Topic: Which (natural) language should I learn? - page 3. (Read 10624 times)
Portuguese for sure, just visit Brazil and decide for yourself.
Bugger! You forgot Switzerland ... although ä klisigs Chuchichäschtli is pretty ununderstandable to any native german.
Anyone who includes (Northern/Eastern) Switzerland as a German-speaking country is completely deluded.
The languages they speak over there are dialects of German that are about as close to real German as Dutch is.
In other words, it's not German at all. Plus each city/valley speaks a different version of the darn thing, to
the point where they have a a hard time even understanding one another within the country.
Yes, they can all understand real German over there, but the moment they'll speak to one another, you won't
have a clue what they're saying, even native Germans speakers don't.
Plus ... if you count language aesthetics as a criteria (some languages sound way worse than others) when
it comes to swiss-german, just one word: ugh. Sounding worse than German is hard, but they somehow pull
it off.
Again, totally unbiased opinion
You forgot Wallis. It's in the south and is by far the hardest swiss dialect to learn, due in no small part to its inclusion of French, Italian and Romansch. And the fact that as a canton it's mostly a very long and isolated valley and didn't get the "German 2.0" updates that everyone else did in the 1700s.
But by god you guys are such pussies! Wallisertiitsch is the most manly and aggressive language I've ever heard or spoken. Just thinking "huere schiissdrechhhhhh" makes me feel more manly.
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, ..., Italian,
Level 2
...
Level 5
... Chinese, ...
Ok so much for Chinese, but no real help on the rest.Level 1
Spanish, French, German, ..., Italian,
Level 2
...
Level 5
... Chinese, ...
My approach runs like this: You need communication partners with whom your one-year-experience in language x is helpful.
German?
Why learning German, whilst already speaking English fluently? Very few german speaking people have less than one year of experience with english (except for the southeastern part of Europe probably).
Italian?
Rarely spoken compared to the others, but if you like Operas ... still one year wouldn´t be of much help.
French?
A bit like Italian, although more widely spread in the world.
Spanish?
Well the last one left and a very good choice, provided you agree on my approach.
I advocate learning as many as one can. Neither German nor French should be particularly difficult starting points. Theymos is not likely to get very far with Chinese in a year while remaining on American soil. However, Chinese will help if he intends to learn Japanese later but not much. Except for a handful of characters and old cultural ties, the two languages are quite different (perhaps Japanese is grammatically and lexicographically closer to English than Chinese).
I personally think Germanic languages (which includes English) are ugly. For me the opportunities to speak and the pleasure of the spoken word are most motivating. I speak French and a few Germanic languages, and while not fluent, I enjoy forming words in Spanish more than any other language on Theymos' short list (others being Romanian, Pali/sanskrit, Hausa, any tonal language, and I imagine Khoisan languages).
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese
Level 2
Swahili, Icelandic, Malay, Indonesian, Romanian
Level 3
Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian
Level 4
Arabic, Russian, Persian
Level 5
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Yay! I know a Level 2 and a Level 5 Language. That makes me a Level 9! I personally think Germanic languages (which includes English) are ugly. For me the opportunities to speak and the pleasure of the spoken word are most motivating. I speak French and a few Germanic languages, and while not fluent, I enjoy forming words in Spanish more than any other language on Theymos' short list (others being Romanian, Pali/sanskrit, Hausa, any tonal language, and I imagine Khoisan languages).
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese
Level 2
Swahili, Icelandic, Malay, Indonesian, Romanian
Level 3
Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian
Level 4
Arabic, Russian, Persian
Level 5
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
You're such an idiot! 2 and 5 make 8. Aren't you learned?
~Cackling Bear~
I advocate learning as many as one can. Neither German nor French should be particularly difficult starting points. Theymos is not likely to get very far with Chinese in a year while remaining on American soil. However, Chinese will help if he intends to learn Japanese later but not much. Except for a handful of characters and old cultural ties, the two languages are quite different (perhaps Japanese is grammatically and lexicographically closer to English than Chinese).
I personally think Germanic languages (which includes English) are ugly. For me the opportunities to speak and the pleasure of the spoken word are most motivating. I speak French and a few Germanic languages, and while not fluent, I enjoy forming words in Spanish more than any other language on Theymos' short list (others being Romanian, Pali/sanskrit, Hausa, any tonal language, and I imagine Khoisan languages).
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese
Level 2
Swahili, Icelandic, Malay, Indonesian, Romanian
Level 3
Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian
Level 4
Arabic, Russian, Persian
Level 5
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Yay! I know a Level 2 and a Level 5 Language. That makes me a Level 9! I personally think Germanic languages (which includes English) are ugly. For me the opportunities to speak and the pleasure of the spoken word are most motivating. I speak French and a few Germanic languages, and while not fluent, I enjoy forming words in Spanish more than any other language on Theymos' short list (others being Romanian, Pali/sanskrit, Hausa, any tonal language, and I imagine Khoisan languages).
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese
Level 2
Swahili, Icelandic, Malay, Indonesian, Romanian
Level 3
Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian
Level 4
Arabic, Russian, Persian
Level 5
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
I advocate learning as many as one can. Neither German nor French should be particularly difficult starting points. Theymos is not likely to get very far with Chinese in a year while remaining on American soil. However, Chinese will help if he intends to learn Japanese later but not much. Except for a handful of characters and old cultural ties, the two languages are quite different (perhaps Japanese is grammatically and lexicographically closer to English than Chinese).
I personally think Germanic languages (which includes English) are ugly. For me the opportunities to speak and the pleasure of the spoken word are most motivating. I speak French and a few Germanic languages, and while not fluent, I enjoy forming words in Spanish more than any other language on Theymos' short list (others being Romanian, Pali/sanskrit, Hausa, any tonal language, and I imagine Khoisan languages).
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese
Level 2
Swahili, Icelandic, Malay, Indonesian, Romanian
Level 3
Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian
Level 4
Arabic, Russian, Persian
Level 5
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
I personally think Germanic languages (which includes English) are ugly. For me the opportunities to speak and the pleasure of the spoken word are most motivating. I speak French and a few Germanic languages, and while not fluent, I enjoy forming words in Spanish more than any other language on Theymos' short list (others being Romanian, Pali/sanskrit, Hausa, any tonal language, and I imagine Khoisan languages).
Given the short timespan and indecision, it might be worth considering the British Foreign Office's categorization from easiest to hardest for native English speakers (diplomats) to learn:
Level 1
Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese
Level 2
Swahili, Icelandic, Malay, Indonesian, Romanian
Level 3
Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian
Level 4
Arabic, Russian, Persian
Level 5
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
The hottest women, even the lowest common denominator, are found in Copenhagen. Unfortunately the Danish language, like German and Dutch, is verbal diarrhea but less smooth. I'd have to give a vote up to the ladies of Montreal and Quebec and the always charming français québécois...
...which sounds a bit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU
...which sounds a bit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU
Sure, go ahead and convince theymos that French is the way to go. By next year he'll be able to do stand-up comedy like this: Languages--Eddie Izzard.
~Cackling Bear~
The hottest women, even the lowest common denominator, are found in Copenhagen. Unfortunately the Danish language, like German and Dutch, is verbal diarrhea but less smooth. I'd have to give a vote up to the ladies of Montreal and Quebec and the always charming français québécois...
...which sounds a bit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU
...which sounds a bit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU
Sandra Bullock speaks German: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzbrztZFCFA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu_-54aB9lo
Even Phil Ivey try to learn french with Montreal hotties! It looks like he really did enjoy his stay!
As an added bonus: most of these hotties also speak english
Even Phil Ivey try to learn french with Montreal hotties! It looks like he really did enjoy his stay!
As an added bonus: most of these hotties also speak english
I wouldn't take Chinese if I was only doing two semesters and didn't have a pressing need for it. Personally I took Spanish, cause I'll actually use it.
Now why the hell am quoting BadBear? Oh yea, I remember. Fuck Spanish, albeit your reasoning for not taking Chinese is valid. That leaves only German.
I present my case via a YouTube video. Everybody else feel like presenting their case as well via the same, please do so. That said, my best argument for theymos to take German for two semesters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urAz1T5hxsA
Don't forget to include an image when stating your case.
~Bruno~
If you're willing to sign up with Facebook, then Spanish Hour is running a promo on Spanish Preperation as a freebie.
http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html
Thank you very much! Just enrolled! It looks like it's way easier to learn with a french background. Gender and number work the same way! http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html
I feel funny doing this training in english.
NP, it looks a lot like DuoLingo at first shake, but haven't had enough time to really get my hands dirty.
Anyway, they have a sister site for CLEP tests for college credit. Link in the sig.
I wouldn't take Chinese if I was only doing two semesters and didn't have a pressing need for it. Personally I took Spanish, cause I'll actually use it.
+1
I wouldn't take Chinese if I was only doing two semesters and didn't have a pressing need for it. Personally I took Spanish, cause I'll actually use it.
If you're willing to sign up with Facebook, then Spanish Hour is running a promo on Spanish Preperation as a freebie.
http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html
Thank you very much! Just enrolled! It looks like it's way easier to learn with a french background. Gender and number work the same way! http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html
I feel funny doing this training in english.
Remember, theymos only has a choice between five languages, and it's only for two semesters. I still feel that it's only a choice between German and Chinese, for having a rudimentary handle on either one of these would enable him to pursue his major/career much gooder.
~Bruno~
~Bruno~
If you're willing to sign up with Facebook, then Spanish Hour is running a promo on Spanish Preperation as a freebie.
http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html
http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html
Quote
Have you considerd Latin or Sanskrit?
One of my favorite songs is partially in Sanskrit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ-posN4vRc
Every concert these two sister perform at, sell out--without spending a single advertising dollar.
The following image is not related to the above, but felt it important to this post, coupled with the fact that we all know that theymos loves images.
Once you've made your choice, theymos, please let us know what it is, thus allowing us to tell you how it was the wrong choice.
~Bruno~
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