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RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japanese?

 
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RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/29/2005 9:42:22 AM   
ChezDaJez


Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline
quote:

Americans are definitely a bit lazy when it comes to learning languages.


And I think that is probably driven by our geography. There is little need to speak a foreign language in the States unless required by one's occupation. Spanish is probably the most useful language for Americans to learn due to the influx of immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries but even then most of the younger hispanics learn English quickly so that reduces the need further. Many Europeans speak multiple languages due to their geography, being in close proximity to countries speaking those languages.

Chez

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98

(in reply to Mynok)
Post #: 91
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/29/2005 2:58:23 PM   
BossGnome

 

Posts: 658
Joined: 5/29/2004
From: Canada
Status: offline 		true, but yet sad when tourists come to the states they are expected to speak enough english to get around, yet when an american goes abroad, the american expects to be served in english... I'd have no problem if it went both ways, but if foreigners have to learn english to get around in america, why do americans expect not to have to learn a little of the language of the country in which they are travelling?

I'm just generalizing here, I know many many americans who are currently learning japanese with me in japan. So don't get offended please anyone.

_____________________________

"Hard pressed on my right; my left is in retreat. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
-Gen. Joffre, before the battle of the Marne

(in reply to ChezDaJez)
Post #: 92
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/29/2005 4:20:00 PM   
captskillet


Posts: 2493
Joined: 3/1/2003
From: Louisiana & the 2007 Nat Champ LSU Fightin' Tigers
Status: offline
quote:

Curiousity question for Bossgnome: how different is Quebecois (sp?) from standard French? Can you converse with people from France?


Another analogy would be 'Cajun' French vs French............Cajun French of course came from the Acadians (Nova Scotia) who migrated to Louisiana................it may be closely related to the Quebec French you alluded to earlier.

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(in reply to Mynok)
Post #: 93
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/29/2005 5:27:44 PM   
ChezDaJez


Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline
quote:

yet when an american goes abroad, the american expects to be served in english...


Sadly, that is true. But I do think it that the vast majority of Americans recognize that if they go to a foreign country, may have communication problems if they haven't taken the time to at least learn a few basic phrases and greettings. Only some are so arrogant and stupid as to demand English be spoken to them. Unfortunately, its these people that get remembered, not the ones that make an effort to learn a language.

SChez

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98

(in reply to BossGnome)
Post #: 94
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/29/2005 6:57:49 PM   
anarchyintheuk

 

Posts: 3921
Joined: 5/5/2004
From: Dallas
Status: offline 		If you're visiting a large metropolitan area in the US, chances are there's a community of ex-pats that speaks your language. Like other countries, there are visitors from all over the world, how many languages can you be fluent in?

(in reply to ChezDaJez)
Post #: 95
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/30/2005 12:03:34 PM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

If you're visiting a large metropolitan area in the US, chances are there's a community of ex-pats that speaks your language. Like other countries, there are visitors from all over the world, how many languages can you be fluent in?

I speak 2, my wife speaks 5

_____________________________

After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
Now CIV IV has me in it's evil clutches!

(in reply to anarchyintheuk)
Post #: 96
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/30/2005 12:33:58 PM   
patrickl


Posts: 1530
Joined: 6/20/2002
From: Singapore
Status: offline 		Hi
quote:

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

quote:

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

If you're visiting a large metropolitan area in the US, chances are there's a community of ex-pats that speaks your language. Like other countries, there are visitors from all over the world, how many languages can you be fluent in?

I speak 2, my wife speaks 5

What are they?

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(in reply to ilovestrategy)
Post #: 97
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/30/2005 3:19:22 PM   
ChezDaJez


Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline
quote:

how many languages can you be fluent in


You don't need to be fluent, not even conversant. But if you know you're going to a certain country where English isn't the native language, why not learn how to say "hello", "goodbye", "please", "thank you" and a few basic phrases such as "Wo ist der Badezimmer, bitte?" or "Una cerveza mas, por favor."? Might not be exactly correct but it works. And people appreciate the effort.

I have visited 47 countries in my Navy travels and have lived in places like Sicily, Iceland, Spain and Japan for at least 1 year. I knew at least the basic phrases. One of the best I learned was, "Can you help me, please. I don't speak your language." You'd be surprised how willing people are to help if you just show a little courtesy and effort.

Chez

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98

(in reply to anarchyintheuk)
Post #: 98
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 9/30/2005 4:33:35 PM   
BossGnome

 

Posts: 658
Joined: 5/29/2004
From: Canada
Status: offline 		i absloutely agree. You'd be surprised how helpful quebecers are to an english speaker when he makes just that little effort to speak french... and just how un-helpful they become if said english speaker does NOT make the effort.

As for acadian french, I lived for 12 years in a little french speaking village in nova scotia, and you could almost say nova scotian (not to confuse with neo-brunswickan) french is its own language! the accent is unintelligible to french people, words of old french that haven't been used in modern french for over 200 years (words like bailler instead of donner) are current among the french they speak, as well as several frenchisied english words make for quite a melting pot that, were there more than a few thousand (possibly 50 000 in all) that speak it, I would consider a genuine language.

For example: in standard french: "Je suis allé chez ma grand-mère hier soir parce qu'elle devait me prêter un peu d'argent."
in acadian french: "Hiar à sworre e shus allé su' ma grand mére à cause que e è'devait m'buyer un miette de cash."
Please note that acadian french has no agreed upon written form and I have done my best here to convey the correct pronounciation. In both cases the meaning is the same: "Yesterday night I went to my grand-mother's house because she had to lend me a bit of money."

Cajun french is indeed close to acadian, but much more closer to the root french than the nova scotian dialect is. The neo brunswickan, on the other hand, being closer to quebec, remains very french, however the accent is different from the quebec one, as are many of the words used. It should also be noted that none of the swears used in quebec french are used in Neo Brunswickan french...

Man this makes a lot of dialects of french... gotta love those minority acadian populations

_____________________________

"Hard pressed on my right; my left is in retreat. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
-Gen. Joffre, before the battle of the Marne

(in reply to ChezDaJez)
Post #: 99
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 10/1/2005 9:16:52 AM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline 		i speak English and Tagalog. My wife, a filipino, speaks English, Tagalog and 3 local dialects all 5 as if she grew up in that particular area. I still dont see how she does it.

_____________________________

After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
Now CIV IV has me in it's evil clutches!

(in reply to BossGnome)
Post #: 100
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 10/1/2005 10:47:37 AM   
patrickl


Posts: 1530
Joined: 6/20/2002
From: Singapore
Status: offline 		Hi ilovestrategy
quote:

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

i speak English and Tagalog. My wife, a filipino, speaks English, Tagalog and 3 local dialects all 5 as if she grew up in that particular area. I still dont see how she does it.


Yo, it is great to hear that you and your wife speak many languages. It is really rare nowadays. Hope your children speak some too! Although my father and me speak Chinese dialects, my daughter only speaks English and Mandarin (examined in Singapore schools). Guess, my father and me are the "Last of the Mohicans"
Cheers!
Patrick

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(in reply to ilovestrategy)
Post #: 101
RE: Slightly OT... who here speaks chinese and or Japan... - 10/1/2005 11:18:29 PM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline 		My kid is almost 12 and refuses to learn a 2nd language. It's hard to force her when all of her friends speak only English

_____________________________

After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
Now CIV IV has me in it's evil clutches!

(in reply to patrickl)
Post #: 102
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