Spoken Languages

**Sevaede** · 03-28-2007, 10:54 PM

I thought this would be an interesting topic!

What languages do you speak? Which is your native language? Did you learn them for fun or/and for a requirement? How long have you been speaking them? Do you speak them regularly?

I learned Japanese and sign language in school when I was 9 and continued learning for a little while. I learned some French in high school. I knew random little phrases in other languages. I've pretty much since forgotten most of it which is unfortunate because I *love* learning other languages. I hope to take them up again soon.

**sparks19** · 03-29-2007, 12:28 AM

Well the only one I speak fluently is English.

I can understand a lot in French (quebecois french) and can speak quite a bit but not enough to hold an entire conversation, some German, a little Spanish... and I can count to ten in Japanese LOL

**Crazy-Cat-Lover** · 03-29-2007, 12:40 AM

English

**kuhio98** · 03-29-2007, 01:13 AM

English is my only language. I am learning sign language right now from a deaf co-worker.

Mmmm, I can count to 10 in Spanish, Turkish, German and Chinese but that won't get you very far....

**Karen** · 03-29-2007, 02:00 AM

English is my main language.

I know a few words - enough for very, very simple conversation in French, but only if the other person speaks slowly enough! I know a handful of words in Spanish (thanks to Sesame street and an immigrant friend, mostly), can count to 14 in Swedish and know a few other words - not enough for a conversation by a long shot, and know a random handful in Polish (really random) and ASL, and can say hello, thank you, and "I don't want that" in Mandarin.

My grandfather was gifted in languages and was fluent in 5 (Swedish, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) and could make himself understood in a few others when necessary - he was police chief of a mill town with dense immigrant populations. He didn't have the benefit of any college education, just learned on his own. He was Swedish, his wife (grandma, my beloved grandma) was French-Canadian, and she didn't want us to learn anything but English, so we wouldn't be discriminated against. We were to be "just American." So my French is largely "school French" which was very different than the French the older generation spoke at family gatherings!

**jackmilliesmom** · 03-29-2007, 03:44 AM

I am Irish so I speak both english and irish and speak both fluently depending on what part of the country I am in, funnily enough can read and speak irish but cannot for the life of me cannot write it properly....

**jenluckenbach** · 03-29-2007, 05:26 AM

Just English.

**sparks19** · 03-29-2007, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by jackmilliesmom

I am Irish so I speak both english and irish and speak both fluently depending on what part of the country I am in, funnily enough can read and speak irish but cannot for the life of me cannot write it properly....

I am with you.... I can't really write the other languages at all. But in school those courses were always my favourite.... French and German.

I had to learn some Japanese when I was taking Judo... that was pretty neat.

I don't know about in Ireland but I heard from a German Air crew once that they are required to learn to speak english in Germany... of course that might have just been for the air force though. Is it a requirement where you are? LOL I guess if part of the country speaks english it would be a benefit but is it something taught in schools as a regular class or is it a special class?