If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

+13
huffjuff
Lancebloke
Ringdrotten
Pettytyrant101
Eldorion
Amarië
David H
bungobaggins
Bluebottle
halfwise
Mrs Figg
azriel
RA
17 posters

Page 1 of 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next

Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by RA Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:48 am

I was talking to a friend today about we (and by we I mean us who aren't multilingual) take our native language for granted. I was just wondering if there was a language that any of you don't speak that you think is interesting and you'd think learning would be worth-while.

_________________
"No one knows what the new day shall bring him" -Aragorn T.A. 3019 March 4th
Save Merp for 2013!
25,000 and counting. 12-23-12
"From him they learnt many things it were not good for any but the great Valar to know, for being half-comprehended such deep hidden things slay happiness; and besides many of the sayings of Melko were cunning lies or were but partly true, and the Noldoli ceased to sing, and their viols fell silent upon the hill of Kôr, for their hearts grew somewhat older as their lore grew deeper and their desires more swollen, and the books of their wisdom were multiplied as the leaves of the forest."

Remember Merp - July 11th, 2013
RA
RA
Defender of the faith and Dunedain of the thread

Posts : 1776
Join date : 2012-02-12
Location : Buckland

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by azriel Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:58 am

Hello RA Wave
Id like to be able to understand German, then I could really know what the students are saying about us when they invade our shores every summer Suspect Nod

_________________
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.”
"There are far, far, better things ahead than any we can leave behind"
If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Th_cat%20blink_zpsesmrb2cl

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Jean-b11
azriel
azriel
Grumpy cat, rub my tummy, hear me purr

Posts : 15464
Join date : 2012-10-07
Age : 64
Location : in a galaxy, far,far away, deep in my own imagination.

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Mrs Figg Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:11 pm

Welsh. Its no use to me but I am half Welsh so its part of my dna. its odd, when I listen to it theres not one word I can recognize, it might as well be Mandarin.
Mrs Figg
Mrs Figg
Eel Wrangler from Bree

Posts : 25813
Join date : 2011-10-06
Age : 94
Location : Holding The Door

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by halfwise Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:20 pm

Python, by which I mean the computer language. Wink

For human, I would like to actually master spanish. I've had a couple years of it, but all such things just slip through my ears. I'm about as conversant with Spanish as I am with matrix algebra, which means I can think my way through the theory but usually have to look details up, and so plod my way through. I'm fascinated by Mexican cuisine and would like to confidently investigate it at its source.

_________________
Halfwise, son of Halfwit. Brother of Nitwit, son of Halfwit. Half brother of Figwit.
Then it gets complicated...
halfwise
halfwise
Quintessence of Burrahobbitry

Posts : 20208
Join date : 2012-02-01
Location : rustic broom closet in farthing of Manhattan

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:45 pm

azriel wrote:Id like to be able to understand German, then I could really know what the students are saying about us when they invade our shores every summer Suspect Nod

You have germans invading your beaches every summer? Shocked That's weirdly poignant somehow.

I'd have to say german too, I think. Considering how many germans I've known and only being able to speak a couple of words of the language.

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by bungobaggins Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:01 pm

Probably Spanish, but I took French in school and a little in college, so I might want to go back and master that, too.

bungobaggins
Eternal Mayor in The Halls of Mandos

Posts : 6384
Join date : 2013-08-24

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by David H Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:09 pm

I'm probably about the same level as Halfy at Spanish and German. I've got a couple years study, and enough travel to know I can sort of get by, but not really enough to converse without a lot of pantomime.

If I were going to really work on a language, I probably logically ought to go do a Spanish total immersion program in some little town in South America. But there's something deep inside me that still craves to study something non-European, something that follows completely different grammar rules like Tibetan, or Turkish or Urdu. Or maybe even some nearly lost indigenous dialect from the darkest part of the Amazon! Yeah, that's it! Nod

_________________
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? 1280px-Male_kodiak_bear_face  If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? UJpDi If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Mumbea10
David H
David H
Horsemaster, Fighting Bears in the Pacific Northwest

Posts : 7194
Join date : 2011-11-18

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by bungobaggins Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:20 pm

Has anyone here used the Rosetta language programs?

bungobaggins
Eternal Mayor in The Halls of Mandos

Posts : 6384
Join date : 2013-08-24

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:27 pm

Ah, french. Yeah, I'd freshen up my french too while I was about it. Oui, bien sur. Nod

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by halfwise Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:18 pm

David H wrote: But there's something deep inside me that still craves to study something non-European, something that follows completely different grammar rules like Tibetan, or Turkish or Urdu. Or maybe even some nearly lost indigenous dialect from the darkest part of the Amazon! Yeah, that's it! Nod

I tried learning the West African tribal language Mende. But the pronouns mutate with tense, and the verbs mutate in the middle of the words to agree with pronouns, and it may as well have been Venusian. Dashedly idiomatic, too. (Standard greeting: "where is your strength?" reply: "There is no rust on God") I figured I had enough problems without taking that on too. I prefer life with an unexploded head.

_________________
Halfwise, son of Halfwit. Brother of Nitwit, son of Halfwit. Half brother of Figwit.
Then it gets complicated...
halfwise
halfwise
Quintessence of Burrahobbitry

Posts : 20208
Join date : 2012-02-01
Location : rustic broom closet in farthing of Manhattan

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by RA Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:53 pm

halfwise wrote:Python, by which I mean the computer language. Wink
Oh memories Smile But man programming is not for me Razz

bungobaggins wrote:Has anyone here used the Rosetta language programs?

I've tried some of them. They're alright for learning pronunciation and for some listening skills. They're not as good for learning to read or write in a language. Rosetta Stone also never actually gives any definitions; it sounds odd but it's something you're supposed to stick with and learn over time I guess.

As for me, I think Japanese is a cool language. I can't speak a word of it, but I'd like to one day.

_________________
"No one knows what the new day shall bring him" -Aragorn T.A. 3019 March 4th
Save Merp for 2013!
25,000 and counting. 12-23-12
"From him they learnt many things it were not good for any but the great Valar to know, for being half-comprehended such deep hidden things slay happiness; and besides many of the sayings of Melko were cunning lies or were but partly true, and the Noldoli ceased to sing, and their viols fell silent upon the hill of Kôr, for their hearts grew somewhat older as their lore grew deeper and their desires more swollen, and the books of their wisdom were multiplied as the leaves of the forest."

Remember Merp - July 11th, 2013
RA
RA
Defender of the faith and Dunedain of the thread

Posts : 1776
Join date : 2012-02-12
Location : Buckland

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by David H Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:09 pm

[quote="Recoveryanonymous"]
halfwise wrote:Python, by which I mean the computer language. Wink

As for me, I think Japanese is a cool language. I can't speak a word of it, but I'd like to one day.

My sister speaks enough Japanese to get by. She says the Japanese people are universally amazed at hearing a foreigner attempt to speak their language, in more or less the same way you and I would be startled to meet a talking pig. Shocked pig

_________________
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? 1280px-Male_kodiak_bear_face  If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? UJpDi If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Mumbea10
David H
David H
Horsemaster, Fighting Bears in the Pacific Northwest

Posts : 7194
Join date : 2011-11-18

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by David H Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:17 pm

halfwise wrote: Dashedly idiomatic, too.  (Standard greeting: "where is your strength?" reply: "There is no rust on God")  I figured I had enough problems without taking that on too. I prefer life with an unexploded head.

To be fair though, idiomatic English slang is a nightmare for nonnative speakers too.  At one point in my life I had maybe a dozen phrases and 3 or 4 dozen words of Tagalog, but only the faintest hints of the grammar. Wish I'd had a book or something to help decode it.

Edit: Oh and by the way,
I prefer life with an unexploded head.

How does that reconcile with your love of theoretical physics? Wink

_________________
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? 1280px-Male_kodiak_bear_face  If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? UJpDi If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Mumbea10
David H
David H
Horsemaster, Fighting Bears in the Pacific Northwest

Posts : 7194
Join date : 2011-11-18

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Mrs Figg Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:27 pm

yep Spanish and Japanese are good choices.
Mrs Figg
Mrs Figg
Eel Wrangler from Bree

Posts : 25813
Join date : 2011-10-06
Age : 94
Location : Holding The Door

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by RA Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:18 pm

I'm probably going to take some classes too to try and learn Japanese. For the grammar and rules and stuff Very Happy

_________________
"No one knows what the new day shall bring him" -Aragorn T.A. 3019 March 4th
Save Merp for 2013!
25,000 and counting. 12-23-12
"From him they learnt many things it were not good for any but the great Valar to know, for being half-comprehended such deep hidden things slay happiness; and besides many of the sayings of Melko were cunning lies or were but partly true, and the Noldoli ceased to sing, and their viols fell silent upon the hill of Kôr, for their hearts grew somewhat older as their lore grew deeper and their desires more swollen, and the books of their wisdom were multiplied as the leaves of the forest."

Remember Merp - July 11th, 2013
RA
RA
Defender of the faith and Dunedain of the thread

Posts : 1776
Join date : 2012-02-12
Location : Buckland

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:18 pm

They do say Japanese is the hardest language in the world to learn for an english speaker, but I guess that kind of makes it interesting in itself.

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:20 pm

Now, for all the time you english speakers on here has spent around norwegians, noone wants to learn norwegian? How is one to interpret that exactly? Razz

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by RA Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:24 pm

Bluebottle wrote:They do say Japanese is the hardest language in the world to learn for an english speaker, but I guess that kind of makes it interesting in itself.
I wonder if that works in reverse; is English really difficult to learn for a native Japanese speaker?

If it is, then hey, I already know that language Very Happy so I'm off to a good start!

_________________
"No one knows what the new day shall bring him" -Aragorn T.A. 3019 March 4th
Save Merp for 2013!
25,000 and counting. 12-23-12
"From him they learnt many things it were not good for any but the great Valar to know, for being half-comprehended such deep hidden things slay happiness; and besides many of the sayings of Melko were cunning lies or were but partly true, and the Noldoli ceased to sing, and their viols fell silent upon the hill of Kôr, for their hearts grew somewhat older as their lore grew deeper and their desires more swollen, and the books of their wisdom were multiplied as the leaves of the forest."

Remember Merp - July 11th, 2013
RA
RA
Defender of the faith and Dunedain of the thread

Posts : 1776
Join date : 2012-02-12
Location : Buckland

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:42 pm

I guess, yes... and no. Laughing  As part of the reason Japanese is seen as difficult is that it's a completely different branch of languages from english, or norwegian for that matter. And partly no, as the problems are internal to the Japanese language due to their history and culture. Stuff like;

Grammar in Japanese is a bit messy, with verbs doing all manner of bizarre things, adjectives behaving exactly like verbs at times, and all of this having to be changed depending on who is saying what to whom under what circumstances (what is called “respect language” in Japanese).

Japanese, by contrast, has complex rules about when and where the hiragana shows up with characters. These rules are sufficiently troublesome to challenge many native speakers. Then there are personal and place names, which are given readings almost at random, often completely unrelated to the standard pronunciation for the character.
http://www.languagerealm.com/japanese/hardestlanguage_jp.php

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by halfwise Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:03 pm

[quote="David H"]
halfwise wrote:
I prefer life with an unexploded head.

How does that reconcile with your love of theoretical physics? Wink

Theoretical physics is much simpler than Mende. Nod Likely goes for Japanese as well.

_________________
Halfwise, son of Halfwit. Brother of Nitwit, son of Halfwit. Half brother of Figwit.
Then it gets complicated...
halfwise
halfwise
Quintessence of Burrahobbitry

Posts : 20208
Join date : 2012-02-01
Location : rustic broom closet in farthing of Manhattan

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:19 pm

Yeah, theoretical physics just deals with straighforward stuff like the inner workings of the universe. Language deals with life, love.. everything really. Nod

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Mrs Figg Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:29 pm

ok teach me some Viking then. how do you say hello, goodbye, thank you, and where can I get some pizza? that's all you need to survive.
Mrs Figg
Mrs Figg
Eel Wrangler from Bree

Posts : 25813
Join date : 2011-10-06
Age : 94
Location : Holding The Door

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by Bluebottle Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:15 am

Hei, ha det, takk og hvor kan jeg kjøpe pizza.

Smile

_________________
“We're doomed,” he says, casually. “There's no question about that. But it's OK to be doomed because then you can just enjoy your life."
If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Tumblr_msgi12FPjq1s8au6qo2_500
Bluebottle
Bluebottle
Concerned citizen

Posts : 10099
Join date : 2013-11-09
Age : 37

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by bungobaggins Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:31 am

Det snør det snør tiddleboom!

bungobaggins
Eternal Mayor in The Halls of Mandos

Posts : 6384
Join date : 2013-08-24

Back to top Go down

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Empty Re: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Post by azriel Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:37 am

Oh I love "tiddleboom" !! bounce

_________________
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.”
"There are far, far, better things ahead than any we can leave behind"
If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Th_cat%20blink_zpsesmrb2cl

If you could learn another language, what would it be and why? Jean-b11
azriel
azriel
Grumpy cat, rub my tummy, hear me purr

Posts : 15464
Join date : 2012-10-07
Age : 64
Location : in a galaxy, far,far away, deep in my own imagination.

Back to top Go down

Page 1 of 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum