I am in college, and since I can - and would have great resources available to do so - I've been thinking about starting to learn another foreign language. Having your input in answering the following poll would be great, but if you think all the options below suck, tell me what language you think would be better (or if you think it'd be a better use of my time to take classes on other subjects).
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Which of the following languages would you most like to learn?
Spanish would probably be your best bet considering how fast the population of Mexicans is increasing... But then again, it also depends on your career choice or location.
Russian is the best paid of those four by the American Government. And is about to hard as learn as Pollish, but is spoken by more people, and has more scientific writing and literature in it. It also covers a greater expance of the world, however if you want to go for how many people you can talk to, Spanish obviously. But the best choice is to be speak the language that you are most likely to get oppurtunities to practice or use, that way you actually learn it. My current list (In order of perfecting: Spanish, Russian, French, Arabic... and then I don't know. I'd like to learn Korean or Farsi, Hindi. But I figure if I go for Farsi, i should go for swahili too, or turkish. But between Spanish and French one can basically speak Italian. And its nice to cover a language from every major Branch, so that one's brain is flexible to pick up similar language easier. English is Germanic, Spanish is Romance, Russian is Slavic (and all of those are Indo-European), while Arabic is Semetic (Afro-Asiatic). Turkish is Altaic (which is surrounded with historical and classification arguement in linguistics) and Korean is often argued to be Altaic as well. So I currently aim for good diversity. But if you aren't going to use it, don't bother, so pick what you will.
Perfecting such a number and diversity of languages isn't often something people aim for; you'll have to go live a long time in a lot of different countries.
Well... no. A year is about average to become fluent in a language. A little more for some, a little less for others. And languages aren't so much as starting from scratch as some like to think. Like I said, if you can speak French and Spanish, you can basically speak Italian. They all build up and relate. Although one man once told me (he was in his forties and spoke nine languages) that it takes about nine years practicing one's russian before they can read Dostoevsky.
I chose Spanish out of your choices, but ever since I lived in a community with a high percentage of Chinese citizens I've always wanted to learn Chinese. I've always liked hearing it being spoke.
I voted Spanish out of your options just because it seems like in America knowing how to speak Spanish would be the most useful. Like Washington Irving said "And current projections estimate that 25% of the U.S population will be Hispanic or Latino in 15-20 years." So there's my logic.
BUT out of all languages, I really want to learn Hindi. I think it's a beautiful language and I've always wanted to go to India (even though a percentage of people in India speak English) and I think it would come in handy. Plus, come on, FUCKING HINDI! How sick is that? PLUS, if I ever got a sitar...I could be the real shit, all singin' in Hindi.
The main reason I'd choose Russian over Arabic is that of late I've been really interested in the possibility of studying and researching Alaska history. The likely thing is I won't take either though, (or any other language besides French), since I plan on studying abroad junior year, (Senegal or France, probably), and both Russian and Arabic are intensive courses that take up two class spots instead of one.
I've forgotten everything except Watashi no namae wa ... desu, konnichiwa, konbanwa, mata ne, and wakarimasen. Do it, though! Everyone still remembers the girls you got in Japan. You need to be able to go back and woo them (maybe just one?) in their own language. :D
Exactly, no seriously though seeing as chemistry didn't work out for me an honest consideration for me right now is to go back over and teach maybe. At the same time though I'm literally at the same level as you right now.
AO, nope. Japanese is Class IV by the Defense Language Institute (which sets a standard for international Linguists) and its argued that if there was a fifth classification, Japanese would be the only one in it.
I for one don't believe that. The DLI may be important, but they also don't teach every language, and I doubt they ever will. I think Japanese is probably easier to learn than Xhosa, or Tsimshian, or any number of possible alternatives.
I'd have to say Spanish can suck a fat dick, and not just because I'm racist. Europe speaks German. South America and Spain speak Spanish. Do the math. Honestly, if Spanish-speaking people want to talk to you, they can learn German like the rest of us.
The most common latin language in Africa is French. Also, Spanish is a more ubiquitous language, being spoken in most parts of South America, Spain, Portugal (lol), parts of Asia, and some Oceanic countries. It's ranked the third most used language in the world after Chinese and English. And current projections estimate that 25% of the U.S population will be Hispanic or Latino in 15-20 years.
The tl;dr is obviously of his comment, both from reading it and from him telling you when you asked. Maybe focus on English a bit before you move on, eh?
Seemed pretty clear to me. Gave reasons for his choice, and provided a concise restatement at the end to make it extra clear. When you inquired, he told you that it was of his choice. For bonus points, "Spanish" makes no sense as a summary of your article, and a whole lot as one of his comment.
Concise, to the point, and unambiguous.
There's nothing wrong with making an occasional mistake, it's denying it and blaming others that makes you look bad.
AO, I admitted I misunderstood; perhaps you didn't understand that. I may have "blamed others," but this is incredibly unimportant, barely even something where blame can be assigned. Your criticism of me for nothing reflects badly on you.
Like I said, I started being pessimistic about it realizing I'd have nobody to talk to except like two people in Amsterdam I'm good friends with. If you have nobody to talk to, why learn the language? So you can talk to yourself? :P
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BUT out of all languages, I really want to learn Hindi. I think it's a beautiful language and I've always wanted to go to India (even though a percentage of people in India speak English) and I think it would come in handy. Plus, come on, FUCKING HINDI! How sick is that? PLUS, if I ever got a sitar...I could be the real shit, all singin' in Hindi.
Cerberus
04/28/10|4:59 pm
Cerberus
04/28/10|5:00 pm
VexingStockBroker
04/28/10|11:23 am
No but really Spanish or Chinese are the two languages that would be most useful in today's society.
Anirath
04/27/10|11:35 pm
Cerberus
04/27/10|6:29 pm
Out of any options: Arabic
Akhoya
04/27/10|6:44 pm
Cerberus
04/28/10|11:37 am
The Crimson Nutcase
04/27/10|5:43 pm
Akhoya
04/27/10|5:48 pm
The Crimson Nutcase
04/27/10|5:50 pm
Akhoya
04/27/10|6:02 pm
The Crimson Nutcase
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Fiver
04/28/10|10:03 pm
The Crimson Nutcase
04/28/10|10:53 pm
AgentOrange
04/28/10|11:07 pm
Fiver
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Akhoya
05/03/10|4:40 am
Clamroyale
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Akhoya
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Pooter
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loscadu
04/28/10|8:56 pm
Clamroyale
04/28/10|9:44 pm
Pooter
04/27/10|4:29 pm
Washington Irving
04/27/10|5:40 pm
tl;dr, Spanish
Akhoya
04/27/10|5:43 pm
Washington Irving
04/27/10|5:58 pm
Akhoya
04/27/10|7:52 pm
AgentOrange
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Pooter
04/28/10|9:05 am
Lol Nazism
Akhoya
04/28/10|1:58 pm
AgentOrange
04/28/10|3:10 pm
Concise, to the point, and unambiguous.
There's nothing wrong with making an occasional mistake, it's denying it and blaming others that makes you look bad.
Akhoya
04/28/10|4:30 pm
AgentOrange
04/27/10|3:48 pm
Akhoya
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AgentOrange
04/27/10|7:41 pm
Clamroyale
04/28/10|9:44 pm
Fiver
04/28/10|9:53 pm
Catalyst
04/27/10|2:59 pm
Washington Irving
04/27/10|5:41 pm
Fiver
04/28/10|9:54 pm
Catalyst
04/28/10|11:33 pm
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