What Language Would You Learn?

24

Comments

  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    I've been wanting to learn Japanese for some time.
  • HazeHaze O RLY? Join Date: 2003-07-07 Member: 18018Members, Constellation
    Learn the most common language you can think of that you havent learned yet.
  • AveSatanasAveSatanas Join Date: 2004-06-04 Member: 29117Members
    Learn the language of the fleas, earn their trust, and breed with their women. In time, our differences will be forgetten.
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    Common huh?

    That'll be 'ned' then...



    <b>sample:</b>
    "eh gies a bottle o ****ing bucky pal. Oh **** it's te polis!!! I ken davie cotter ya bam, he's in te clink fer gien the malky to 5 folk. He'll kick yer ****ing heid in. c'mon an gies a go ye bam!!!"
  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-TheMuffinMan+Sep 3 2004, 11:50 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TheMuffinMan @ Sep 3 2004, 11:50 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I would have to agree with Bijiy on German. It is a great language to learn for several reasons, of which i can think of two.

    1. It is pretty easy to pick up the basics, especially if you are good at English. Hell, i got a qualification in German when i was 13 and i have not looked back since. It is pretty similar to English in overall sentence structure. If you figured out Russian, you should be able to pick up German pretty quickly.

    2. German is a language spoken in many parts of Europe, so it is worthwhile learning the basics if you intend to spend time in Central Europe.

    There are plenty more reasons why another language would be beneficial but i'm sure you already know them as you have already studied 3 other languages. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--QuoteBegin-TheMuffinMan+Sep 3 2004, 11:50 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TheMuffinMan @ Sep 3 2004, 11:50 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I would have to agree with Bijiy on German. It is a great language to learn for several reasons, of which i can think of two.

    1. It is pretty easy to pick up the basics, especially if you are good at English. Hell, i got a qualification in German when i was 13 and i have not looked back since. It is pretty similar to English in overall sentence structure. If you figured out Russian, you should be able to pick up German pretty quickly.

    2. German is a language spoken in many parts of Europe, so it is worthwhile learning the basics if you intend to spend time in Central Europe.

    There are plenty more reasons why another language would be beneficial but i'm sure you already know them as you have already studied 3 other languages.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    3. You can say almost anything and sound mad about it - even if it's nice.

    4. You can go back in time and know what those Nazis are saying.



    ...German is actually spoken quite a bit (more than French, at least <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> ). It is spoken as the main language in: Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland (albeit with different dialects); and one of the spoken languages in: Eastern France, Northern Italy, parts of Belgium and the Netherlands and Western Hungary.

    ...That's a pretty broad spectrum if you ask me <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> .


    Personally I know English well, German pretty well and Russian mediocrely (woot, made up words <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> ). There's also 100 Spanish words and being able to say Thanks, Your Welcome and Hi in about 10 other languages.

    Russian is by far the most fun (to me, at least). The adjective/gender relationship sports lots of 'ah' sounds (my favorite), and is consistent. It's so consistent, female names end in -a and male names don't. Where're your other languages that change people's names for the language?

    German is pretty fun; and in it's basics it's pretty easy. Some letter changes and you get the basic English equivalents with the beginning level words. Tag = Day, Dieb = Thief, besser = better, all fairly easy. It only gets harder to read once you get past the "Hey, welcome to German!" stage with words like "Schwangerschaftsunterbrechung" (...if you know what that is directly from German to English without any in-depth learning...well, then don't take German). It also has the advantage of being able to follow most English sentence structure...which can be nice (although page long sentences with the verb at the end = bad).

    The short man, who knew of no one who was his eqaul intellectually, wearing his black top hat, sleek black trousers and hefty overcoat, living on the upper east side of town, near the forest, who enjoys eating cheese only on wednesdays and on Christmas, was doing cartwheels down the street. [okay, maybe it's not the best example, since there's verbs all over the place... but the main verb is at the end.]

    Japanese is probably the most econically and personally useful language that you don't have (after English and Spanish it'll get you the most profitable clients if you're in business). Chinese is up there too. Portugese, Russian and German sit around there too.


    For fun, I'd go with Russian (even if you have the basics). If this university didn't suck so much - I'd still be taking it. Woot for Russian.
  • camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
    wizard, have you picked out a language yet? assuming it's japanese (given the innumerable votes for it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->), where are you learning from? and, do you have any tips for people trying to learn new languages? i've been learning from <a href='http://www.japanese-online.com/LANGUAGE/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.japanese-online.com/LANGUAGE/index.htm</a> but daikatana is more interesting.
  • raz0rraz0r Join Date: 2003-07-24 Member: 18395Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Geminosity+Sep 3 2004, 11:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Geminosity @ Sep 3 2004, 11:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Common huh?

    That'll be 'ned' then...



    <b>sample:</b>
    "eh gies a bottle o ****ing bucky pal. Oh **** it's te polis!!! I ken davie cotter ya bam, he's in te clink fer gien the malky to 5 folk. He'll kick yer ****ing heid in. c'mon an gies a go ye bam!!!" <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    rofl, one of my cousins speaks like that <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    I pity him.
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    Best way to learn japanese is from classes as far as I'm concerned. As long as you keep up with the tasks they send you home with and remember to do revision excercises =3
  • camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
    i really don't have time for classes :|
  • RellixRellix Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13572Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-wizard@psu+Sep 3 2004, 03:44 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (wizard@psu @ Sep 3 2004, 03:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I have been looking into: Arabic, Aramaic, Farsi, <b>Gaelic</b>, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Icelandic, and kicked a few others around. Some of my Criteria:

    1. The language should be different than one I already know.
    2. It should be relativly useful in modern conversation or have living native speakers
    3. It shouldn't rely on nonstandard enunciations (whistling,clicking, etc)
    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Well since there word for helicopter and computer are the same word.....
  • Mr_JeburtOMr_JeburtO Join Date: 2003-08-29 Member: 20340Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Zaggy+Sep 3 2004, 04:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zaggy @ Sep 3 2004, 04:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> wizard@psu I envy you, I only speak/read/write English/Dutch, and I can read French/German a bit. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i envy you all i know is English.

    well for me ive always wanted to learn German. To bad that when we were put into the different language classes i got stuck doing French <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> (this in no way means i hate the French - which i do - i just wanted to learn German)
  • Steel_TrollSteel_Troll Join Date: 2004-02-12 Member: 26455Members
    i speak english and italian, english is my first language and im fluent in italian coz my mommy is italian(Mamma!) Italian is quite easy to learn if u know french or spanish, it is also very phonetic, so you write as you would say something, ie no silent p's or t's or anything...

    i also can get along with french and spanish coz spanish is like italian and my mom is a french teacher... she speaks 3 languages <<3!!
  • MonkfishMonkfish Sonic-boom-inducing buttcheeks of terrifying speed&#33; Join Date: 2003-06-03 Member: 16972Members
    Spanish because my dad lives over there.
  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    Uhh...maybe something like German or Spanish....

    I already understand a fair bit of Japanese so I surely won't have problems once I take classes. Trust me though, learning Japanese == Going through 3 million different kanji syllables, with different pronounciations (eg fire is said as 'ho', 'hee' or 'ka')

    Omae wa denwa desu <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • MonkfishMonkfish Sonic-boom-inducing buttcheeks of terrifying speed&#33; Join Date: 2003-06-03 Member: 16972Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-RaVe+Sep 5 2004, 01:31 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RaVe @ Sep 5 2004, 01:31 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->

    Omae wa denwa desu <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    And a "ooga booga" to you too!
  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    Well I'm completely fluent in French and English. My Spanish is okay I just don't have a very wide vocabulary. The language I have always wanted to learn is Hawaiian. I really fell in love with the culture and the little I know about the language. I just think it would be fun to know a language that uses only 13 letters and is spoken by 3000 people. And the second, more reasonable language I would learn would be Swedish. I have relatives there and I always thought Swedish was nice sounding, plus the country is great.
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    iie! watashi wa denwa dewa arimasen. kawaii chiisai ringo desu =D
  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    edited September 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Geminosity+Sep 5 2004, 08:24 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Geminosity @ Sep 5 2004, 08:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> iie! watashi wa denwa dewa arimasen.  kawaii chiisai ringo desu =D <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I dunno what chiisai means =3

    LOL I can't remember too much Japanese though. Makes my head explode whenever I think too hard (not literally)

    Think of Nihon Break Kougyou and you'll know what I mean XD

    Yabakunaika?
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    lol... "no! I'm not a telephone. I'm a cute little apple =D"
    chiisai means 'little' or 'small'

    <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • MonkfishMonkfish Sonic-boom-inducing buttcheeks of terrifying speed&#33; Join Date: 2003-06-03 Member: 16972Members
    Dam crazy japanese, who'd learn it.
  • BlueNovemberBlueNovember hax Join Date: 2003-02-28 Member: 14137Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Jimmeh+Sep 3 2004, 11:14 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jimmeh @ Sep 3 2004, 11:14 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ICH BIN JIMMEH!

    I'm so pwn at German.

    I'd learn Japanese, i've always wanted to learn it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Ich heise*
    You don't say "I am" you say "I am called". Sort of. :S

    Anyway, as German (<3) has been spoken for,

    WELSH!

    <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Yeah, it's actually spoken in parts of Portugal, apparently. (Yeah, although the main country is Wales; that bit that sticks out of England, remember?)

    Welsh may not be wildely spoken, but it's unusual, (more mutations than ever,) illogical, (there's about 5 words for yes/no,) and ... hard.

    Incidently, the longest place name in Wales is, (off the top of my head,)
    Llanfairpwllgwyngechgogerechllyndrobyllllantisilogogoch.

    (spelling?!)

    --
    lol Gem? Apples and cookies... Two great qualities. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    --

    I speak English, then a mix of German, Welsh, Russian and French. Approximately in order of fluency.
  • CplDavisCplDavis I hunt the arctic Snonos Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12097Members
    Considering that many world reknown sociologists, and economimists etc all say that China will be giving the US a run for Super "power status" in about 50 years Id say learn chinese.
  • HibameHibame Join Date: 2003-11-16 Member: 22974Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Id say Japanese, iv alwase wanted to learn it and get a job there. But alas no one teaches it in a 50 mile radius of my school ><
  • Ashaman_JoeAshaman_Joe Join Date: 2003-11-11 Member: 22559Members, Constellation
    It seems I'm the only one who'd love to learn Latin. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Too bad it isn't offered at my school... I'm stuck* with German.

    *Well, not really stuck, because it's a cool language. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • uberbrokeuberbroke Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2438Members
    Don't bother learning Japanese unless you are VERY inclined (not just for anime, games, etc)... I'm native in both languages (English, Japanese), but as far as I can tell these two are very different in sentence structure and nuance. I say learn Chinese.
  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    Only in english would we be having this discussion. In any other language, the choice would be obvious... English. English is the fastest growing language on the planet. Most chinese don't even learn how to read or write the chinese language due to the complexity, and instead they learn english.
  • torquetorque Join Date: 2003-08-20 Member: 20035Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    'sif Chinese isn't so different from English...

    I speak (or have spoken fluently at one point in my life) Japanese, Korean, English, and Spanish, and attempted to learn Latin. I find languages fun, I just don't have the effort for it anymore, since I'm advancing in Japanese fulltime for my minor.

    I'd say Japanese simply because I think it's a fun language and it does have some practical use. Korean too. ^^

    Gem, mada nihongo o benkyoushimasu ka? ^^
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    I studied in university for a year or two but couldn't keep up the studies which makes me sad. I'm considering picking them up again though =3
  • ZelZel Join Date: 2003-01-27 Member: 12861Members
    edited September 2004
    ive taken quite a few classes of french, german, latin, and a few of japanese.
    For japanese, the new alphabet is not as hard as they say.

    French is spoken all over africa and the carribean, so it and spanish would be the most practical for traveling, however, if you want to have a future with the language, Iranian and Chinese are going to be very important in a decade or so. (as the Bush Dynasty goes to war with them each successively).

    Iranian is called Farsi and is very fluid like french, cant be too hard, except for the backwards cursive alphabet.

    really, i'd reccomend taking languages similar to ones you know. each one you learn gets easier than the last so you might as well take something similar to english or russian as your third, and spread slowly across world languages.
  • funbagsfunbags Join Date: 2003-06-08 Member: 17099Members
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