Do you speak any foreign languages?

[Prowler]

Since this is a fairly diverse forum with people from all over the globe I was wondering how many of you speak a foreign language or another.

My native language is Portuguese, as you could probably tell from my location.

I've been fluent in English since I was 13-14 or so. It's always been my best subject at school, dunno why. I could take the risk of not studying at all for a test and still getting one of the highest grades in class.

I also speak German at an intermediate level. Made a lot of progress in the last year or so. If I was more exposed to it I'd become fluent in it faster, I'm sure of it.

I've studied French from 7th to 9th grade(compulsory foreign language alongside English here) but that was a long time ago and I barely remember any of it. Can read up to 50% of a text in it due to being a Romance language like Portuguese and also having several words similar to English, but there's no way I can speak it all.

I find linguistics to be a fascinating subject. It's good for your brain and very helpful when travelling or talking to people from all over the world. Looks good on your CV as well. Also, apparently, bi-lingual people are less likely to get Alzheimers in the future. ;)

How about you?

[Icebot]

I only speak English but I do know a couple words in Spanish and French and goodbye in Japanese but that's about it.

[Prowler]

I only speak English but I do know a couple words in Spanish and French and goodbye in Japanese but that's about it.
I know some Japanese words and expressions from all the anime I've watched in the past few years. But never felt like learning it due to not being very useful outside of Japan.

[Candy Kappa]

English is my second (third as Norwegian technically have two written languages) language, something we're taught at a very young age.

I did start learning Japanese, but after the first year of basics it kinda died off as I rarely have anyone to converse with.

And since the Scandinavian languages are pretty similar I can read and verbally understand Danish and Swedish pretty well. The modern written Norwegian language is basically a harder Danish anyway.

[Prowler]

English is my second (third as Norwegian technically have two written languages) language, something we're taught at a very young age.

I did start learning Japanese, but after the first year of basics it kinda died off as I rarely have anyone to converse with.

And since the Scandinavian languages are pretty similar I can read and verbally understand Danish and Swedish pretty well. The modern written Norwegian language is basically a harder Danish anyway.
Well, I can read Galician and Spanish/Castillian/Catalonian pretty well due to them being Ibero-Romance languages as well. As for verbal understanding of them, it depends on the speaker and its accent. Also can read and understand spoken Italian to some degree as well. But since I've never studied any of those 4, I didn't think it was worth including them in my list.

[Netkeeper]

I tried learning German once, but it didn't last long since that was in High School and I had to transfer to another school that didn't offer it. Makes me sad because I love that language and I'd kill to learn it.

[Prowler]

I tried learning German once, but it didn't last long since that was in High School and I had to transfer to another school that didn't offer it. Makes me sad because I love that language and I'd kill to learn it.
Not the best online resource but you can always try Duolingo for a while. It should help you learn some vocabulary at least.

[shuriken]

Spanish. Some Italian and German. Want to learn more German though.

[CyberCubed]

Only English. Obviously took Spanish in High School but forgot it all.

English is all you really need, but I do sometimes wish I knew Spanish just so I could understand what all these random pedestrians are saying when I'm out on the street.

[Prowler]

Only English. Obviously took Spanish in High School but forgot it all.

English is all you really need, but I do sometimes wish I knew Spanish just so I could understand what all these random pedestrians are saying when I'm out on the street.
Only in countries where it's the native language. Sure it's the lingua franca, but good luck going to France, Spain, Italy or several Eastern European countries and speaking nothing but English.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

I speak English as my first language, but I know a bit of French.

[Powder]

Not really, but I am slowly trying to learn Japanese.

[RaphAndDonnie]

I'm learning Finnish.

[pennydreadful]

I know a handful of cuss words in a few different languages, a tiny bit of German (from highschool and listening to German metal) but not enough to really count, and a teensy handful of words and phrases in Japanese due to anime/manga... :lol: but I don't speak any foreign languages - I would love to though.

[CyberCubed]

Only in countries where it's the native language. Sure it's the lingua franca, but good luck going to France, Spain, Italy or several Eastern European countries and speaking nothing but English.

I'll probably never visit those countries, so it doesn't really matter. And I would hope those countries have people speaking english in the modern year of 2014. There's no reason people in France, Spain and Italy shouldn't all be fluent in english.

[Netkeeper]

If I were to ever go to a country where English isn't the first language I'd make it a top priority to learn as much about the native language as possible before going. This is why people over in other countries don't like American tourists. They don't bother because they think everyone is "obligated" to learn English. They're not.

[Prowler]

I'll probably never visit those countries, so it doesn't really matter. And I would hope those countries have people speaking english in the modern year of 2014. There's no reason people in France, Spain and Italy shouldn't all be fluent in english.
Well, then saying English is all you need in the USA is nothing other than stating the obvious. Just like people in, let's say Japan, don't really need anything other than Japanese.

All of them? Do you actually think everyone in the world speaks English? Especially in countries where everything is dubbed, including tv shows and movies?

Hate to break it to ya, but the only countries in Europe where you'll get away easily by speaking in English to people of all age groups are the UK, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium(Flanders), Austria and Switzerland. Portugal, Germany and Greece to some degree as well.

I've been to France, Spain and Italy before and it was pretty hard finding someone who spoke English there. And the ones who did spoke a very broken English. Not to mention people in big countries are more proud of their language and culture and probably will take offense if you just start speaking English to them.

If I were to ever go to a country where English isn't the first language I'd make it a top priority to learn as much about the native language as possible before going. This is why people over in other countries don't like American tourists. They don't bother because they think everyone is "obligated" to learn English. They're not.

It depends, really. In my country, no one really expects a foreign tourist to speak Portuguese. So, as long as you won't be rude and start yelling in English in people's faces, no one will feel upset if you speak English to them.

[TMNachoT]

Spanish, english, french and a little of portuguese.

It is kinda absurd to presume that all the people have to speak english, some people don´t need to ´cuz that is not vital in their life/job...

[BubblyShell22]

I took Spanish in high school and college, so I know some things. Also took sign language in college which was cool. I know some French from watching the Canadian version of Sesame Street when I was little.

[Mzx10484]

After pretty unsuccessful 4 years education in French (long ago), it remains at a sufficient English next to my mother tongue German ...

[Davetello]

I spoke very good French at school, but after years of not needing to use it I probably wouldn't be very fluent in it any more.

I have a lot of respect for polyglots, though. Learning a language is a challenge. Some languages are easier than others (romance languages are quite similar), but for a Portuguese person such as OP to learn a language like English? Well that's impressive.

On this subject, I will tell you one thing I detest about the internet - when someone whose first language is English has a go at a foreigner for less than perfect English spelling or grammar. I always feel like saying "I bet his English is far better than your German/French/Spanish".

[Prowler]

I spoke very good French at school, but after years of not needing to use it I probably wouldn't be very fluent in it any more.

I have a lot of respect for polyglots, though. Learning a language is a challenge. Some languages are easier than others (romance languages are quite similar), but for a Portuguese person such as OP to learn a language like English? Well that's impressive.

On this subject, I will tell you one thing I detest about the internet - when someone whose first language is English has a go at a foreigner for less than perfect English spelling or grammar. I always feel like saying "I bet his English is far better than your German/French/Spanish".
Not so much since it's the most spoken foreign language here. Most people here find French harder than English, including me. French has more rules, more of a complex grammar and is harder to pronounce, while English has a fairly simple grammar when it comes to verb conjugations unlike Portuguese and French that have several verb tenses and terminations. Not to mention English is gender-neutral unlike the previous two. Also, we're more exposed to English than to any other foreign language.

Of course, many of us struggle at English, but many of us also never had much trouble with it at all and didn't even need to make much of an effort. English tests were always those tests where I'd score high without studying at all. And several people here would tell you the same thing.

[Davetello]

Not so much since it's the most spoken foreign language here. Most people here find French harder than English, including me. French has more rules, more of a complex grammar and is harder to pronounce, while English has a fairly simple grammar when it comes to verb conjugations unlike Portuguese and French that have several verb tenses and terminations. Not to mention English is gender-neutral unlike the previous two. Also, we're more exposed to English than to any other foreign language.

Of course, many of us struggle at English, but many of us also never had much trouble with it at all and didn't even need to make much of an effort. English tests were always those tests where I'd score high without studying at all. And several people here would tell you the same thing.

Yeah, all of that makes sense. English is an extremely prolific language so perhaps it is easier for people to learn.

Well, without blowing too much smoke up your bum, your English has always been almost flawless. If I didn't know your background I would assume you were a native English speaker.

Btw, I felt bad for you and your country during the WC. Thought you would do better but Pepe lost the plot and it went downhill from there. If you wanna talk more PM me some time, so as not to take thread off-topic.

[Prowler]

Yeah, all of that makes sense. English is an extremely prolific language so perhaps it is easier for people to learn.

Well, without blowing too much smoke up your bum, your English has always been almost flawless. If I didn't know your background I would assume you were a native English speaker.

Btw, I felt bad for you and your country during the WC. Thought you would do better but Pepe lost the plot and it went downhill from there. If you wanna talk more PM me some time, so as not to take thread off-topic.
Depends on the individual, I guess. Many people here have claimed that English is the easiest language in the world. I don't really agree with that statement. There are no facts here, only opinions. I'd say English is easier than French, German and Portuguese. Harder than Spanish or Italian? Possibly. Then again, I haven't studied those and who knows which one I'd find easier/harder if I was, let's say, Korean or Russian.

[Davetello]

Depends on the individual, I guess. Many people here have claimed that English is the easiest language in the world. I don't really agree with that statement. There are no facts here, only opinions. I'd say English is easier than French, German and Portuguese. Harder than Spanish or Italian? Possibly. Then again, I haven't studied those and who knows which one I'd find easier/harder if I was, let's say, Korean or Russian.

Without generalising too much, English is probably harder for Southern Europeans and Latin Americans than it is for Northern Europeans. So many Dutch, German and Scandinavian people speak flawless English because they are taught it. It's probably due to the Germanic and Nordic links to those nations.

Although you say most Portuguese people have no problems with it so who knows.

[Prowler]

Without generalising too much, English is probably harder for Southern Europeans and Latin Americans than it is for Northern Europeans. So many Dutch, German and Scandinavian people speak flawless English because they are taught it. It's probably due to the Germanic and Nordic links to those nations.

Although you say most Portuguese people have no problems with it so who knows.
Oh, definitely. Although, I'd say that the lack of subbing in countries like France, Spain and Italy certainly doesn't help people learning English that easily in those places. Notice how everything is subbed in the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium(Flanders, where they speak Dutch). Northern Germanic languages(Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) aren't that close to English despite also being Germanic languages. They're probably as similar to English as Portuguese is to Romanian. Or probably even less. I speak English and a decent amount of German and I barely understand any of written Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, let alone spoken.

The Portuguese aren't the best English -speakers in Europe, but I'd say we're the best in South-Western Europe. Still not as good as Northern Europeans, though.

[Davetello]

Oh, definitely. Although, I'd say that the lack of subbing in countries like France, Spain and Italy certainly doesn't help people learning English that easily in those places. Notice how everything is subbed in the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium(Flanders, where they speak Dutch). Northern Germanic languages(Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) aren't that close to English despite also being Germanic languages. They're probably as similar to English as Portuguese is to Romanian. Or probably even less. I speak English and a decent amount of German and I barely understand any of written Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, let alone spoken.

The Portuguese aren't the best English -speakers in Europe, but I'd say we're the best in South-Western Europe. Still not as good as Northern Europeans, though.

Yes, that is a very good point. Languages seem much more accessible in Northern Europe going by your point about subbing. I didn't actually know that the Scandinavian languages were that far removed from English, so thanks for filling me in - perhaps a lazy assumption on my part.

I wonder if people in Flanders find English easier to handle than those in Wallonia? After all, the French speaking part of Belgium would probably find it harder to speak a more Northern European language if what we say holds true. I'd really need to do some research into that to be sure. A good start may be listening to how the Dutch and French speakers speak English in the Belgian national team and then contrasting.

In all honesty I wouldn't really know who's better from Southern Europe as I've never visited the likes of Portugal or Spain (much to my dismay as they seem like lovely countries), so I will take your word for it. Not South-West, but aren't the Greeks one of the more Southern nations who are pretty good English speakers? I've noticed that Italians don't seem comfortable when speaking English, but this could be based on a small sample and therefore not easy to extrapolate.

It did seem pretty sensible to conclude that Northern Europe as a whole would deal with English more easily than those who speak the romance languages. However, as for the differences between Southern nations? As stated, I take your word for it.

[Prowler]

Yes, that is a very good point. Languages seem much more accessible in Northern Europe going by your point about subbing. I didn't actually know that the Scandinavian languages were that far removed from English, so thanks for filling me in - perhaps a lazy assumption on my part.

I wonder if people in Flanders find English easier to handle than those in Wallonia? After all, the French speaking part of Belgium would probably find it harder to speak a more Northern European language if what we say holds true. I'd really need to do some research into that to be sure. A good start may be listening to how the Dutch and French speakers speak English in the Belgian national team and then contrasting.

In all honesty I wouldn't really know who's better from Southern Europe as I've never visited the likes of Portugal or Spain (much to my dismay as they seem like lovely countries), so I will take your word for it. Not South-West, but aren't the Greeks one of the more Southern nations who are pretty good English speakers? I've noticed that Italians don't seem comfortable when speaking English, but this could be based on a small sample and therefore not easy to extrapolate.

It did seem pretty sensible to conclude that Northern Europe as a whole would deal with English more easily than those who speak the romance languages. However, as for the differences between Southern nations? As stated, I take your word for it.
Not really sure about Belgium.

As for Greece, it is in Southern Europe, but Greek is not a Romance language. I'm only talking about Romance speakers here. Hence why I did not include Greeks and people from the Balkans. That being said, I have no idea how good the Greeks are at English. I'd be willing to bet that they also sub most media there since they're a small country without a major native language.

Anyway, I speak mostly from experience. Others might disagree with me.

[Davetello]

Just read through the thread somewhat...

"I'll probably never visit those countries, so it doesn't really matter. And I would hope those countries have people speaking english in the modern year of 2014. There's no reason people in France, Spain and Italy shouldn't all be fluent in english."

Lol, so you shouldn't have to learn Spanish or Italian, but they should certainly speak English? That's really arrogant.

[Davetello]

Not really sure about Belgium.

As for Greece, it is in Southern Europe, but Greek is not a Romance language. I'm only talking about Romance speakers here. Hence why I did not include Greeks and people from the Balkans. That being said, I have no idea how good the Greeks are at English. I'd be willing to bet that they also sub most media there since they're a small country without a major native language.

Anyway, I speak mostly from experience. Others might disagree with me.

Nah, I know Greek isn't a romance language, I suppose I was just going by Southern European culture - again, may be generalising a bit too much, but it's difficult to draw concrete conclusions. You know better than me and I'd have to fully research it to be sure of anything 100% for myself.

I guess I started lumping in warmer countries and certain cultures as one, again probably a bit lazy of me. My apologies. It is a genuinely interesting subject though, and seeing as you appear to know a fair amount about it it's nice to learn, or have my thoughts confirmed :)

[ObiWanFan4life]

I speak and understand Spanish.

[Yorae]

My first language is Arabic. My second is English.

I started learning German 2 years ago. Progressing slowly but surely!

Russian is my next target language to learn.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I can read/write, and even speak some Latin, due to taking it for three years in high school. This might not sound useful, until you consider that Spanish, Italian, and French all have roots in it. So I can (sort of) piece together a bit of written French, Italian, or Spanish just from that, or spoken, if it's said slowly and carefully enough.

That said, I've also been teaching myself a bit of Japanese here and there. (Thanks to my fan-fic writing.) I always try to get a feel for languages I use in my writing, be it Italian, Dutch, or Gaelic. (Which I've also started learning to a small degree.)

On a more unusual note, I'm also fluent in Tolkein Elvish and Drowic(dark elven tongue)! (Okay, my inner geek is showing with that one.... :trazz::trolleye:)

[BabyTurtles]

I can understand some basic Japanese and speak it.
I can write and read hiragana and some kanji.

Japanese classes were super fun! ^_^

[pennydreadful]

On a more unusual note, I'm also fluent in Tolkein Elvish and Drowic(dark elven tongue)! (Okay, my inner geek is showing with that one.... :trazz::trolleye:)

That is so cool! Back in highschool, before I bitterly renounced all things Star Wars, I had taught myself to write in the Aurebesh.