What Languages do you know?
Raghu Rajamarian
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Svend Rost
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Dani Atrei
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Roger Johnson
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posted 11 years ago
learning languages is a waste of time and effort. God should have created human with only one language.
image all the wonderful things you can do with the time wasted on learning foreign languages. well, you may end up just sleeping, even that is good, you will live healthier and longer
image all the wonderful things you can do with the time wasted on learning foreign languages. well, you may end up just sleeping, even that is good, you will live healthier and longer
John Smith
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Dani Atrei
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Dani Atrei
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Ulf Dittmer
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73
posted 11 years ago
As (almost) always, Google:"Pardon My French" can help out.
[ February 08, 2006: Message edited by: Ulf Dittmer ]
[ February 08, 2006: Message edited by: Ulf Dittmer ]
Dani Atrei
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Dave Lenton
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Posts: 1241
posted 11 years ago
Now I feel like a typically English language moron. There's so many polyglots here!
I know:
* English (I've almost got the hang of it)
* Greek (basic only, despite going to evening classes for several years)
* French (...nah, forget that, because I have)
----
I'm sure I've only got one spare "slot" in my brain for a foreign language. I've found that since starting learning Greek, I've forgotten all my French. Whenever I try to think of a French word for something, the Greek pops up instead. Yesterday I realised that I can't even remember enough to ask "how old are you". It made me think - at what point does a lack of knowledge of a language decrease to the point where you can no longer say you "know" the language?
---
The really sad thing is that I had to edit this post to correct some spelling mistakes. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I even know English!
[ February 09, 2006: Message edited by: Dave Lenton ]
I know:
* English (I've almost got the hang of it)
* Greek (basic only, despite going to evening classes for several years)
* French (...nah, forget that, because I have)
----
I'm sure I've only got one spare "slot" in my brain for a foreign language. I've found that since starting learning Greek, I've forgotten all my French. Whenever I try to think of a French word for something, the Greek pops up instead. Yesterday I realised that I can't even remember enough to ask "how old are you". It made me think - at what point does a lack of knowledge of a language decrease to the point where you can no longer say you "know" the language?
---
The really sad thing is that I had to edit this post to correct some spelling mistakes. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I even know English!
[ February 09, 2006: Message edited by: Dave Lenton ]
There will be glitches in my transition from being a saloon bar sage to a world statesman. - Tony Banks
Jesus Angeles
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Dani Atrei
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posted 11 years ago
It's normal, if you don't practise a language, you forget it. I studied German for 4 years, and i can t remember how to say how old are you, wie alt bist du?, i can remember aproximately
. However, because you ve already learned it, next time it will take you 2 times less effort to relearn it. Especially if you go to that country, it will just pop back in after a few weeks. And anyway, the other important thing is that people appreciate the effort of you learning their language, and this is specially true for some eu countries.
Originally posted by Dave Lenton:
I'm sure I've only got one spare "slot" in my brain for a foreign language. I've found that since starting learning Greek, I've forgotten all my French. Whenever I try to think of a French word for something, the Greek pops up instead. Yesterday I realised that I can't even remember enough to ask "how old are you". It made me think - at what point does a lack of knowledge of a language decrease to the point where you can no longer say you "know" the language?
It's normal, if you don't practise a language, you forget it. I studied German for 4 years, and i can t remember how to say how old are you, wie alt bist du?, i can remember aproximately
. However, because you ve already learned it, next time it will take you 2 times less effort to relearn it. Especially if you go to that country, it will just pop back in after a few weeks. And anyway, the other important thing is that people appreciate the effort of you learning their language, and this is specially true for some eu countries.Si altas son las torres, el valor es alto - Alberti
Bert Bates
author
Sheriff
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17
posted 11 years ago
I'm not sure if I'm still fluent enough for extended conversation. It's been years since I've used it -- I learned ASL so I could converse with a deaf friend in the mid to late 80's.
My finger spelling is still fine though.
Originally posted by Jessica Sant:
English and ASL (American Sign Language) - not really fluent -- but enough to hold a conversation.
I'm not sure if I'm still fluent enough for extended conversation. It's been years since I've used it -- I learned ASL so I could converse with a deaf friend in the mid to late 80's.
My finger spelling is still fine though.
Sameer Jamal
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Sania Marsh
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Sania Marsh
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posted 11 years ago
You should work as God's consultant..
[ February 13, 2006: Message edited by: Sania Marsh ]
Originally posted by Roger Johnson:
learning languages is a waste of time and effort. God should have created human with only one language.
image all the wonderful things you can do with the time wasted on learning foreign languages. well, you may end up just sleeping, even that is good, you will live healthier and longer
You should work as God's consultant..
[ February 13, 2006: Message edited by: Sania Marsh ]
Frank Silbermann
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Posts: 1408
posted 11 years ago
Now, if you also avoid wasting the time some people spend learning geography, you could use that time to watch baseball on TV, spend hours in a car driving to and from work, take a second job to pay for a newer car, eat at MacDonalds, etc. Maybe even invade Iraq! :-)
As for me, I can: (1) read simple Dutch; (2) make out many newspaper headlines in Scandinavian languages; (3) speak German; (4) read simple Yiddish; (5) translate Biblical Hebrew a little bit.
I spent a bit of time studying Spanish, back when I had the idea of moving to South Florida; but I didn't get very far. I still think I ought to put some more effort into it, if only so that I'll be able to get around in America when I get old. :-)
In other words, if you didn't have to waste time learning foreign languages, you could build a tower to heaven to wage war on God!
Roger Johnson: Learning languages is a waste of time and effort. God should have created human with only one language. Imagine all the wonderful things you can do with the time wasted on learning foreign languages.
Originally posted by John Smith:
From Genesis 11: "Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words."
You may want to read Genesis further to see what happened after that.
Now, if you also avoid wasting the time some people spend learning geography, you could use that time to watch baseball on TV, spend hours in a car driving to and from work, take a second job to pay for a newer car, eat at MacDonalds, etc. Maybe even invade Iraq! :-)
As for me, I can: (1) read simple Dutch; (2) make out many newspaper headlines in Scandinavian languages; (3) speak German; (4) read simple Yiddish; (5) translate Biblical Hebrew a little bit.
I spent a bit of time studying Spanish, back when I had the idea of moving to South Florida; but I didn't get very far. I still think I ought to put some more effort into it, if only so that I'll be able to get around in America when I get old. :-)
Ramaswamy Srinivasan
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Raghavendra nandavar
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Frank Silbermann
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posted 11 years ago
Hey fellow ranchers,
I can read/write/speak the following languages:
english,hindi,marathi,malayalam,sanskrit
i can understand the following languages:
gujrathi/tamil.
cheers
vinny m
I can read/write/speak the following languages:
english,hindi,marathi,malayalam,sanskrit
i can understand the following languages:
gujrathi/tamil.
cheers
vinny m
Regards,Vinny M.
proud Fan of European Champion CHELSEA FC
"If you don't see the bug where you're looking, perhaps you're looking in the wrong place" -James Gosling
Lukas Alamar
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Posts: 68
posted 11 years ago
english .. it serves all of my needs
little german ..
and italian of course
that makes sense ..
[ February 15, 2006: Message edited by: Lukas Alamar ]
little german ..
and italian of course
Originally posted by Roger Johnson:
learning languages is a waste of time and effort. God should have created human with only one language.
image all the wonderful things you can do with the time wasted on learning foreign languages. well, you may end up just sleeping, even that is good, you will live healthier and longer
that makes sense ..
[ February 15, 2006: Message edited by: Lukas Alamar ]
SCJP 1.4
Mahesh Rana
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Rajeev Ravindran
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posted 11 years ago
what is ASL (American Sign Language) ? i first thought Age, Sex n Location. hope this is not a stupid post
[ February 15, 2006: Message edited by: Rajeev Ravindran ]
Originally posted by Jessica Sant:
English and ASL (American Sign Language) - not really fluent -- but enough to hold a conversation.
what is ASL (American Sign Language) ? i first thought Age, Sex n Location. hope this is not a stupid post
[ February 15, 2006: Message edited by: Rajeev Ravindran ]
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD, Oracle Certified Professional (SQL n PL/SQL)
posted 11 years ago
Not a stupid question at all. ASL (American Sign Language) is used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing to communicate.
Here is the ASL alphabet -- which you use to spell words (its called finger spelling).
Many words also have their own signs this website demonstrates a lot of different signs.
Every language has its own sign language, and in fact British Sign Language is different than American Sign language (for example the BSL alphabet is done on two hands and is very different than ASL).
My cousin is deaf, and recently I've started talking with her in sign over our webcams -- its great. Check out the website I linked to above www.aslpro.com, its got tons of videos of different signs, and even a sign and fingerspelling quiz.
[ February 15, 2006: Message edited by: Jessica Sant ]
Originally posted by Rajeev Ravindran:
what is ASL (American Sign Language) ? i first thought Age, Sex n Location. hope this is not a stupid post
Not a stupid question at all. ASL (American Sign Language) is used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing to communicate.
Here is the ASL alphabet -- which you use to spell words (its called finger spelling).
Many words also have their own signs this website demonstrates a lot of different signs.
Every language has its own sign language, and in fact British Sign Language is different than American Sign language (for example the BSL alphabet is done on two hands and is very different than ASL).
Originally posted by Bear Bibeault:
I'm not sure if I'm still fluent enough for extended conversation. It's been years since I've used it -- I learned ASL so I could converse with a deaf friend in the mid to late 80's.
My finger spelling is still fine though.
My cousin is deaf, and recently I've started talking with her in sign over our webcams -- its great. Check out the website I linked to above www.aslpro.com, its got tons of videos of different signs, and even a sign and fingerspelling quiz.
[ February 15, 2006: Message edited by: Jessica Sant ]
- Jess
Blog:KnitClimbJava | Twitter: jsant | Ravelry: wingedsheep
Reid M. Pinchback
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Posts: 775
posted 11 years ago
That is a common misconception, not specific to the whole country. The real thing to listen for is how we all say "about".
Originally posted by Frank Silbermann:
Speaking Kannada is easy -- you just pronounce the `O' funny, and end most sentences with "Ay?"
That is a common misconception, not specific to the whole country. The real thing to listen for is how we all say "about".
Reid - SCJP2 (April 2002)
Reid M. Pinchback
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Mohammad Ibrahim
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weiking sun
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