How many foreign languages do you speak/read?

  • Context: Lingusitics 
  • Thread starter Thread starter tehno
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the number of foreign languages participants speak or read, exploring personal experiences with language learning and usage. It includes reflections on native languages, proficiency levels, and cultural observations related to multilingualism.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention their native language as a reference point for their foreign language skills.
  • Many participants claim fluency in English, with varying degrees of proficiency in other languages such as German, French, Spanish, Russian, Finnish, and Japanese.
  • One participant notes the surprising popularity of speaking two foreign languages among respondents, questioning the validity of this observation.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the generalization that most people speak two foreign languages, suggesting that many only learn a second language due to educational requirements or familial background.
  • Some participants share humorous anecdotes about language learning and cultural differences, including references to specific types of crossings in the UK.
  • There are mentions of the Dutch educational system requiring the study of multiple foreign languages, with some participants praising the linguistic abilities of Dutch speakers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the number of foreign languages spoken, with no clear consensus on the prevalence of multilingualism among the general population. Some participants agree on their personal experiences, while others challenge the assumptions made about language proficiency in broader contexts.

Contextual Notes

Participants' claims about language proficiency are based on personal experiences and may not reflect broader trends or statistics. The discussion includes a mix of serious reflections and light-hearted commentary.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in language learning, cultural exchanges, and the experiences of multilingual speakers may find this discussion relevant.

How many foreign languages do you speak/read?

  • I speak no other language except my native language

    Votes: 18 25.0%
  • I speak/read one foreign language

    Votes: 23 31.9%
  • I speak/read two foreign languages

    Votes: 17 23.6%
  • I speak/read three or more foreign languages

    Votes: 17 23.6%

  • Total voters
    72
  • #91
Coincidentally, I just received this as an e-mail from a friend.



The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c".. Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f".. This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil have a reil sensi bl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi TU understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.

If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.[/color]



It's not quite Esperanto... :biggrin:
 
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  • #92
Danger said:
Coincidentally, I just received this as an e-mail from a friend...

...It's not quite Esperanto... :biggrin:


That's awesome. :smile:
 

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