Languages

[curiousdude]

Dear all, after having lived in Malaysia, i have been exposed to malay, (both versions spoken in malaysia as well as indonesia), thai, chinese, indian (several dialects) and some other european languages. Nevertheless, i shall gloat about being able to speak any one of the above mentioned languages. I can only manage my life, food, shopping, etc needs if i were to be stuck in these places. However, i would like to share with you the main reason why i could not learn chinese. There are 4 main dialects of chinese language (dialect but each is completely different from the other) and the official version, which is called Mandarin Chinese. In general chinese language has roughly about 2000 characters, and each character is an equivalent of a "word" in our so called western understanding. However each character has 4 inntonations (ways of reading/pronounciation). Each pronounciation would mean something completely different. Furthermore, there are four dialects - Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Teo Chew, which each has 2000 characters with 4 inntonations. In order to be able to fully speak Chinese (or consider yourself to be fully able to speak chinese) the formula goes as such:

(Mandarin X 2000 characters X 4 intonations)+(cantonese X 2000 characters X 4 intonations)+(Hakka X 2000 characters X 4 intonations)+(Hokkien X 2000 characters X 4 intonations)+(Teo Chew X 2000 characters X 4 intonations) = God Knows What....

I don't really know what is the outcome of this formula, however, if i am not mistaken, the equivalent of "tea" from Japan to Greece (including all other countries in between) is "chay" or a very similar pronounciation of "cha"...

[GRH]

I've picked up a few books and audio CD's to try to brush up on my French. I took three years of French in high school, but I don't remember a whole lot of it, and I was NEVER good at hearing the language spoken.

I'd like to try to gain some French fluency so I can be more competent should I emigrate to Canada or France someday, something I have seriously considered.

[ila]

Originally Posted by GRH

I've picked up a few books and audio CD's to try to brush up on my French. I took three years of French in high school, but I don't remember a whole lot of it, and I was NEVER good at hearing the language spoken.

I'd like to try to gain some French fluency so I can be more competent should I emigrate to Canada or France someday, something I have seriously considered.

I took French for six years in school and never really learned very much. A lot of the fault lies in the method of teaching languages in school. I learned more French in a few months out in the working world than I ever learned in the classroom. My hat is off to anyone that can learn any second language.

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by ila

I took French for six years in school and never really learned very much. A lot of the fault lies in the method of teaching languages in school. I learned more French in a few months out in the working world than I ever learned in the classroom. My hat is off to anyone that can learn any second language.

Oh no! Our polar bear has become a frog!



Just kidding!

[ila]

Originally Posted by TheAngryPostman

Oh no! Our polar bear has become a frog!



Just kidding!

Nope, not really. I can barely speak any French at all.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by ila

Nope, not really. I can barely speak any French at all.

I got 50% in Grade 9 and then that was it for me since it was no longer mantatory to take.

[Leccapiedi]

nessuno parla italiano?
nobody speaks Italian?

[sesame]

Originally Posted by ila

I took French for six years in school and never really learned very much. A lot of the fault lies in the method of teaching languages in school. I learned more French in a few months out in the working world than I ever learned in the classroom. My hat is off to anyone that can learn any second language.

What will you opine about someone who can speak 5 other languages besides vernacular? Eh, eh, eh, Monsieur Papa Bear?

[SweetCheaks]

My first language is German but I prefer to speak English. I tried to learn Russian when i was younger but i screwed up

[shadows]

Originally Posted by SweetCheaks

My first language is German but I prefer to speak English. I tried to learn Russian when i was younger but i screwed up

You can speak two languages. That is still pretty good!

[rockabilly]

I'm fluent in Elvish and Klingon.

[SweetCheaks]

Originally Posted by shadows

You can speak two languages. That is still pretty good!

Thanks to you, sir.
But I think English and German arent?t that hard to learn. There are languages like Japanese, Mandarin...you have to learn the "letters", the speech and the gestures. Thats a lot to handle