DrWatson · 70-79, M
The language I wish I knew better than I do is Spanish, because fluency in Spanish would be very practical in terms of all the places I could travel and speak it.
But as for finding a language fascinating, inflected languages fascinate me. I did study a little German a long time ago, but that never "stuck." On the other hand, I have been studying Latin in recent years, and I have fallen in love with that language. Of course, it is something only to be read, and I read both classical and medieval Latin (not always well, but I am improving.)
The modern language that I find fascinating is Japanese, mostly because of how it sounds and the phonetic structure that it has. And of course, when learning a language you also learn about the culture, and that part of Japanese also attracts me.
Languages have always fascinated me, but they have never been my strong point.
But as for finding a language fascinating, inflected languages fascinate me. I did study a little German a long time ago, but that never "stuck." On the other hand, I have been studying Latin in recent years, and I have fallen in love with that language. Of course, it is something only to be read, and I read both classical and medieval Latin (not always well, but I am improving.)
The modern language that I find fascinating is Japanese, mostly because of how it sounds and the phonetic structure that it has. And of course, when learning a language you also learn about the culture, and that part of Japanese also attracts me.
Languages have always fascinated me, but they have never been my strong point.
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DoubleRings · 51-55, F
@bijouxbroussard I find Spanish easier bc I know some French,… the words are related… I know limited Italian but don’t find it as relatable to Spanish as French is .
bijouxbroussard · F
@DoubleRings My sister speaks Spanish fluently and recently began taking Italian. Our family already speaks a dialect of French, but she’s always said Italian is closer grammatically to Spanish than either are to French.
DrWatson · 70-79, M
@bijouxbroussard Actually, I do not speak Italian!
I know you once asked me to type a comment in Italian, in order to test out a theory under discussion about how the SW translate feature worked. I did that with the help of Google Translate.
It saddens me that I never learned it, even though my mother immigrated from Italy. But at the time, she was reacting to anti-immigrant sentiments in the U.S., and wanted me to be seen as all-American.
The language she spoke with her parents was actually a regional dialect, not "standard Italian." Linguists today recognize it as a Romance language unto itself, although it is closely related to Italian of course. To complicate things, there is the issue in Italy of wealthier "northern Italians" looking down on poorer "southern Italians". My mother came from southern Italy.
My mother-in-law's family came from northern Italy, and I soon learned what attitudes she grew up with!
Sometimes, I can read a little Italian based on memories of my grandparents' speech and, ironically, my knowledge of Spanish!
I know you once asked me to type a comment in Italian, in order to test out a theory under discussion about how the SW translate feature worked. I did that with the help of Google Translate.
It saddens me that I never learned it, even though my mother immigrated from Italy. But at the time, she was reacting to anti-immigrant sentiments in the U.S., and wanted me to be seen as all-American.
The language she spoke with her parents was actually a regional dialect, not "standard Italian." Linguists today recognize it as a Romance language unto itself, although it is closely related to Italian of course. To complicate things, there is the issue in Italy of wealthier "northern Italians" looking down on poorer "southern Italians". My mother came from southern Italy.
My mother-in-law's family came from northern Italy, and I soon learned what attitudes she grew up with!
Sometimes, I can read a little Italian based on memories of my grandparents' speech and, ironically, my knowledge of Spanish!
DoubleRings · 51-55, F
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@DoubleRings dude seriously. My grandparents spoke it. I’ve studied it since I was 10. So why can’t I actually speak it???
DoubleRings · 51-55, F
@SwampFlower dude I can speak read and write it fairly well but I can’t understand it if that makes any sense. I can get some, but my ear is not accustomed to hearing it bc I taught most of it to myself.
Hopelandia · M
bijouxbroussard · F
@Hopelandia A friend speaks Irish Gaelic, mostly to her mother on the phone. The first time I heard her speaking it I thought it sounded so cool. 😊
Hopelandia · M
@bijouxbroussard Sadly, there are relatively few people now who know Irish, let alone those who speak it every day.
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
Currently none but I love that feeling when I get obsessed with one and start to learn. It's like playing a game.
bijouxbroussard · F
I love Spanish . And I took French for years in school.
PiecingBabyFaceTogether · 31-35, M
Elessar · 31-35, M
Slavic Español 🇵🇹🇵🇹
[media=https://youtu.be/uD3gN1oUerk]
[media=https://youtu.be/uD3gN1oUerk]
chrisCA · M
Latin.
It stems from my interest in Ancient Rome, and its use in Science and Education throughout history.
It stems from my interest in Ancient Rome, and its use in Science and Education throughout history.
pineappleicenicotinebuzz · 26-30, F
Finnish maybeee
Hopelandia · M
@pineappleicenicotinebuzz Yes, it's just so different! Tolkien based his Quenya language on Finnish.
And this advert never fails to raise a smile!
[media=https://youtu.be/3e0yZCLjwfU]
And this advert never fails to raise a smile!
[media=https://youtu.be/3e0yZCLjwfU]
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
PiecingBabyFaceTogether · 31-35, M
@SwampFlower I loved Romanian for a few years then I switched towards Polish
WestonTexan · 18-21, M
@SwampFlower Weird I was going to have the same answer. Romanian is cool because it sounds kinda like Italian even though it’s surrounded by Slavic languages. And I love Brazilian Portuguese. I want to learn it and travel to Brazil some day.
GuyWithOpinions · 31-35, M
Im not fascinated with english. I thinks its stupid with its silent letters and over spelling.
I think latin, sanskrit, gaelic and mandarin are interesting because they are the prime languages that every modern language branches off from. Alot of languages use body language geastures to emphisize things too that english doesnt.
I think latin, sanskrit, gaelic and mandarin are interesting because they are the prime languages that every modern language branches off from. Alot of languages use body language geastures to emphisize things too that english doesnt.
DDonde · 31-35, M
Japanese and Mandarin.
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
Sumerian. 🙃
Nothing like learning a dead language! 🤣
Nothing like learning a dead language! 🤣