish...
I will put it at 4, I guess...

I know two other languages, but not well at all: French, and ASL. I'm more interested in learning more ASL than French.

My native language is English. I know German and French enough to get along in them, though I am not fluent. My Geman is much better than my French.

One: English, my first language being Spanish. I'm fluent in both.

One and a half...French and Esper(anto). I cna get around in French and I know a good bit of Esperanto, but probably not enough to get around.

I know two other languages, but not well at all: French, and ASL. I'm more interested in learning more ASL than French.
ASL? What manner of language is that?

The first one who mentions age, sex or location gets trout slapped.

ASL? What manner of language is that?

The first one who mentions age, sex or location gets trout slapped.

American Sign Language

American Sign Language

I don't mean to offend anyone but I've never really thought of ASL as a language. It certainly is a valid form of communication, but languages are usually thought of as being spoken.

I don't mean to offend anyone but I've never really thought of ASL as a language. It certainly is a valid form of communication, but languages are usually thought of as being spoken.

So what does the L stand for then?

So what does the L stand for then?

I'm not saying it isn't a language. I'm saying I personally don't think of it that way. Language has a different connotation to me.

none, because a language isn't foreign once you learn it.

none, because a language isn't foreign once you learn it.
I'd say it is. Even for a linguistical master, there's one language they typically tend to write in, speak in, and think in. Or so I would assume, anyway. I know that if I were to ever perfect my knowledge of another language, I'd still think in English, at least. =/

I'd say it is. Even for a linguistical master, there's one language they typically tend to write in, speak in, and think in. Or so I would assume, anyway. I know that if I were to ever perfect my knowledge of another language, I'd still think in English, at least. =/

That is what I thought but, after living in Brazil for a good few years I catch myself thinking in Portuguese and having to translate into English sometimes. It may be a strange case as I effectively live in a bilingual household. Any given sentence here may be either or both languages mixed. However, even thinking, dreaming and swearing in Portuguese does not stop it being a foreign language. There are grammatical issues that I still get wrong and there are forms of the language that I do not understand.

That is what I thought but, after living in Brazil for a good few years I catch myself thinking in Portuguese and having to translate into English sometimes. It may be a strange case as I effectively live in a bilingual household. Any given sentence here may be either or both languages mixed. However, even thinking, dreaming and swearing in Portuguese does not stop it being a foreign language. There are grammatical issues that I still get wrong and there are forms of the language that I do not understand.

I found myself thinking some things in Spanish when I was in the 3rd grade in Port Isabel. There were so many kids who spoke Spanish most of the time that I picked up on some of it. If I'd been there longer, I'd probably be fluent. :p

I can speak a little bit, of a lot of languages, however I'm fluent in French in English (My native language is Italian).

I'd say it is. Even for a linguistical master, there's one language they typically tend to write in, speak in, and think in. Or so I would assume, anyway. I know that if I were to ever perfect my knowledge of another language, I'd still think in English, at least. =/

no true. My thoughts randomly switch between the 3 languages I know without telling me. There were times when I would catch myself thinking in (horrible) French after a long class or a project, or think in Mandarin after being in China for way to long. But since I spend the majority of my time in English Canada, English is the predominant language to think in.

(Australian) English is my native tongue. I speak pretty good French & a very limited amount of German.