Languages

[DaisyRose]

What is one language you would like to learn? I am in the process of learning Spanish. I actually remember a lot from my Spanish class than I thought I did. Spanish is coming to me easier than ever, which is great. I think it is an easy language to learn.

 

[tazz]

I tried learning Japanese, Norwegian and Bosnian. But I found that it quickly results in a meltdown, I think because I'm frustrated that there are always lots of exceptions to the "rules". So for now I've given up on learning new languages.

Computer languages I can pick up super quick.

 

[Tom]

I would have liked to learn German properly. I was stationed there 5 years and learned what we used to call 'survival german' which was just a bunch of words and phrases really - just enough to get around. While language is definately not one of my strongpoints (I struggled in attempts to learn any spanish or french) I felt german was the one I would have the least difficulty with. As the parent language of English I could more easily make mental connections for words that aided in remembering. Plus of the ones I have been exposed to it was the clearest to hear properly. Others went so fast it was a blur. I also must admit there was something fun about speaking german, something humorous in the sound to my ears.

 

[Stuttermabolur]

It depends on what you men by "learn". If you mean "know", I would love to speak Mandarin. It's very different from Indo-European languages and depends on subtle vocal intonations (as well as having a complex writing system), but if you do know it, a whole cultural world opens up to you. You can experience culture in the largest country in the world, and Mandarin speakers are very sought after so I could potentially get a high paying job in China or elsewhere. As a politics buff, I would also like to read some primary Chinese sources and get a better feel for the culture there.

If you mean "learn" as in "actually practice it", then I would like to learn more of the eastern European languages. I know some Serbian (same language as in Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Slovenia) which is pretty similar to Russian and Ukrainian, and I can read and write using the cyrillic alphabet. However, my Serbian is very rusty, and I can't speak any other east European languages. If I had the time and motivation, I would like to develop my language skills further there, while I wouldn't even attempt to learn Chinese.

If I could choose one "supernatural power", it would be to understand and be able to communicate in every language there is, as there is so much culture closed off to me because of my lack of knowledge.

 

[Rodafina]

What is one language you would like to learn? I am in the process of learning Spanish. I actually remember a lot from my Spanish class than I thought I did. Spanish is coming to me easier than ever, which is great. I think it is an easy language to learn.

I am trying to learn Spanish, too. I am lucky now that at my work there are many people who speak Spanish and, in the mornings, when we are all together for a half an hour or so, I am able to practice with them. The chance to practice conversational Spanish is really helpful.

 

[autism-and-autotune]

What is one language you would like to learn? I am in the process of learning Spanish. I actually remember a lot from my Spanish class than I thought I did. Spanish is coming to me easier than ever, which is great. I think it is an easy language to learn.

I've wanted very much in the past to study Latin, German, and French. Currently though I'm sticking to Latin because...well, I love so much sacred Baroque/medieval/renaissance music.

 

[Judge]

I once had to make an entire website in Dutch. A language I didn't have a clue about. But all the text was provided to me and I found the language itself fascinating. A little German, a little English, and a lot of something else.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

I was learning Swedish, but I haven't practiced in about a year, and I've already forgotten most of it.

I would like to learn to read and speak Hebrew. I have learned a few words and phrases, from common prayers and songs, at best.

Also, I've had a longstanding special interest in learning to speak Russian, and read Cyrillic. This goes back to my teen years. It fascinates me.

I'd like to learn more Spanish too.

 

[Shamar]

I would have liked to learn German properly. I was stationed there 5 years and learned what we used to call 'survival german' which was just a bunch of words and phrases really - just enough to get around. While language is definately not one of my strongpoints (I struggled in attempts to learn any spanish or french) I felt german was the one I would have the least difficulty with. As the parent language of English I could more easily make mental connections for words that aided in remembering. Plus of the ones I have been exposed to it was the clearest to hear properly. Others went so fast it was a blur. I also must admit there was something fun about speaking german, something humorous in the sound to my ears.

Have you ever read Mark Twain's essay The Awful German Language? You may have to be born to it to truly understand it. An I'm not sure even the Germans understand how the Dative tense is supposed to work.

 

[Progster]

I'd like to learn Norwegian because I have a lot of music from this country, I'd like to be able to understand the lyrics.

 

[Forest Cat]

I'd like to learn Norwegian because I have a lot of music from this country, I'd like to be able to understand the lyrics.

It does have some things in common with English so it's not as difficult to learn as many other languages. I know Norwegian and Norwegian music well, if there are any lyrics you want translated I can do that. Google isn't good at translating Norwegian to English.





I mentioned before I would like to learn Finnish, I should also learn Spanish. Just because so many people use it.

 

[Luca]

Sorry, this ended up being more of a tangent/infodump than I expected :/

I'm in the process of trying to learn to speak better Spanish, since Spanish and Portuguese are culturally my native languages (even though I was raised by predominantly English-speaking people who were not blood relatives, so I'm very rusty.)
I love Spanish music though, especially Bad Bunny, Shakira, Maluma, Young Miko, Ozuna, and Carla Fernandes.

One of the reasons I want to learn to speak Spanish fluently is that my community has a maintenance crew who don't really understand English, and they are very friendly with me so I want to be able to have more in-depth conversations with them in Spanish. They initially thought that I spoke Spanish because of how I look (a lot of Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking people assume this about me), so I had to explain that my first language is English and I felt kind of bad. I'm really the only person who bothers to have conversations with them which makes me sad. They are also not scared of my dogs like most people here are, so my dogs love them.

I speak and read very basic conversational Polish, because the majority of my close irl friends are from Poland, and Ukraine. I can understand some Ukrainian when it is spoken, but have difficulty reading Cyrillic.
My girlfriend is from Poland and her mother does not understand English at all so I can only talk to her mother in Polish.
I listen to a lot of Polish music and I generally understand the lyrics. My music library is predominantly non-English music, actually. I think American music is pretty awful right now and I love both ethnic cultural music, and pop music from all over the world.
My adoptive family is also Eastern European and they do understand Polish and Ukrainian.
So if anyone has wondered why I have a special interest in Eastern European culture, folklore, food, and music, this is why lol

I would love to learn to speak all the Scandinavian/Nordic languages, but particularly Finnish, because I think it's a really unique and fascinating language, and Finland is a country I would really love to visit.
I have a book for learning Finnish but I have been too busy to read it. Since I'm now stuck in bed a lot of the time I think I will start reading it. I have also been listening to Finnish pop music and rap music and it's actually really good! I think Erika Vikman is now one of my favorite singers of all time, I love her modern take on the 80s/90s vibe.

*Special interests can be a really bizarre thing lol, I did not choose any of these. Sorry if they're weird, and I hope people from those countries don't find them insensitive.
I personally don't find it insensitive when white people are interested in my culture and I am happy to share. But I can't speak for Eastern European or Scandinavian people, and I'm sorry if it's weird or creepy for you to read this.

My posts always end up being long-winded story time, even though I never intend them to be... :/

 

[Forest Cat]

I would love to learn to speak all the Scandinavian/Nordic languages, but particularly Finnish, because I think it's a really unique and fascinating language, and Finland is a country I would really love to visit.

Best of luck with the Finnish, that language can drive people crazy. You need something the Finns call "sisu" to learn it I think. Norwegian, Swedish and Danish are a piece of cake compared to Finnish because they are similar. I speak all three and I can't really call it three languages, more like 2,3 languages.

 

[Outdated]

In high school I was given the choice of French or German, I picked French but had no interest in learning it, in my part of the world it may as well be a dead language. In later years I had a Suisse girlfriend and I learnt more French from her in a few months than I did in 5 years of high school.

These days a lot of schools are teaching the kids Indonesian and Mandarin, that makes a lot more sense considering where we live.

 

[Luca]

In high school I was given the choice of French or German, I picked French but had no interest in learning it, in my part of the world it may as well be a dead language. In later years I had a Suisse girlfriend and I learnt more French from her in a few months than I did in 5 years of high school.

These days a lot of schools are teaching the kids Indonesian and Mandarin, that makes a lot more sense considering where we live.

I took a German class one year in high school but I unfortunately don't remember much, because I was dealing with very serious mental health and physical health issues at the time. I missed a lot of school in my sophomore year of high school, and had to do a lot of my work at home, because I was always sick. I would love to re-learn German though.

My mom speaks fluent French, and she taught me some basic French (like greetings, ordering food, and asking for directions) for when I went to Quebec, but I was so embarrassed by how I sounded that I barely put it to use. Let's just say French does not roll off my tongue well lol

It stinks because I would absolutely love to live in Quebec. It is one of my favorite places I've ever visited, and that's saying a lot because I am pretty well-traveled.

 

[Outdated]

Let's just say French does not roll off my tongue well lol

Jocelyn loved hearing Aussies speak French because it sounded very funny to her ear.

 

[Luca]

Jocelyn loved hearing Aussies speak French because it sounded very funny to her ear.

I can imagine that it would be funny! Hearing my girlfriend attempt an American accent (and American slang) is also kind of funny. In an endearing way, not in a mocking way.
But I cringe every time she uses the Boston vernacular term "wicked" which is not part of my vocabulary lol

 

[Stuttermabolur]

These days a lot of schools are teaching the kids Indonesian and Mandarin, that makes a lot more sense considering where we live.

I wish schools in Iceland taught Polish. It is the largest group of immigrants by far but almost no natives speak the language. I was in one of the largest and oldest high schools (more of a college) in the country which offers a wide variety of courses, including Japanese and Mandarin, but no Polish (I just checked). I think it's a real shame, as the Polish people I got to know from working in a warehouse are very nice and hardworking.

 

[Outdated]

I wish schools in Iceland taught Polish. It is the largest group of immigrants by far....

For us, Indonesia is our closest neighbour and China is our largest trading partner, those two languages just make sense.

 

[Kisa the tea]

If I had the time and commitment I would like to learn Italian or Japanese because those are two languages that my partner is fluent in. I've tried in the past and know some basics but I'm not good at keeping focused on things long term.