I’ve always wanted to learn Spanish, Arabic, and Japanese (Yeah, I know, an odd mix). Unfortunately, here we’re kind of screwed with the way they don’t start trying to teach these until after our brains have destroyed the natural connections used early in childhood to learn our first language.
Unless you have a big interest in philology, or Vedic literature and scripture, I wouldn’t recommend it. I studied it for four years in college and wish I had taken Hindi, Mandarin, or Japanese instead.
English, French, and Spanish: Clark Kent’s post actually makes sense. German, maybe. After all, some communities in Pennsylvania still have that as a second language.I wonder if Esperanto is still used even at the United Nations. I wonder if anyone remembers it these days. Nevertheless, our (America’s) first, chief, primary language should be (and I submit is) English. For all intents and purposes, that has been our language since our country was founded.
As for Russian: the Cyrillic alphabet is learnable, although it may be difficult.For real confusion, try Gaelic. It uses the Roman alphabet, as does English, but the letters have different sounds, especially the consonants!
We’re a little behind here in the US. I didn’t know about the 3:1 though! I notice a lot of the same words in English to Spanish. Then Spanish, with the latin, it’s fairly easy to learn French? Yeah, I need to get my rear in gear and start learning this stuff.
Okay, super late here, but now I’m just curious. I see those lyrics, but I have always thought it was “You hate me to say, and I did not obey”. I can see where the first part could be lost in translation – When Till is just saying “Du hast,” it sounds as if he could either be saying “Du hast” (you have) or “Du hasst” (you hate). This is to give the song a double meaning, even though the official lyrics say “Du hast.”Not sure why I’m thinking the second part, but I’ve seen two sets of lyrics. Since the title is “Du hast”, you are probably right. Have to look into this as I’ve thought these were the lyrics for…pift, 15 years? :P
Pharmakeus Ubik about 12 years ago
Sindarin.
The Old Wolf about 12 years ago
It would be “Esperanto,” and I think she should go for Japanese or Mandarin.
rpmurray about 12 years ago
Pig-Latin
coolhand000 about 12 years ago
Ebonics. . .The coming trend
EMT about 12 years ago
I’ve always wanted to learn Spanish, Arabic, and Japanese (Yeah, I know, an odd mix). Unfortunately, here we’re kind of screwed with the way they don’t start trying to teach these until after our brains have destroyed the natural connections used early in childhood to learn our first language.
coz69 about 12 years ago
My great grandmother was Cherokee, wish I know even one word of the language…sad.
WaitingMan about 12 years ago
Try Russian. You can not learn a whole new alphabet.
snarkm about 12 years ago
Dear Jeri, du hast die Weisheit auch nicht mit dem Löffel gefressen, was?
LadyChel about 12 years ago
My thoughts exactly, Night-G! I’d rather master one language than know little bits of several of ’em. Although I am trying to learn Spanish, grr.
Pharmakeus Ubik about 12 years ago
Unless you have a big interest in philology, or Vedic literature and scripture, I wouldn’t recommend it. I studied it for four years in college and wish I had taken Hindi, Mandarin, or Japanese instead.
sjsczurek about 12 years ago
English, French, and Spanish: Clark Kent’s post actually makes sense. German, maybe. After all, some communities in Pennsylvania still have that as a second language.I wonder if Esperanto is still used even at the United Nations. I wonder if anyone remembers it these days. Nevertheless, our (America’s) first, chief, primary language should be (and I submit is) English. For all intents and purposes, that has been our language since our country was founded.
sjsczurek about 12 years ago
As for Russian: the Cyrillic alphabet is learnable, although it may be difficult.For real confusion, try Gaelic. It uses the Roman alphabet, as does English, but the letters have different sounds, especially the consonants!
Shikamoo Premium Member about 12 years ago
I learned Hebrew and Koine Greek. Both have their own alphabet, and the Hebrew adds to the confusion by reading right to left….
LadyChel about 12 years ago
We’re a little behind here in the US. I didn’t know about the 3:1 though! I notice a lot of the same words in English to Spanish. Then Spanish, with the latin, it’s fairly easy to learn French? Yeah, I need to get my rear in gear and start learning this stuff.
LadyChel about 12 years ago
Okay, super late here, but now I’m just curious. I see those lyrics, but I have always thought it was “You hate me to say, and I did not obey”. I can see where the first part could be lost in translation – When Till is just saying “Du hast,” it sounds as if he could either be saying “Du hast” (you have) or “Du hasst” (you hate). This is to give the song a double meaning, even though the official lyrics say “Du hast.”Not sure why I’m thinking the second part, but I’ve seen two sets of lyrics. Since the title is “Du hast”, you are probably right. Have to look into this as I’ve thought these were the lyrics for…pift, 15 years? :P