Frazz by Jef Mallett for October 09, 2021

“which was to be demonstrated,”

Almost anyone can learn another language well enough to get by with people who have a sense of humor and a willingness to be helpful. But I’m with her: I’ve “learned” a tiny bit of Español, even less Deutsch, and a few words or phrases in another half-dozen languages. And any time I try to speak one of them, out comes a gawdawful mix of all those langages. It’s like I have a bin for “talking” and another for “foreign talking”.

Before the wreck and the TBI I was conversational in Spanish, fluent in Z-80 machine, could make myself understood in Japanese, and could swear in French and Arabic ( first thing a military brat learns is how to tell when the locals are swearing at you). After the wreck there are times when I’m not even fluent in English.

I absolutely love the New York Times Saturday Crossword Puzzle. It is the gold standard of crossword puzzles.

Though I’ve met a few people to whom I would say:

“Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses”

How could she be a teacher without having graduated from college? And how could she have graduated from college, or high school for that matter, without having taken a foreign language???

Q.E.D.!!

I’ve become more interested in learning languages with age. I’ve been able to read a couple of foreign languages (with large gaps in my understanding) and that’s it.

I tried to learn Italian but have always had difficulty staying focused. But there are several foreign films I have watched enough times to turn off the subtitles and pick up several words. Does that count?

QED – in the way it is often used, it has become idiomatic for the answer is right in front of you or need I say more?

But Frazz – is that the Monday puzzle or the Saturday one?

Monday is usually about 10 minutes – Saturday can take all day – and is not always finished even then.

American translation: ‘Ya see, dummy?’

As I was told as a child, “Semper ubi sub ubi”

Q: When is the best time to plant a tree? A: 20 years ago. Q: When is the 2nd best time to plant a tree? A: Right now!

Saturday in 0:15? I’m jealous! I average about 0:42, but my best is 0:12.

I have been fluent in Morse Code from the age of 13 in the 1960s. I have struggled to learn other languages and can never seem to retain them. I would love to learn Spanish for my job as a docent at the zoo.

I have learned a little bit of Italian and a little bit of French through choral singing. Not enough to hold a conversation yet. If someone addresses me fluently in French I might respond “Quoi?” (What?)

I’ve tried learning other languages- three years of Spanish in high school; a Japanese cassette course; an online German class. It never seems to take. That’s why I have respect for anyone who’s multilingual.

I like Latin and sometimes consider seeing if there are adult extension courses to learn it in the future during semi or full retirement.

Eschew meretricious sesquipedalianisms

here’s a few phrases that have helped me out: du bist ein hübsches Mädchen, eres una chica muy linda, and tu es une très jolie jolie fille, oh la la.

I tell people that English is my second language and I don’t have a first one.

@CONC, Que dices ?

“I don’t know if I could at my age.”

A common complaint, hardly limited to Mrs. Olsen. In my experience, most people with this complaint haven’t lost the ability to learn, but they’ve stopped practicing how to learn; they’re no longer willing to put in the effort which learning requires and which they did apply when they were younger.

I’m basically bilingual in English and Spanish. Started learning Spanish way back in sixth grade. Definitely a useful, and pretty fun, skill to have.