I'm quite poor with languages in general as I lived in bilingual (French/English) towns and mastered neither so I have a big accent in both. I also can understand German and write some but can't speak it well.
Thread: Which languages do you understand?
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Spent a lot of time in school doing both French and German and whilst I wouldn't be able to write an essay in either language, I know enough to get by.
Also spent a lot of time as a kid holidaying in Spain so have picked up a fair bit of the language from that. Native English speaker, so that goes without saying.
Edit: I should add, I love German, it's so aggressive and pragmatic.
Also spent a lot of time as a kid holidaying in Spain so have picked up a fair bit of the language from that. Native English speaker, so that goes without saying.
Edit: I should add, I love German, it's so aggressive and pragmatic.
In an English speaking community, the English option is a very important one lol.
I speak German, English and Polish. Also understand Spanish pretty well, but it's a bit rusty.
I speak German, English and Polish. Also understand Spanish pretty well, but it's a bit rusty.
I did a semester of school in France when I was younger and casual spoken French was basically unintelligible. Still have trouble with it.
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I would love to learn Japanese one day. I watch enough subbed anime that I should be an expert by now but my headspace is just taken up by anime tiddies
It is also world's away from the classical romance languages, so nothing carries over and I think that's why I struggled to retain anything.
I always hated the Spanish language, it sounds lazy. Trying to get some Korean works as I'm heading there next month but it seems to be the easiest Asian language.
DonDonDonPata
Bridge Burn Man
For those who understand French, Québec French versus Acadian French. I speak a bastardised Acadian French which is closer to Ontario French. France folks usually don't understand Acadian French.
You speak pataponese though. Don don don VIVA!
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I have really been wanting to learn japanese but the problem is that I don't know any japanese people irl and I'm not sure if I'd even use it that much outside of anime. Maybe I'm overthinking it.I would love to learn Japanese one day. I watch enough subbed anime that I should be an expert by now but my headspace is just taken up by anime tiddies
It is also world's away from the classical romance languages, so nothing carries over and I think that's why I struggled to retain anything.
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I am sure I would be much the same. Would have a terrible time trying to hold a full conversation, but would find it relatively easy buying a loaf of bread, say.
Don't let that be the thing that stops you. Think of how much Tokimeki Memorial you could play with a partial understanding of Japanese!
I tried to learn some Korean because I listen to way too much k pop, but like @Amorous Biscuit said the Asian languages are so different from other dialects that nothing carries over so retention is hard unless you really dedicate yourself to studying it.
That being said the Korean alphabet is really easy to learn and read. If you haven't looked into it yet, it's fairly simple and you can have a good understanding of it with a months practice. It's just learning what all the words means + grammar/sentence structure thats the hard part.
Plus they use weird English in France as a "status" thing. I remember this ad. Basically they use English terms all the time, and they say * shiny = doré. Which is not that at all, it would be reluisant. So they use an English name and they can't even translate the words correctly, beyond stupid.
I think that Canada is the only place in the World which translated KFC's name.
lock2k
Due a Whippin
What a bunch of dweebs lolPlus they use weird English. I remember this ad. Basically they use English terms all the time, and they say * shiny = doré. Which is not that at all, it would be reluisant. So they use an English name and they can't even translate the words correctly, beyond stupid.
I think that Canada is the only place in the World which translated KFC's name.
Hence why I started learning it and why I hate Spanish, so weak and feminine sounding. Plus I love to yell at people so in German I can speak casually and it achieves my goal lol.
Plus they use weird English in France as a "status" thing. I remember this ad. Basically they use English terms all the time, and they say * shiny = doré. Which is not that at all, it would be reluisant. So they use an English name and they can't even translate the words correctly, beyond stupid.
I think that Canada is the only place in the World which translated KFC's name.
Fun fact, Colonel Sanders lived in my hometown of Mississauga for many years when he brought KFC to Canada. He'd often hang out at the first location they opened and thank patrons for eating at KFC. His house needs to be a historical monument tbh.
I always forget that he lived in Mississauga. That is so weird that such an American icon passed his late life in Mississauga of all places. Fun to know that you're a fellow Canadian too.
John Matrix
Member
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I can perfectly speak, read and write in Spanish. English too, obviously. I would love to learn Italian, chicks dig that language, plus I already understand it a little bit.
John Matrix
Member
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Portuguese is actually closer to Spanish than Italian. The lexical similarities are 90% unlike 80% for Italian. Gotta update the picture lol.
The only three worth knowing.
English, love and the street.
English, love and the street.
lock2k
Due a Whippin
I lived in Mississauga for 6 months in 1997. Cool info.
True, but at the same time, the fact that I know both Portuguese and Spanish and the similarity with Italian makes it harder to learn Italian without confusing some parts with Spanish. But you are completely right about this.
and @Rock And Roll sorry for the loss of Hazel McCallion.
Well I feel partly responsible for derailing the thread with talk of decorated fast food war heroes so to get things back on track, I'd like to recommend FSI language courses for anyone interested in learning a foreign language
https://www.fsi-language-courses.org/
These were developed by the American Government to teach ambassadors/diplomats foreign languages for work overseas. I've done the Spanish one, and from what I have heard from others the other courses are also very well thought out and comprehensive studies of the language. The main "problem" with them is they were written in the 50s and 60s, so the language is taught in a very formal/old school way. But there really isn't any problem with speaking in a formal tone and I suppose as you progress and talk to native speakers, you'll speak a more relaxed/natural form of that language.
https://www.fsi-language-courses.org/
These were developed by the American Government to teach ambassadors/diplomats foreign languages for work overseas. I've done the Spanish one, and from what I have heard from others the other courses are also very well thought out and comprehensive studies of the language. The main "problem" with them is they were written in the 50s and 60s, so the language is taught in a very formal/old school way. But there really isn't any problem with speaking in a formal tone and I suppose as you progress and talk to native speakers, you'll speak a more relaxed/natural form of that language.
teezzy
Let me have my wanks
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lock2k
Due a Whippin
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Thing is I think I should learn spanish before japanese. To me if I want to learn a language I'd like to be able to use it. Its also a time commitment. I'd love to learn it though.
teezzy
Let me have my wanks
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Just English and a tiny bit of Spanish. Would like to learn Yiddish/Hebrew for fun. 
MetalAlien
Planet Killing Feet
English and multidimensional devil god. MDDG is the worst they only speak in symbolism here I am trying to figure out if stubbing my toe was an accident or an adverb.
Vyse
Blue Rogues Captain
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English, and I can read Spanish and Latin, so I also have a decent shot at most romance languages. I have picked up on some simple spoken Japanese over the years from my ex teaching me (and her tendency to slip back to speaking Japanese when excited) and anime because certain phrases are used so frequently. Still can't read moon runes though.
synchronicity
Member
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Took German in school, but that was a long time ago - I barely remember anything aside from the basics. Gluten morgan, donkey shane, and all that.
Like what Rock and Roll was saying about Korean a few posts above, the actual letters are pretty easy to learn. Different simple shapes for the consonants and variations of a I with either one or two strokes through it, in various rotations eg. I for i, - for eu, I- for a.
I haven't learned Korean in about six years now, but I retain some of the words and phrases still. Its weird though, I spent a long time trying to learn it beforehand but it didn't sink in really well. I guess I needed more conversational practice to help it set in. When I was in Korea, I was able to order fast food in Korean only as well as go to the store and greet people. Asking where is the bathroom is Eodi-e Hwajangsil?
I haven't learned Korean in about six years now, but I retain some of the words and phrases still. Its weird though, I spent a long time trying to learn it beforehand but it didn't sink in really well. I guess I needed more conversational practice to help it set in. When I was in Korea, I was able to order fast food in Korean only as well as go to the store and greet people. Asking where is the bathroom is Eodi-e Hwajangsil?