what do we speak?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

january	18 Mar 2002
Our Aeclectic family spreads all over the world and we speak many tongues although we communicate in English on the forum. So, I was wondering... How many languages do each of us speak? What brought you to learning another language(s)? Do you have any tips for learning a new language well? I've studied French for about 5 years but never had the opportunity to use it (verbally) until I went to Paris last spring. It was a disaster! I suppose the 'use or lose it' rule applies to language skills. I want to learn a second... or third language so my next abroad visit will be more enriched by being able to have more conversations with local people. I just have a 'language learning block' and I'm amazed by those who can master another tongue. ~ january

Malachite	18 Mar 2002
I can read/write/barely speak French and Spanish...Spanish slightly better than French... I'm learning basic German and Czech for when I visit central Europe in the summer, but that probably won;t get past basic... I'm getting used to American as well..;)

jade	18 Mar 2002
i speak english. in light, jade

DollChica	18 Mar 2002
I speak English, of course. But I lived in Puerto-Rico with my mother's family for a little while as a child, so I also speak Spanish as well. It's a purely phonetic language so if someone wants to learn a 2nd language, that's the way to go. I'm also trying to learn some Japanese since I'm stationed over here.

Silence Dogood	18 Mar 2002
*** Ahem- Adam!*** I speak American. Someone once said that England and America are two countries divided by a common language.

VGimlet	18 Mar 2002
I speak American and a little Spanish. I used to be almost fluent in Spanish, but - it's true - use it or loose it. I'm actually going to start brushing up this spring and summer, because I use what I have left all the time at work. I understand it much better than I speak it now. I started learning some when I was little, because my best friends mom was Mexican. Then I took four years in school, and had a friend who was a foreign exchange student from Chile, so I spoke it quite a bit. I think the best way to learn a language well would be to go live in that country for six months. :) Aside from that, I think either a class, or, (if you're like me and have no time to go to school), CDRoms would be a good way to learn - because you have the audio, visual, and written lessons together.

Kaz	19 Mar 2002
Dutch (our national language), frysk (our local language), english, german, french, basis czech. Kaz

kayne	19 Mar 2002
I speak Australian English and I am learning (with the kids I teach) the local Aboriginal language, Noongar. There are very few native speakers of Noongar in the world and I find it really interesting to learn a language that has almost disappeared!

rostie	19 Mar 2002
i speak dutch, english, a little french (but not good). i learned french on school but that's years ago and there's not much left of it. my english is better but not really good, not outstanding. when i have more time than now, i would like to learn more languages and i would like to improve the ones i can a little. kaz, so many languages! here in belgium they always say that a hollander can't speak french but i think it's the opposite, you can it, and i?! my french is horrible while they speak french in Wallonië and in Brussels.

aeonx	19 Mar 2002
I speak Norwegian and English well. (In addition, Swedish and Danish since it's so close to Norwegian.) I speak and understand some French and German. I'm trying to learn Thai and Africaan, and really want to learn Italian. My goal is to master the above languages on a basic level, in addition to Russian and Japanese. It's good to have goals in life, right?? *l*

Kiama	19 Mar 2002
I speak English as my first language, French quite well as my second, and last! Kiama

Bella	19 Mar 2002
I speak American English. I also speak Spanish fairly fluently (learned in school, and my husband is from El Salvador, so I get a lot of practice). Also a little bit of Greek and Italian from both sides of my family. I'm also teaching myself Lakota (Sioux), as part of my study of Native American religion and history.

Bings	19 Mar 2002
English is my first language. I used to speak enough Spanish to get by living in Spain. Now that I have been back in the US for the past 4 years I doubt I could still speak it as well. Dianne

fairyhedgehog	19 Mar 2002
I speak English (surprise, surprise.) I used to speak French well enough to think and dream in it, but alas I am very out of practice. I have also learned (but don't claim to speak) Italian, Colloquial Arabic and enough Spanish to go on holiday. Oh, and Latin :( and New Testament Greek. I like learning languages. When I was fluent in French it was because I had been au pair with a wonderful French family where husband and wife were both teachers and the husband taught me French every day. We used to sit in the living room and I had to read to him and boy, was he picky about my accent :) So I was getting language classes and speaking and hearing it all day. I'm interested to see all the other languages people speak. We're a pretty polyglot bunch, aren't we? Regards,

Pollux	19 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by kayne ...and I find it really interesting to learn a language that has almost disappeared! Well, I speak Italian (my native language... and I still feel so lonely here! Is it possible that with more than 800 members, there's only me from Italy? :() and English. Someone also said I speak (well, I'd better say Type :) ) English so well you can't say I am not a native (with mention to Kiama, Lilaina, and Kayne of couse :D). And that is really a compliment for me! :D Lastly, Kayne, if you want to, you teach me Noongar, and I teach you Neapolitan. Wouldn't it be an interesting exchange? Well, maybe I should set up a full cousre for you all... Especially with regards to the forthcoming Aeclectic Convention in Naples! But, kayne, don't you worry, I still can give you private lessons though! ;)

Pollux	19 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana I'd like to learn (...) Italian (because it's the most beautiful language in the world), (...) Latin (so as not to forget my roots) Originally posted by fairyhedgehog I have also learned (but don't claim to speak) Italian Well, no problem Diana, you just enroll to my course, ok? And, you're right! It's the most beautiful language, ever!!! :p As for Latin, well, as kayne said, it is fascinating to know a disappeared - alas - language, and I could help you with that too! It was my favourite matter at liceum, and I was the best of the school in it! :D Maybe I could make up a Latin course too, I know some very good teachers that could help me... And, fairyhedgehog, you could be my assistant in my Italian classes! :D Ok, I'll stop ramlbing... I really admire you all guys! Especially those who speak more than two languages! Often people think that those from English-speaking countries don't bother to learn another... THAT IS JUST FALSE! On my to-learn list (I didn't think about having one in my early post) are, first of all, Japanese (YES!!! Is there anyone from Nippon? I could return the favour with my Italian course! :D), then Chinese (I am so attracted to Chinese culture as well!) and a language related to India: there's so many I can't make up my mind... And the real problem is I don't remember the name of the official one (provided it exists!). :p

Malachite	19 Mar 2002
Pollux.... you've got to admit that the people posting from english-speaking countries here don't exactly represent the most narow-minded section of society!... :-)

Pollux	19 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Malachite Pollux.... you've got to admit that the people posting from english-speaking countries here don't exactly represent the most narow-minded section of society!... :-) Ouch, maybe I was offensive with that post. I don't know how to make amend... :( UFF! However, I hope you get what I mean... I admire people who speaks more than one language, ok? :) In truth, I don't think I implied people were narrow-minded and all. If that was, it was related to Italians maybe - sure it is! I know lots of people who can't manage to learn English and are so jealous! :p Well, you know see what it means not to be a mothertongue! I stand no chance to have the right words at the right moment! Malachite, you just shattered my disguise! :D I'm sorry, however... I'm always so successful in offending people without meaning to! :( I definitely want to quit this.

Diana	19 Mar 2002
Pollux: don't get all worried, man! It's true that people from English speaking countries do have that reputation. But I think that as the world is getting smaller and smaller, this reputation is starting to disappear.

Emily	19 Mar 2002
I can only speak my native English, would love to learn German and Spanish though :)

truthsayer	19 Mar 2002
one thing that many ppl don't realize is that there are literally thousands of dialects/accents for every language. yes, i speak american english but depending what part of the country you're from depends on whether or not i can understand a word you say. i don't care how hollywood tries to generalize language few things bother me more than to hear someone trying to fake an accent from the part of the country i'm from. i grew up about 100 miles from where i now live but the dialect is like night and day even tho we're all american and speak english. it's seems that even after 15 years i'm asking ppl who were born here,"what did he say?" and the same for me. language is so idiosyncratic. where i'm from we pronounce "coin" as "co-wen". where i live now it sounds more like "corn". i still can't say coin like they do unless i really concentrate. then in my home county there were the different dialects in community to community. some call a sink a "zinc". a friend from ohio calls "wash" "worsh" so washingtom, dc was "worshington". took me a while before i figured that one out. it's no wonder there are so many communication problems in the world! some of the stupidest disagreements my hubby and i have gotten into have been over not understanding each other's dialect!!!!!! LOL when i really like something i say "that's pretty good!" until he understand that meant "great" or "wonderful" to me, he thought i was disappointed b/c in his home town "pretty good" would indicate disappointment. now to tease me, he tells me things are "pretty good" when he's happy about something. communication is a daily adventure as far as i'm concerned!! i took spanish for 2 years in high school and 2 in college but barely remember any now. i also know a little american sign language.

kayne	20 Mar 2002
Count me in for that Italian Course Pollux :) It will be moorditj (Noongar for "good") Unfortunately I know very little Noongar... but I am learning! (Now... what was "more" in Italian again? Liliana - do you remember?)

Malachite	20 Mar 2002
Whoah Pollux... I was AGREEING with the statement that english-speaking peoples often don;t have the best international vocabulary... I didn't find it at all insulting... its that dry english humour of mine... ;) Apologies for making you think i was taking offense...

Malachite	20 Mar 2002
Truthsayer... 100 miles?....sheesh...America is big!... It takes about 20m to get a new dialect here!.. And some of them are pretty obscure....my family are 'removed' geordies...(dialect term for 'person from the the counties of Northumbria and Durham')...and even I can;t understand half the words when I go up there to see my distant relatives...mind u, i've never actually lived there...

fairyhedgehog	21 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux And, fairyhedgehog, you could be my assistant in my Italian classes! :D I'm flattered Pollux :) Unfortunately, my Italian doesn't go much beyond 'buon giorno' and 'fa caldo' these days. I only learnt if for one year. I went on holiday to Italy with a French family. They were delighted that so many words were almost the same. The asked for 'pain' and got 'pane' (bread), 'lait' and got 'latte' (milk), but when they asked for biscuits ('gateaux') they were offered cat food :D All the best, FH

january	21 Mar 2002
FH - that's too funny! When I was in France, I attempted to order dessert en francais... Well, the waiter kindly laughed. Apparently I ordered a plate of condoms! Pollux - I'll join your Italian class! I was in Napoli last spring. I stayed in Latina and travelled by train between Roma and Napoli. What helped me a bit in Italy is the fact that I cook so much, especially Italian cuisine. Gratzie! Prego! Mi piace Italia!! (sorry for spelling errors!) I am so impressed by the super, ultra (and sometimes esoteric) multi-lingual nation here! I grew up speaking American and just as Truthsayer elaborated there are countless dialects and accents in the US. Here, there is a growing need to teach children different languages at a much earlier age (many school systems don't incorporate it until around 12 years old). When a child is born, they have the capacity to speak any language in the world. Isn't that amazing? I don't think that most Americans have a "survival" need for a second language unless they grow up in an area where it is helpful (i.e. Spanish in Los Angeles, French in Maine, Louisiana). Its a shame. One learns so much about the world and its culture by studying language. And being fluent in another language is an encouragement to travel to "test it out" and learn more. (Diana - I agree our world is getting smaller and smaller, a good thing!!) So, I'll continue with French and then move onto Spanish (unless Pollux begins his classes sooner!) au revoir! ~ january ps: Anyone remember Chevy Chase in "European Vacation''? Speaking French with their pocket translators - it epitomized the "American in Paris" concept. Too funny!

Pollux	21 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog ...but when they asked for biscuits ('gateaux') they were offered cat food... ROFLMAO! Janaury, if you ever happen to come back, tell me! And anyone, please! I could set up something for you... :) And meet you too! And show mama that this Aeclectc thing is real people, real bonds, real affection! :)

Ramses	21 Mar 2002
interesting thread... Well, I speak Portuguese as my first language (Brazil´s national language)...I can speak English fluently, understand French, I´m almost fluent in Spanish...now, I wanna learn French, Japanese , German, and other languages...and I´ve started Samskrit at college... so...that´s it ....

jade	21 Mar 2002
you ordered a whole plate of condoms? my, that was a busy vacation for you eh? LOL :) jade

Malachite	21 Mar 2002
More Importantly....did you get them?...

isthmus nekoi	21 Mar 2002
Kinda late here but Pollux, if you are still around, I am very interested in learning Japanese too!! I love to put on a cuuuuute voice when I speak Japanese... Didn't manage to get into the language class this year (boy that class fills up fast), but next year! That's okay: I'm making it up by overdosing on manga and anime ^_~ The textbook stuff is soooooo stilted and formal anyways so you have to balance it out (at least, that's my excuse :P). *sigh* Talking about Japan always makes me miss it. It's sooo pathetic, my sister and I will be watching anime and be like: Yeah! That's what the subways were like there! I miss Japan! As for languages, I took French up to the OAC level (that's Gr 13 - Ontario system) but I have to admit, I've forgotten most of it since I haven't used French since I was in gr 11. However, I did acquire a rocking Quebecois accent after I took a course in Quebecois cinema last year ^-^ I also speak Cantonese with a very embarassingly thick English accent. Not to mention my grammer is very poor since I tend to translate directly from English to Chinese. I flunked out of Chinese school so I can read about 50 characters, which probably amounts to nothing anyway since they switched to the 'simpler character' system back in China :P Jook Sing Mui to the core!!!

Kissa	22 Mar 2002
French is my mother language. From school : english, german and a bit of italian. From my au-pair years : schwizertütsch. From my hubby : finnish. And from my daughter : bottom of the heart's language. Kissa

fairyhedgehog	23 Mar 2002
I had this strange dream the other night. Someone handed me a large floppy soft toy - it was orangey brown in colour and had floppy bits hanging down all over, and my mind immediately said 'langoustine'. I knew it was a lobster or some such - in fact it reminded me of the crayfish leaving the water on the Waite Moon card. But what does 'langoustine' mean? I believe that lobster is 'homard' and 'crevette' is a prawn? Is 'langoustine' even a French word? I felt very puzzled by this. All the best, FH

jade	23 Mar 2002
lagoustina - cookware LOL jade

Kissa	23 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog I knew it was a lobster or some such - in fact it reminded me of the crayfish leaving the water on the Waite Moon card. But what does 'langoustine' mean? I believe that lobster is 'homard' and 'crevette' is a prawn? Is 'langoustine' even a French word? I felt very puzzled by this. All the best, FH "langoustine : Dublin bay prawn, "langoustines frites" : scampi". It is definitely a French word and you dream in French, my dear :D !!!! Aren't dreams just sooo mysterious ??? Kissa

Malachite	23 Mar 2002
Langoustine is a word for a particular type of big shrimp, i think... presumably derived from L'Angoustine...so I guess its a dialect word from Anjou... Kissa...you posted when i was writing this...darn, you beat me to it!..

jade	23 Mar 2002
darn............so i guess i was wrong about the cookware. LOL hahahahaha jade

Malachite	23 Mar 2002
Wrong?...No-one's wrong.. you were just right in a different way....

jade	23 Mar 2002
LOL i was trying to make a funny. cookware - shrimp LOL hahahahahahaha you are soooo great malachite. jade

Kissa	24 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Malachite Kissa...you posted when i was writing this...darn, you beat me to it!.. YEAHHHH !!! I am overwelmed by such a WINNER's feeling here !!!! ;) I beated malachite !!!! Moderator, please, make sur this post never get lost !!!! I have to copy and paste and forward it to all my teachers, bosses, former boyfriends, ex-friends, ex-collegues, neighbours etc. MY LIFE FINALLY MAKES SENSE !!!!! :) :) :) I still have temperature (39*) so I guess I'd better go back to bed and hope that you will all forgive me for that delirious access ... ;) Karen

fairyhedgehog	24 Mar 2002
Thank you jade, kissa and malachite :D That is so strange, dreaming a word I didn't know I knew ... All the best,

Malachite	24 Mar 2002
Kissa... umm...i might be wrong, but i have, like, this gut intuition in my fingernails that you have this thing, umm, like, sarcasm, going on.... ;-)

jade	24 Mar 2002
LOL

Kissa	25 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Malachite Kissa... umm...i might be wrong, but i have, like, this gut intuition in my fingernails that you have this thing, umm, like, sarcasm, going on.... ;-) :confused: :confused: :confused: Who ??? ME ???? ME ???!!!!! No way !!!! Not my style ... ;) Kissa

Kissa	25 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog That is so strange, dreaming a word I didn't know I knew ... You bet !!! I can only imagine two solutions, one is very logical and the other one is my favourite ;) Here are my propositions : 1) you have heard this langoustine word somewhere, in a restaurant, in a movie, read it in a book maybe (as you were able to spell it perfectly) 2) you remember it from a past experience in France, I mean a former life, maybe you were a fisherman or something, or a chef ?? I hope you keep a journal of your dreams, this one being somehow amazing ... Kissa

purplelady	25 Mar 2002
I speak American English. But I took 3 years of French in school. Even taking the class , I think that if you don't actually Use the language , it's pretty difficult to understand people speaking it! Reading or writing is perhaps a little easier. I have seen the c.d. roms at the computer store to learn all kinds of different langages, and think that might be an interesting thing to study someday! It would be like a virtual class. I've also dreamed of words that don't make sense to me, especially names of people that are really clear to me in dream , but that I don't recall ever hearing or being a Real name upon awakening?

fairyhedgehog	26 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kissa I hope you keep a journal of your dreams, this one being somehow I do sometimes :) Somehow writing this one down for you folks seems enough this time. The really far out ones tend to stay with me anyway. Like the time I was riding an emu ... All the best, FH

funkpuss	01 Apr 2002
Hi I've got this book called Assimil-new French with ease. I I really want to learn this language but it's sooooo difficult. I will make some efforts to do a little bit each day, as I love France and I just came back a month ago. By the way I would love to hear from anyone who lives in France!!!! Funkpuss

Phoenix	30 Apr 2002
I am just wondering what languages everyone here speaks, since we have such a diverse group here from all around the world. I can speak both english(my first language) and French(secong language) What languages do you speak???

Phoenix	30 Apr 2002
I just want to add another question. What languages are you learning/like to learn?? I am attempting to learn Italian now, and later, I would like to learn Spanish, Dutch, and German, maybe Portugese.

Pollux	01 May 2002
Phoenix, credo che una discussione su questo argomento sia stata già fatta, e dovrebbe essere da qualche altra parte. (a thread for the topic was already started... you could post and bring it up once again) It's enough. The link to that thread is http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2201 (it took so much to find it!)

jade	01 May 2002
pollux, thanks for making my job easier! i used your link to merge phoenix's with this one! in light, jade :) ps so now you link goes back to this thread LOL

wavebreaker	01 May 2002
I speak Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish and a bit of Arabic. I'd like to learn Danish, because my little niece and nephew are raised bilingually in Dutch and Danish. I know a little bit of Danish, but I've now come to the point where I can't understand my 3-year old niece anymore when she speaks Danish... :confused:

lunalafey	01 May 2002
I speak english with a California accent :) I HAD to learn spanish when I was 12. My Dad brought home a wife from Equidor( Mi Padre,?brought home? una esposa de Equidor.(ouch)) , she did not know or want to know English. I became able to have full conversations with her before I took Spanish in school. I did the following year. Ended up getting a D ?????? the teacher did not like me for some reason. About two years AFTER(and not speaking spanish) moving away from Dad's, I went to boarding school, took spanish II class, got an A+. hmmm. I've lost the fluency but I bet if I went to Mexico for a week, I'd be in there...

Sam	04 May 2002
English

Zhritza	06 May 2002
I only speak English fluently. I took French for a long time as a kid and teenager, and actually I can still read it pretty well (I read some of the Le Pen stuff in Le Point and I understood most of it!). But I've had two years of college Russian, and I was in a serious relationship for 1-1/2 years with someone who came to the US from Russia when he was 17. I got lots of practice with his parents. Actually that's the main thing I miss about dating him :eek:

catlin	06 May 2002
Ok, My mother language is German, I studied French and Spanish at the University of Heidelberg, I need pretty much English at work, sometimes even a bit French or Spanish. I have a passive knowledge of Italian, Dutch and Catalan (the latter I took for a term at university).

The what do we speak? thread was originally posted on 18 Mar 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.