how many languages do you speak?
Aser
2,351 Posts
It has really hit me at this point in my life, you really need to have a grasp on at least 2-3 languages to make global power moves. I think Ross is atop the leaderboard here w/ his multi-linguist skills. Just wondering how many languages are you fluent in? Also the backstory as to how you acquired said skill. Finally, what other languages would you want to learn?Personally, I'm fluent in 2.5 (engrish, cantonese, mandarin). It's one of my short term goals, step up my iffy mandarin game.english - acquired in canaduhcantonese - native tongue in HKmandarin - university classesintriguing languages - portuguese, vietnamese (sounds mad harsh)
Comments
Able to get by and hold a conversation in German and French.
Tourist+ level in Italian and Spanish.
I had Greek and Latin lessons in High School which is a firm base for understanding and learning new languages.
If I had to learn a new language I'd choose Chinese.
fluent: English (school, university...)
good: French (school)
fair: Japanese (semester abroad), Hindi and Oriya (semester abroad, language courses)
minimal basics only: Danish (semester abroad)
fluent english and german
and i speak a bit off french and spanish
I have a degree in Russian studies from McGill University. I learnt my Russian there. I also speak French pretty well. Took some Mandarin courses & got some from watching movies. lol. My Mandarin sucks, tho. My Hebrew used to be fluent, but I lost alot of it. My yiddish is pretty good. That's what we speak at home. Its a dying language, but it fascinates me. I've taken some high level university courses in Yiddish lit because it related to my major. I've also participated in Yiddish theater. From my Yiddish, I gained quite a bit of German. I can understand most of it when I hear it spoken. I have a veeery limited understanding of other slavic languages.
peace
h
those that designate delicious foods i want to be passed; those having to do with banya (russian baths); "I'm sleepy"; and of course, the ever popular, "I (you,he,she,it,they) farted" and there is even a special word for when your fart is particularly smelly as opposed to just garden-variety smelly.
are there any CDs you'd suggest to look into for learning some mandarin basics? i know nothing can outdo moving someplace to learn the language, but i need some prep.
I'm never really been into learning languages via tapes or CDs, but that's just me (I've heard great things about the Rosetta Stone software). My recommendation would be to take a class. I'm guessing that there are probably some very affordable night classes in NYC at a community college. That's how I learned Cantonese.
Of course, you'll have to practice *a lot* especially since Mandarin has 4 tones. There's no substitute for speaking early and often. You may be surprised at how willing people are to help you out when they realize that, for once, an American is attempting to learn something about someone else's culture.
Then again, if you're just tryin' to holler at Aser's cousins, you might be puttin' too much on it.
sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiitttt.
his family was very nice to me. plus, that's crossing the line! ask dude himself, i was totally not focused while we were there.
conversational Dutch
and i was ok with Swedish, but the last time i spoke it was 10 years ago so all i can remember are the swear-words.
fy fan.
Get in line! I want a little of that Triad kingpin $$$$$
You forgot to mention the Philly School of Giberish.
4 Languages
English
Irish
French
German
although the French & German arent what they used to be....I'd love to give Japanese a shot some day
definitely dont got that like wes and cosmo
wes is just straight gibberish now
My wife worked at the National Yiddish Book Center in college. Now located on the campus of our alma mater.
i took spanish from junior high through college, but i never use it so i feel it slowly slipping away.
did anyone see that story on 60 minutes on that savant dude who learned icelandic in a week?
Went to Hebrew school for 7 years so I got that language bubbling in me, I'd say I'm fluent but I barely remember half of it. Although when I went to Israel I had a total Bart Simpson moment and after 6 days there I caught myself speaking with people on the streets with no problem.
I can understand yiddish and most spanish but cna't speak either for shit.
I guess a cable language channel would be fine as well but I havent had cable since 93'. You would have to be very strict if you were going to take it seriously. I guess when you take a class and are paying for it your more likely to finish. I just wish learning a second language would be more of a priority in the U.S.
Yiddish literature is criminally slept on.
I've always wanted to check that place out. I don't speak no galut ghetto Yiddish, but the buildings in which this library is housed look fresh.
I thought you also spoke the language of LOVE???
You must "speak so well!"
I took a class in college on Black Vernacular English, as the linguists like to call it. It was surprisingly tough, so it goes without saying that no one got a 'B' just for being black.
I think you're confusing aser with yours truly.
My wife worked there when it was still in a old wharehouse in Holyoke. I guess the center is supposed to look like a traditional Shtetl. I think we're gonna visit around Thanksgiving.