How many languages do you know?

[MidnightFrost]

LOL i couldnt agree with you more on the french part

 

[gooooogle]

I see we have a few people here who don't like French.

I think French is supposed to be written with a big F.

 

[Decker]

Well English obviously, some German, some Russian and a very little Swedish (which I chose to drop as I was informed going between Scandenavian counties can result in probs if you don't speak it correctly )

 

[gooooogle]

Well English obviously, some German, some Russian and a very little Swedish (which I chose to drop as I was informed going between Scandenavian counties can result in probs if you don't speak it correctly )

I'm Norwegian. If you're fluent in one of the scandinavian languages you can understand and communicate with them all becouse they are so amazingly close to each other. Norwegian is between Swedish and Danish becouse we were under control of them both and so we were heavily influenced by their language.

 

[diginode]

2 1/2.. would like to increase that to 5 though..

 

[Freckled]

Fatal Switch you win the prize, smart answer and I loved it. I know 2 english and I know how to ask my DH to translate for me. He knows a few, Spanish, Czech, Croatian, Serbian. That is his favorite thing is learning languages, he knows enough to get by in German and Slovenian as well, I know enough to get into trouble.

 

[Anjay]

I'm fluent in English, British English and the American dialect, and French.

Personally, I much prefer English. It's a lot easier to speak and write in - French on the other hand, isn't a hassle for me anymore, however you still need to think about the conjugation and all. It's very difficult for foreigners, and apparently it's also quite difficult for the French people. In fact, according to the Swiss, who have to learn French perfectly, the French people don't speak it very well at all.

I aspire to one day learn German and Russian fluently. Not only do I like German and Russian a lot, however I believe it'll help within work.


The most important languages I believe are English (either British or American form) and German. French and Spanish can be quite important too, depending on the work you do and also where you live; however as far as I'm concerned, English and German are vital.

 

[BlackStorm]

I used to be quite good at Spanish but haven't used it in a long time so I have forgot a good bit.
Could probably still get by, there are some important things that I have forgotten though.
I really don't like trying to learn languages though, my brain just isn't able to remember everything needed, I think learning languages is one of the hardest things.
I do like when I am able to talk to someone from another country in their language though.

I have to agree with you about England and German being the two most important languages Anjay.
I don't know if this is the case with German, but I know with a lot of languages they differ a huge amount from the various countries, or even parts of a country that speak them as their native language.

Spanish has a few different forms and there is a lot of differences between some I have seen.

 

[Anjay]

I think learning languages is one of the hardest things.

Not really... it can be easy, if you put your mind to it. When I started with French, it took me a while because I didn't really want to - but finally I got over that, and went into learning French actively. I could have probably been fluent in French earlier on, had I actually wanted to.
However, all Dutch people speak English and Dutch fluently - and lots speak other languages too. Same with Belgian and Swiss folks; Belgians all speak Flemmish, French and German while Swiss all speak French, German and Italian. (If they don't speak all three, they certainly speak two)

I do like when I am able to talk to someone from another country in their language though.

Yes; it can actually be quite depressing being in a foreign country yet not being able to speak the language of that country. It isn't soo bad if you're on holiday, however living in a country where you don't speak the language - it's an awful feeling.

I don't know if this is the case with German, but I know with a lot of languages they differ a huge amount from the various countries, or even parts of a country that speak them as their native language.

I'm not sure about German, however I've heard some people say that. They claim that it becomes harder the more south you go, and softer the more north; personally I would have expected it to be the other way around because the south of Germany is closer to Italy, and Italian is a very soft language - while the North is closer to Denmark and the other scandinavian countries who all speak pretty hard languages (well harder than Italian).

With French this happens, and what makes it worse is the French are extremely lazy - they try to contract wherever they can; whether it makes sense or not. The Swiss complain about this pretty often... quite funny really.