Question for our non-native English speakers

Polish is a tricky language, there are similarities but it's quite different from Russian. For me, it's easier to read than understand when spoken.

 

I think it sounds quite similar but I can't understand it very well at all. I had to watch a few Polish films for an Eastern European media class and I only understood about 20%. I find Serbian and Bulgarian easier to understand, I'd like to learn one of them after university.

 

Wow, sounds like a class I'd want to take... lucky you.

 

Britty, I don't think she meant to offend anyone with her comments. The more you travel the more you find that most of the world has a different mindset when it comes to learning a different language, where it is not only encouraged but expected. Don't be so sure that you will never need another language if you live here in the states your whole life, the world is becoming a smaller place everyday and being able to converse with others in another language not only broadens your world perspective, and it has proven physical benefits to your brain in terms of learning capacity. Not to mention learning a new language helps to break down the "ugly American" stereotype of us all being xenophobic, arrogant imposers of our arrogance and customs worldwide. I remember I was flying back from Toronto a few years back and an older lady (grandma type) was sitting next to me reading a french magazine, I asked her a question in french and after she responded she mentioned how shocked she was to find an American speaking her language, this lead to a very interesting and refreshing conversation about cultures, politics, and world veiws. This small encounter was meaningful for us both and would not have been possible if I did not speak another language, that day I improved her view (even if it was just a little bit) of Americans overall, that's how perceptions get changed over time.

 

Every post you make leads me to believe you're a special person, Loki.
All that have you in their life should consider themselves lucky ppl.
:smt001

 

You are most kind, I must say that I admire the way you came to this board seeking knowledge and advice while making major changes to your life. I am sure that you are a blessing to those in your life as well.:smt023

 

The thing that gets me is when people say 'Americans dont value learning other languages. Wow. Really? I grew up in the US and Spanish was required from grade 1 up. Wonder how it is that it was required teaching then?

 

I know exactly what you mean, Bryant, because as a non-native speaker of English myself, I still have the same problem. Yes, I am fluent and I have been here in the US for a long time, but there are still many nuances I can't express corretly in English and too many words that I don't trully understand the meaning or in which context they should be used.

Also another factor is the things that are acceptable to say in French for instance might become inappropriate when said or translated in English because of cultural differences etc.

The big problems all non-native speakers have when they try to speak a foreign language is speaking the language while thinking in their own language. The sense humor is different, the mentality, what is considered PC etc. A significant % of the things we say, jokes we tell, stories we share get lost in translation.

Sometimes I get tired speaking English because of the energy spent on trying to pronounce everyword correctly, trying to use the correct grammar, trying to process all the information coming from the person I am having a conversation with etc. It's just a difficult mental excercise for anybody.

 

That argument is often used as a way to justify what is essentially "intelectual laziness". The idea of learning a different language isn't based on whether or not that language could be useful or not, but rather on learning period. Learning something new, improving reading skills, reasoning capacity and expanding the intellect by learning something that doesn't come naturally: speaking a foreign tongue.

You can use the same argument to ask why should we bother with subjects such as Geography and History that are part of the Social Sciences in most schools curriculum? How is knowing where a country located relevant or how knowing who William the Conqueror was useful?

Most people like effort, and people always appreciate it if you have taken the time and applied your energy and intellect to even learn the most basics phrases in their languages. It says alot about an individual charact and it also implies that he has a certain amount of respect for the culture foreign to his.

Jodie Foster is the darling of the French media because her French is nearly flawless when she appears in interviews and TV shows in France. Other celebrities use interpretor and you could tell the difference as the interview or interaction seems much more impersonal. She learned a foreign language as a child and now it has turned out to be quite helpful, so as someone here said, "We never know"...

 

I find Czech very similar to Ukrainian... ah, it's all one family.

 

How many languages do you speak, Mosk?

 

LOL I don't speak all these languages, I just have plenty of exposure. There are many Czech people who go to my church, I'm actually friends with one mixed Czech-Polish family at church. And I love Ukrainian music, so I'm familiar with that language as well. I only speak Russian, English, some French and some Polish. My attempt to learn Bambara, the language of my ex-husband, was fruitless. I know a total of about five Bambara words.

 

Only? that's damn good, Mosk!

All of you Easterners are really making me want take on another language. I've always envied someone speaking in a language that I cannot understand. :smt003

 

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I'm used to hearing Polish being spoken

 

I speak 5 languages

Italian
English
Englian
Italish
Italian

 

My supervisor speaks Italian. Sounds like beautiful music and makes me want to sit under some orange tree in some garden in Italy!

 

EKATERINBURG!!! i was born there and spent 20 years of my life there...i miss my city ..

 

You forgot one:

FEHG: For Extremely Hung Guys :smt023

 

Understanding the father, means having an understanding of its offsprings, and vice versa.

Basically:
If you can speak spanish for example-----you will understand Portuguese and some French
If you speak Afrikaans------------Dutch ,Flemish, and some German, some swisss
If you speak sesotho------zulu, spedi, twana---some xhosa, and tons of south african languages--i cba to remember
If you speak english-------maybe some Gaelic and celtics/norwegian and maybe *swedish*(hahahaha--good luck)
If you speak lingala-------you can speak kikongo
You speak tshiluba and you will understand various central african languages
You speak swahili, you will understand some arab languages
You speak russian, you will understand some polish, some hungarian,bulgarian, yugoslavian, slovakian, serbian,croatian, ukranian, and all those slavic languages

Just learn the fathers of said languages and you will do fine dealing with its children.

BTW i speak atleast 11 diff languages :mrgreen:

VAVROOM!!

 

Interesting breakdown.

Damn man, you really have this language on lock.

Thanks for the tip.