Languages - Page 6

Pippin Skywalker · 10-30-2002, 02:19 AM

I know a little french.

I want to learn Latin, Old English...I like old languages like Greek and Gaelic.

katya · 10-30-2002, 08:49 AM

I think from my experience we (English speakers) do seem bad at it. But that experience is limited. I think I don't really have a problem with it, and that is an area that I find fun and easy enough. I just lack motivation. I had a German exchange student once and he says I am the only American he knows that can do German vowels. I just this morning looked up some Russian so I can call people absurd things like "cheesecake" and "carrot". It's fun.

I have these books written in Russian and I am working on translating them on Altavista. It's really interesting. That post was really bad. I ramble sometimes especially in the morning.

TinuvielChild · 10-30-2002, 10:59 AM

On Altavista? On Babelfish? *shudder* Okay, it's good for some things, but don't ever use it for language homework. It sucks.

The languages I want to learn:

Italian
French
Russian
Gaelic
Greek
Quenya
Welsh
Finnish
Old English
Old Norse
Tagalog

and finish learning German. This could take awhile...

katya · 10-31-2002, 05:31 PM

Yes, on Bablefish. It's not perfect, but since I don' tknow Russian, it's the best i have, and it's good enough to translate the books.

Varda Oiolosseo · 10-31-2002, 06:47 PM

When they speak really fast,believe me it's hard! I don't find French that hard. It's harder than German that's one of the easier languages to speak!

The Lady of Ithilien · 11-05-2002, 10:44 PM

Quote:

What languages do you know, and have you ever made up your own?

American English is my native tongue. Had two years of Latin in high school back when it was required (yes, I'm very old - G). Don't remember much of that now, but it sure has helped in my occupation as a medical transcriptionist.

Modern languages: Took two years of French in HS and actually used it in Boulogne to ask for a map of the city -- they gave me an English-language map. Sigh. Have been studying Spanish informally since living in New Mexico for a year and a half; now I know just enough to be dangerous, and keep on learning. The Internet helps a lot, though I haven't yet had the courage to try a Spanish-language forum.

Am trying very hard to learn Vietnamese, too. That's difficult because it's not Latin-based, but it's a neat language. Got two "Let's Learn Vietnamese" CDs from VNI software aimed at eight-year-olds, and that has helped a lot because it explains all the tones and diacritical marks.

I admire anyone who can speak and write in Tolkien's Elven languages, and also anyone who can make up their own. Never tried. Wouldn't be very pleasant (G).

TinuvielChild · 11-05-2002, 10:52 PM

Hey, it doesn't make you that old, Lady of Ithilien! Everyone at my school is required to take Latin...but then again, it is called Latin school. So I kind of know some Latin, yeah.

Philia · 11-05-2002, 11:13 PM

Je parle français. Il est, je supposent, ma langue maternelle, j'a habité en France pendant trois années. Je ne peux pas vraiment me rappeler le.

How is that?

***Khamûl*** · 11-05-2002, 11:31 PM

Trés bien, Philia.

I actually understood most of it. Then again, I am by no means fluent in French. I'm working my way through French II right now.

Shadowfax · 11-06-2002, 03:35 AM

Philia, that's so cool that you lived in France for 3 years! I'm jealouse. I actually just got back from Québec, and it was such an amazing experience. 30 people from my school went as a French trip. It was so great to be surrounded by French-speakers; I was emersed! Yay!

PS: Khamûl, it is "très", not "trés".

TinuvielChild · 11-06-2002, 06:06 PM

What's really frightening is that I could understand most of that post, and I don't even take French! It's that Latin kicking in...

Philia · 11-06-2002, 08:48 PM

LoL! Well, I lived there for 3 years, but see those were the first three years of my life so, I wasn't exactly doing school or anything else...I am embarrassed to say that I didn't even bother taking French in H/S I took German *gerck*. I just picked it up from when I was little and being around my parents and older brothers.

So I am sure that most of what I say isn't grammatically correct, but oh well!

***Khamûl*** · 11-06-2002, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shadowfax
PS: Khamûl, it is "très", not "trés".

Hey, "très" - "trés", it's all the same to me.

I just figured I'd use the "é" since it's more of a "tray" sound.

The Lady of Ithilien · 11-07-2002, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Non cognosco quo modo dicere linguam latinam bene.

Me neither, Tinuviel Child, but it's good to know there is still a Latin school out there.

I would say a similar thing in Vietnamese (and it's about the only thing I can say in Vietnamese), but the character codes are a little funky. In "Viet Net" it is: To^i kho^ng bie^'t no'i tie^'ng Vie^.t.

¿Hay algunas personas aqui quienes hablan la hermosa lengua de Cervantes?

***azalea*** · 11-07-2002, 02:35 PM

I took French for three years in high school, and then took French for a semester in college (easy A), but it's really a use it or lose it thing. I've only met two native French speakers in my life (one from France, and one from Haiti), so I never speak it and consequently, I don't remember much anymore. But I can still figure out what things say, and if it's spoken in a movie or song I can generally figure out what they're talking about.

I love languages, but it takes a lot of time and dedication to learn. I would love to learn Arabic, it's a beautiful language. I'd also like to learn German, Latin, and Hindi (?). I've really gotten to be like Jamie Lee Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda: I love Russian -- it sounds very sexy. (aside to self: "buy husband Berlitz course in Russian for Christmas.

)

Oh, and I'd love to learn Scottish and Welsh, too!

Lief Erikson · 11-07-2002, 02:57 PM

English is my first language, and primarily my only language. I'm working on French though, and I hope that eventually I'll have a good understanding of it. I personally think that it's a much more beautiful language then English.

I also dislike the Southern American accent, and generally like all of the other accents that foreigners bring into it much more. I like the French accent a lot, but I like the British one too.

Celebrian · 11-07-2002, 07:27 PM

English is my native language, and I don't speak to many others, just French, a tiny bit of Thai and about five words of Ukrainiun (sp).
I made up a whole alphabet once. I gave it to my friends and wrote letters to them, it was really fun. I am trying to learn how to write Tengwar, but I don't have it memorised yet. It is a really pretty language, and I like writing in it.

**crickhollow** · 11-07-2002, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Lady of Ithilien
¿Hay algunas personas aqui quienes hablan la hermosa lengua de Cervantes?

un poquito, solamente. No practico mucho, entonces, no hablo muy bien.

How was that?

[edit: hehe, at first I mis-read "Cervantes" as "Cervesa" *snicker*]

***Khamûl*** · 11-07-2002, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lief Erikson
I also dislike the Southern American accent...

Any particular reason why? Be careful with that answer.

Lief Erikson · 11-07-2002, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Khamûl
Any particular reason why? Be careful with that answer.

I don't like the drawl, and the American way of speaking the English language is simply too nasal for me as well (Erects a table between himself and Khamul).

10-30-2002, 02:19 AM	#101
Pippin Skywalker Enting Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 93	I know a little french. I want to learn Latin, Old English...I like old languages like Greek and Gaelic. __________________ Gimli: I'm Short! I'm Bad! I'm King of Khazaad! Note: That was not an actual quote from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel!

10-30-2002, 10:59 AM	#103
TinuvielChild Padawan Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Barony of Carolingia Posts: 2,176	On Altavista? On Babelfish? shudder Okay, it's good for some things, but don't ever use it for language homework. It sucks. The languages I want to learn: Italian French Russian Gaelic Greek Quenya Welsh Finnish Old English Old Norse Tagalog and finish learning German. This could take awhile... __________________ There are only four questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? What is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same: ONLY LOVE. Dance as though nobody's watching. Sing as though nobody's listening. Dream as though you'll live forever. Live as though you'll die tomorrow. EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO and proud! FRODO LIVES!!!!! Last edited by TinuvielChild : 10-31-2002 at 10:12 PM.

11-05-2002, 10:52 PM	#107
TinuvielChild Padawan Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Barony of Carolingia Posts: 2,176	Hey, it doesn't make you that old, Lady of Ithilien! Everyone at my school is required to take Latin...but then again, it is called Latin school. So I kind of know some Latin, yeah. __________________ There are only four questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? What is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same: ONLY LOVE. Dance as though nobody's watching. Sing as though nobody's listening. Dream as though you'll live forever. Live as though you'll die tomorrow. EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO and proud! FRODO LIVES!!!!!

11-05-2002, 11:13 PM	#108
Philia Enting Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 57	Je parle français. Il est, je supposent, ma langue maternelle, j'a habité en France pendant trois années. Je ne peux pas vraiment me rappeler le. How is that? __________________ Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away. --Unknown What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. --Ralph Waldo Emerson Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. --Robert Louis Stevenson Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools. --Unknown Love your enemies. It really pisses them off! --Unknown Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. --Jeanne Moreau, French Actress We are never so helplessly unhappy as when we lose love. --Sigmund Freud

11-05-2002, 11:31 PM	#109
*Khamûl* Slacker Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,759	Trés bien, Philia. I actually understood most of it. Then again, I am by no means fluent in French. I'm working my way through French II right now. __________________ "If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31

10-30-2002, 08:49 AM	#102
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	I think from my experience we (English speakers) do seem bad at it. But that experience is limited. I think I don't really have a problem with it, and that is an area that I find fun and easy enough. I just lack motivation. I had a German exchange student once and he says I am the only American he knows that can do German vowels. I just this morning looked up some Russian so I can call people absurd things like "cheesecake" and "carrot". It's fun. I have these books written in Russian and I am working on translating them on Altavista. It's really interesting. That post was really bad. I ramble sometimes especially in the morning.

10-31-2002, 05:31 PM	#104
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	Yes, on Bablefish. It's not perfect, but since I don' tknow Russian, it's the best i have, and it's good enough to translate the books.

10-31-2002, 06:47 PM	#105
Varda Oiolosseo Tea Bag Queen Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 973	When they speak really fast,believe me it's hard! I don't find French that hard. It's harder than German that's one of the easier languages to speak!

11-06-2002, 03:35 AM	#110
Shadowfax The Fleet-Footed Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: British Columbia Posts: 913	Philia, that's so cool that you lived in France for 3 years! I'm jealouse. I actually just got back from Québec, and it was such an amazing experience. 30 people from my school went as a French trip. It was so great to be surrounded by French-speakers; I was emersed! Yay! PS: Khamûl, it is "très", not "trés". __________________ Jesus saved me "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child" (Cicero, 106-43 B.C.) "Art is a lie which makes us realize the truth" (Picasso) Last edited by Shadowfax : 11-06-2002 at 03:37 AM.

11-06-2002, 06:06 PM	#111
TinuvielChild Padawan Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Barony of Carolingia Posts: 2,176	What's really frightening is that I could understand most of that post, and I don't even take French! It's that Latin kicking in... __________________ There are only four questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? What is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same: ONLY LOVE. Dance as though nobody's watching. Sing as though nobody's listening. Dream as though you'll live forever. Live as though you'll die tomorrow. EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO and proud! FRODO LIVES!!!!!

11-06-2002, 08:48 PM	#112
Philia Enting Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 57	LoL! Well, I lived there for 3 years, but see those were the first three years of my life so, I wasn't exactly doing school or anything else...I am embarrassed to say that I didn't even bother taking French in H/S I took German gerck. I just picked it up from when I was little and being around my parents and older brothers. So I am sure that most of what I say isn't grammatically correct, but oh well! __________________ Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away. --Unknown What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. --Ralph Waldo Emerson Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. --Robert Louis Stevenson Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools. --Unknown Love your enemies. It really pisses them off! --Unknown Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. --Jeanne Moreau, French Actress We are never so helplessly unhappy as when we lose love. --Sigmund Freud Last edited by Philia : 11-07-2002 at 08:13 PM.

11-07-2002, 02:35 PM	#115
*azalea* Long lost mooter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 3,342	I took French for three years in high school, and then took French for a semester in college (easy A), but it's really a use it or lose it thing. I've only met two native French speakers in my life (one from France, and one from Haiti), so I never speak it and consequently, I don't remember much anymore. But I can still figure out what things say, and if it's spoken in a movie or song I can generally figure out what they're talking about. I love languages, but it takes a lot of time and dedication to learn. I would love to learn Arabic, it's a beautiful language. I'd also like to learn German, Latin, and Hindi (?). I've really gotten to be like Jamie Lee Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda: I love Russian -- it sounds very sexy. (aside to self: "buy husband Berlitz course in Russian for Christmas. ) Oh, and I'd love to learn Scottish and Welsh, too!

11-07-2002, 02:57 PM	#116
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	English is my first language, and primarily my only language. I'm working on French though, and I hope that eventually I'll have a good understanding of it. I personally think that it's a much more beautiful language then English. I also dislike the Southern American accent, and generally like all of the other accents that foreigners bring into it much more. I like the French accent a lot, but I like the British one too.

11-07-2002, 07:27 PM	#117
Celebrian Enting Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 75	English is my native language, and I don't speak to many others, just French, a tiny bit of Thai and about five words of Ukrainiun (sp). I made up a whole alphabet once. I gave it to my friends and wrote letters to them, it was really fun. I am trying to learn how to write Tengwar, but I don't have it memorised yet. It is a really pretty language, and I like writing in it. __________________ All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost. Tall ships and tall kings, three times three. What brought they form the foundered land Over the flowing sea? Seven stars and seven stones and one white tree. Last edited by Celebrian : 11-07-2002 at 07:29 PM.

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