12-10-2004, 06:22 AM | #21 |
Jack Burton
Join Date: May 16, 2003
Location: Dartmouth, NS Canada
Age: 58
Posts: 5,634
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I wish people would speak my language at times. Nobdy seems to get me most of the time.
Variety is the spice of life! An English opera just wouldn't cut it IMHO
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A MAN WHO WANTS FOR NOTHING HAS INFINITE WEALTH. (me) |
12-10-2004, 07:08 AM | #22 | |
Takhisis Follower
Join Date: April 30, 2001
Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now)
Posts: 5,089
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Quote:
As posted by Grojlach "On a similar note, linguists predict that by the end of this century, 75 to 90 percent of the 5000 current languages will have died out." I have heard this before and I believe many of those languages are Aboriginal and Papua New Guinean languages. This really makes me sad, If it was my culture I would be angry about it. Is it a form of imperial arrogance? Do members of this forum get annoyed that it is English based or so many films and TV and music for that matter, or just accept it as given without a second thought? [/QUOTE]I'd say Chinese, Japanese, OR Spanish would all be useful for your kid. Not much point in learning Indonesian, unless you plan to live there. Ok kind of the same for Japanese, but it is a more important industrial power. Chinese is a world language since chinese are everywhere, but it's not officially the language anywhere except in China, and maybe one or two other places like Malaysia (?) Spanish is the official language in many more countries, so maybe that is the most generally useful one for your kids. I'd still like to know why they predict the growth of german in Asia?? Anyone know? I am thinking of taking German back up as I studied it for 6 years before. As for TV programs and films: no one has a right to be angry about most of them being english, since America produces most films and the native language there is english, so why SHOULD they produce it in another language and alienate their own audience??? That would be stupid...
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Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray |
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12-10-2004, 08:26 AM | #23 | |
40th Level Warrior
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Quote:
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12-10-2004, 01:47 PM | #24 | |
Avatar
Join Date: June 8, 2001
Location: The forest
Posts: 526
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Quote:
The only one I know who mixes up a lot of words from the Dutch, German and English language without using slang, is my mother with her German background. Guess that happens when you teach German and English every day and live in Holland |
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12-10-2004, 03:22 PM | #25 |
40th Level Warrior
Join Date: October 29, 2001
Location: Western Wilds of Michigan
Posts: 11,752
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One of my big regrets is that in high school, when I wanted to add Spanish in my junior year (grade 11), I let the school counselor talk me out of it. I was already taking French (third year), and he convinced me that they were different enough that learning Spanish would mess up my French.
When I got to college, I picked it up there, and on the contrary, my French messed up my Spanish [img]smile.gif[/img] In my somewhat limited experience, European teachers focused on speaking and listening, while American teachers focused on reading and writing. Problem is, you can think as much as you need to when you're reading and writing. You can't do that in conversation, so American-style teaching results in a lesser ability to communicate. And students taught American-style are less able to help others learn to speak and listen to the language. I remember the first time I went to Montreal after I'd learned French. That's when I found out that many of the rules I'd learned didn't really apply. For example, the "u" in "tu as" (you have) is never dropped, according to the rules. In practical speech, however, I don't think it's ever there. I now speak French mostly fluently, Spanish passably, German bearably, and sign language (ASL) partially. I continue to encourage my kids to learn more languages. It only helps.
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*B* Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last. |
12-10-2004, 05:17 PM | #26 | ||
Quintesson
Join Date: August 28, 2004
Location: the middle of Michigan
Age: 42
Posts: 1,011
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Quote:
I'd also like to point out that learning another language makes one more aware of the meanings, constructions, and strange expressions of their first language. It worked that way for me anyway. Quote:
A simple example of what I am talking about in Wellard's part of the world. Is it generally more advantageous to speak an indigenous language in Australia or English? It'd be nice to know both, but that won't happen in enough people - the society won't put the languages or those who speak them on equal footing. There are practical reasons for what people do (including arts and music in English), but there are cultural consequences, whether they're intended or not. *Closes anthropology book* |
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12-11-2004, 03:50 AM | #27 | |
Dracolisk
Join Date: November 1, 2002
Location: Australia ..... G\'day!
Posts: 6,123
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Quote:
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