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Annael
Immortal
Nov 19 2016, 7:06pm
Post #1 of 42
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Do you speak more than one language?
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I just saw "Arrival" and it got me thinking about language. The Emperor Charlemagne said that to speak a second language was like gaining a second soul. I've been reading about how the assumptions inherent in different languages actually change HOW we think. For instance, in a language with a future tense, like English, we can put off doing something by thinking/saying "I will do that later." In German or Chinese, there's no future tense so one is either doing something or not doing something - which apparently makes it easy for those people to save money, eat well, etc. English also assigns blame to actions - someone did it! - while Spanish or Japanese does not: things just happen. Interesting stuff! And it made me wonder how many people here speak another language well enough to have had their brains stretched by it?
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Nov 19 2016, 7:47pm
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I'm an American-born speaker and reader of English. I took some Spanish in my high-school days, seemingly back when the conquistadors where still active, but I don't think I've retained much of it. I know a smattering of Japanese though it's not like I use it regularly or much at all.
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Kimi
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Nov 19 2016, 9:41pm
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which was *very* useful during our recent holiday, when in areas of France that don't get a lot of Anglophone visitors. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of opportunities to practise - I did brush up in the months before, though, and actually *having* to use my French this time was a great exercise.
There was a time when I could just about get by in Italian, but that's mostly faded - I need an immersion opportunity!
I've at times learned small amounts of other languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, German, and Swedish. They've faded due to lack of use.
I only know a few words and phrases in Te Reo Maori, and wish I knew more. A pity it wasn't taught during my schooldays, when it was easier to pick up languages.
Yes, language is a fascinating subject! It's a fine exercise to have one's assumptions challenged - things we've accepted as "that's how it is, and how it must be" collapse when one learns that it's *not* necessarily how it is, and that leads to musing on how thoughts might take different channels.
And then there are all the different forms and usages around the world of what we call "English". Ireland was a fascinating example for me this year, as was India for Mr Kimi when he was working there a few years ago.
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DainPig
Gondor
Nov 20 2016, 12:22am
Post #4 of 42
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Portuguese and english
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Altaira
Superuser
Nov 20 2016, 12:24am
Post #5 of 42
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I can definitely get by in French
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But, I wouldn't say I'm fluent. I don't quite use it enough.
I came close to being fluent when I worked in Montreal for almost a year (during the week - home on weekends), then took my mom to visit our relatives in France right after. A flattering moment I'll never forget is when I stopped to ask for directions once and a women asked me what part of France I was from because she couldn't quite place my accent. These days I try to think in French as often as I can, and I correspond with my relatives via email. I also sometimes listen to French radio in the car, and while I follow it fairly well, I'm woefully behind on the slang.
I have a funny anecdote about language re-programming one's brain (or not). When I took my mom to Rome, I picked up Italian so easily I got cocky and thought: why not try Spanish too? After all it's just another romance language. It turns out that while I was picking up on the vocabulary and grammar well enough, when I'd try to speak (or even think), in Spanish, it was with a French or Italian accent, lol.  I never could shake it, and it was driving me crazy, so I gave up. I still understand Spanish fairly well. It's pretty common here in Colorado, but I don't dare utter a word.
(This post was edited by Altaira on Nov 20 2016, 4:24am)
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Starling
Half-elven
Nov 20 2016, 4:21am
Post #6 of 42
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I speak English and Earthquake. //
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Annael
Immortal
Nov 20 2016, 5:21am
Post #7 of 42
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At one point I was fluent in French to the point I was dreaming in it. Didn't keep it up alas! Then I studied Italian, and as a result I understand a lot of Spanish.
Also studied German for a year, which came in useful when I traveled there, but it's mostly gone now.
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Ataahua
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Nov 20 2016, 6:17pm
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I understand that Earthquake uses very short words that are verbalised very loudly. /
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Eledhwen
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Nov 20 2016, 6:26pm
Post #9 of 42
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'Fluent' may be stretching it a bit
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But my degree's in French and I'd say that I'm still pretty fluent (rustily). If I'm flung into a situation where I need to speak French I can still hold a conversation without too much difficulty though I have to think about some words.
I did German until I was 18 and can still understand quite a lot. Because of my French I discovered that I can understand quite a lot of Spanish and to a lesser extent Portuguese (Brazlian Portuguese is easier, it's clearer than Portuguese Portuguese) although I can't really speak much myself.
I hate going to places where I can't understand anything. I feel like such an idiot, especially as so many people in the world speak such good English.
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Ataahua
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Nov 20 2016, 7:16pm
Post #10 of 42
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If I could choose a superpower
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it would be to understand and speak any language - then there'd be no barriers to me travelling the world and speaking to the locals. 
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Annael
Immortal
Nov 20 2016, 7:47pm
Post #11 of 42
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ooh, great idea for another poll! //
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Eledhwen
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Nov 20 2016, 10:15pm
Post #12 of 42
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The Doctor never has a problem.
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Ataahua
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Nov 20 2016, 10:45pm
Post #13 of 42
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we'd get to avoid check-in and security searches at airports.
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swordwhale
Tol Eressea
Nov 21 2016, 5:58am
Post #14 of 42
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bfajshd;anhnchdfkjsdklj;alsdkj;al
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errrrrrrrrr
I seem to be linguistically impaired.
I speak American English. I learned a couple of Pennsylvania Dutch words from my family (someone actually published a small book locally called how to speak dutchified english), shussly (clumsy and hurried), rootchy (ADD twitchy figety), stroobly (your hair is a mess), noche (to noche a kitten or baby, to pet).
Took Spanish in high school, forgot most of it. Realize it would be useful now since lots of folks around here speak it.
Learned a fairly rude word from a Hungarian co-worker (will.... not.... repeat.... here).
Memorized some Elvish poetry from elvish.org, does that count????
Actually own a Klingon dictionary... somewhere.
Learned bits of the Moana soundtrack that are in one of the Polynesian languages (Samoan, or Tokelauan or Tuvalauan) done by Te vaka (fabulous group, awesome soundtrack).
Did Shotokan karate long ago and learned some Japanese. Actually knew left and right better in Japanese at the time because the words were connected to a physical movement.
Played around with some kung fu, tried to learn to count in Chinese....
...better at Japanese. Ack.
Learned a smattering of Sign from Deaf friends. Sadly they moved to Kentucky so I lost the practice. It's a physical language and occupies space in an interesting way. I found I could use it to remember some things because, connected to a physical action.
Probably be nice to have a real second language.
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swordwhale
Tol Eressea
Nov 21 2016, 4:10pm
Post #16 of 42
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a bablefish?
Or one of those universal translators from Star Trek?
If you think about most sci-fi or time travel stuff, it gets kind of odd... the fact that the entire universe seems to speak English...
One of the neatest film approaches to the language issue was The 13th Warrior (Antonio Banderas) where the main character has to learn the language of his Norse associates, and we see him siting around the campfire gradually making sense of one or two words, then more. What the audience hears is norsenorsenorse englishword norse... then norse norse english english norse... then finally just english as our hero learns their language. Beyond that, and the Norse coming to appreciate our hero's little Arabian horse ("the rat can jump!), the film was a financial flop. It was kind of fun though.
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Annael
Immortal
Nov 21 2016, 4:14pm
Post #17 of 42
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are a great reason for learning another language. I frequently insult other drivers in French.
My cousin who has lived in Italy for 50 years taught me some extremely rude words (English is just so limited in that regard - we pretty much start and end with the f-word). But that night I dreamt I yelled one phrase at another driver who turned out to speak Italian and came after me like a berserker, so . . . I stick to French.
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Smaug the iron
Gondor
Nov 21 2016, 4:58pm
Post #18 of 42
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Swedish and English fluently. I can speak a little bit of Danish and Norwegian but only because it is really close to Swedish. I studying German for a year but I don't remember much of it. I can speak a few words of Spanish and French.
(This post was edited by Smaug the iron on Nov 21 2016, 5:00pm)
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Nov 21 2016, 5:09pm
Post #19 of 42
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In the process of reviewing what I do, so I can continue to learn it more.
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swordwhale
Tol Eressea
Nov 21 2016, 9:03pm
Post #20 of 42
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I've heard stories like that... someone speaking an obscure language they don't think the locals know, then someone does.... ...
I bet the Italians have some doozers!
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Nov 21 2016, 10:44pm
Post #21 of 42
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I once read all of "El Seņor de los Anillos"
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but I still said "a bit". I think I'm actually between "a bit" and "well enough to get by".
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Eledhwen
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Nov 21 2016, 11:13pm
Post #22 of 42
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As far as I remember, if you travel in the TARDIS it gets inside your head and translates for you when you land on a new planet. Once or twice they've done an episode where for one reason or another it hasn't worked, and then they've subtitled the aliens.
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Hengist
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Nov 21 2016, 11:36pm
Post #23 of 42
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I tend to understand more when reading rather than speaking
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I studied latin when i was at school so that helps with with the french and spanish I've studied. Also helps a little with Italian. I can also speak/read a little welsh
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Nov 22 2016, 5:10am
Post #24 of 42
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Trying to learn French on my own. Tips appreciated! :)
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I find it excruciatingly slow going; but I find my 2 years of Spanish in early high school has helped somewhat with the verbs. My one year of German, not so much. 
I found a great free online course (Carnegie-Mellon OLI), with lots of videos, all native speakers, and tons of mp3 clips to listen to and endlessly repeat if I want to. But still . . .
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bwaaaa haaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaa
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