What languages do you know?
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wow i could have sworn i posted in this thread before must've been another one like it.
well, english is my first language.
i'm fluent in sign language (hey, that still counts!!) LoL, in orange days i didn't need subtitles half of the time because i could just read what they were signing.
i'm currently taking japanese. i understand it well, but i do have troubles speaking. i can ask questions and answer them, but i don't make sentences on my own well.
well, english is my first language.
i'm fluent in sign language (hey, that still counts!!) LoL, in orange days i didn't need subtitles half of the time because i could just read what they were signing.
i'm currently taking japanese. i understand it well, but i do have troubles speaking. i can ask questions and answer them, but i don't make sentences on my own well.
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wow so many ppl are so talented with languages and it's good to see ppl learning - do it!
i know cantonese fluently, mandarin well, though i dont like speaking it cos i sound very fobby....and few phrases n words in korean and japanese...
i want to learn those two more, but im wondering if it's just cos im watching k and j dramas too much to the point that i want to be like them lol...but yeah i am currently continuing with mandarin... :]
i know cantonese fluently, mandarin well, though i dont like speaking it cos i sound very fobby....and few phrases n words in korean and japanese...
i want to learn those two more, but im wondering if it's just cos im watching k and j dramas too much to the point that i want to be like them lol...but yeah i am currently continuing with mandarin... :]
Well I can speak swedish fluently *duh* English very good and a little bit of korean.
To me korean is the easiest of chinese and japanese. I got an korean lexicon and I can understand some words on k-dramas but still need subtitles though. Why i want to learn korean is because i got two friends there and it's an interesting language.
dxtr: I find korean to be easier for me to learn but it could be diffirent for you though.
So i'd say go for the one you find easier to grasp. But most peaople seem to say korean is the harder one.
To me korean is the easiest of chinese and japanese. I got an korean lexicon and I can understand some words on k-dramas but still need subtitles though. Why i want to learn korean is because i got two friends there and it's an interesting language.
dxtr: I find korean to be easier for me to learn but it could be diffirent for you though.
So i'd say go for the one you find easier to grasp. But most peaople seem to say korean is the harder one.
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And you don't want to trust me haha! For me they're some of the most beautiful languages out there. And ofcourse they make some of the best dramas and movies.
I want to learn korean because i have two friends there and it's a beautiful language, so i've bought a korean lexicon and watch korean dramas and movies to get a feeling for it even more. It's going quite well i'd say so far and hopefuly get a korean teacher somday so i can really learn it. I also like the culture in china and korea, the food is also very good though only tried chinese taiwanese and japanese.
I want to learn korean because i have two friends there and it's a beautiful language, so i've bought a korean lexicon and watch korean dramas and movies to get a feeling for it even more. It's going quite well i'd say so far and hopefuly get a korean teacher somday so i can really learn it. I also like the culture in china and korea, the food is also very good though only tried chinese taiwanese and japanese.
@ Kaito5: Korean has a similar grammatical structure to Japanese, but sometimes it's considered easier to learn because they don't employ the Kanji system quite as lethally. I think Korean would be harder because the phonetic syllabary is much more difficult to pronounce than the syllabary used in Japanese.
I've also heard interesting things about Chinese and Japanese in comparison. I am told that Cantonese is the hardest language to begin learning, and Japanese is easy in comparison. However, once you get used to the patterns of Cantonese, it becomes easy. In contrast, Japanese patterns become significantly harder...? This is something I was told, but being that I've studied Japanese for some time now, the complicated structures still often don't make any sense.
I've also heard interesting things about Chinese and Japanese in comparison. I am told that Cantonese is the hardest language to begin learning, and Japanese is easy in comparison. However, once you get used to the patterns of Cantonese, it becomes easy. In contrast, Japanese patterns become significantly harder...? This is something I was told, but being that I've studied Japanese for some time now, the complicated structures still often don't make any sense.
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I thought the topic is weird...asking for what languages I know while only listing 3 languages for the choice, it is as if Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese people don't rely on the subbings from other languages or something. I know how to speak English, Vietnamese, and a little bit of Spanish. However, since the choices are so narrow. I have to say I rely mostly on subs or dubbing to understand Korean and Chinese series.
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My native language is French. Then, I learn English and German in school. I can speak English fluently but I don't write it correctly because of the grammar. My German is so bad and when I went to Germany, I often used English (Germans are so good in English). Then, I can also speak a little bit, Arabic language from Egypt and Italian (thanks to school lol!!)...
I would like to learn Japonese but it's so hard with the kanjis lol!! ^___^
So I use the subtitles but in English to pratice!!!
I would like to learn Japonese but it's so hard with the kanjis lol!! ^___^
So I use the subtitles but in English to pratice!!!
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I find it really cute when Asians speak Romantic languages.
My ex-gf spoke the cutest French ever. She, being Korean, had an easy time with the hard stuff for Americans, and a hard time with the easy stuff for Americans.
My Japanese teacher has some fluency in French, but she still screws things up and sounds deathly cute. A good example is, "Bonjour, requiem-san. Ca va?"
And one thing I REALLY loved is in the K-drama Only You, in the first episode actress Han Chae Young ends up in a situation on a train (not spoiling). Whenever she spoke Italian, she had some good pronunciations, but her expressions made me think !!!OMG OMG SO CUTE!!!! in exactly the way I have just mentioned it. T_T;;;
My ex-gf spoke the cutest French ever. She, being Korean, had an easy time with the hard stuff for Americans, and a hard time with the easy stuff for Americans.
My Japanese teacher has some fluency in French, but she still screws things up and sounds deathly cute. A good example is, "Bonjour, requiem-san. Ca va?"
And one thing I REALLY loved is in the K-drama Only You, in the first episode actress Han Chae Young ends up in a situation on a train (not spoiling). Whenever she spoke Italian, she had some good pronunciations, but her expressions made me think !!!OMG OMG SO CUTE!!!! in exactly the way I have just mentioned it. T_T;;;
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I remember that in the drama Kimi wa petto, Jun Matsumoto spoke some famous French expressions like "Bonjour Monsieur, Comment allez-vous?"
It seems funny and so cute.
Why european languages seem to be so romantic?
For French people, the most romantic languages are italian or spanish. I think that Italians sing then they speak... So beautiful language!!!!!
Have you ever seen "Tokyo Tower"? The movie's end is in France and it was funny for me because the japonese actress said : "Bonjoul" instead of "Bonjour"...
Japonese people have difficulty to prononciate the "R"...
Au revoir et bonne nuit!!!!!
It seems funny and so cute.
Why european languages seem to be so romantic?
For French people, the most romantic languages are italian or spanish. I think that Italians sing then they speak... So beautiful language!!!!!
Have you ever seen "Tokyo Tower"? The movie's end is in France and it was funny for me because the japonese actress said : "Bonjoul" instead of "Bonjour"...
Japonese people have difficulty to prononciate the "R"...
Au revoir et bonne nuit!!!!!
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I´m studying Japanese right now....but my mothertongue is Russian and Uzbek, I do also fluently speak German and -if you agree, guys- English! I´ve learnd French for 4 years. I´m thinking about to improve my French language skills, but French is hard to learn and to speak... and what about Japanese? Well, I´m kinda crazy about this language....
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All I know fluently is English. ;-;
I think I could get by well enough in French, though.
I've been learning French for 4-5 years, and I just took a course in Mandarin... I independently study Japanese and watching dramas definitely helps, but if you stuck me in Japan I don't know how much I'd be able to do. I also want to learn Korean but I'm afraid to practice speaking in case I learn pronunciations the wrong way. xD
I think I could get by well enough in French, though.
I've been learning French for 4-5 years, and I just took a course in Mandarin... I independently study Japanese and watching dramas definitely helps, but if you stuck me in Japan I don't know how much I'd be able to do. I also want to learn Korean but I'm afraid to practice speaking in case I learn pronunciations the wrong way. xD
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Well I'm Hmong, but I orginally speak english. Some of you may ask the question "what are hmongs?" well hmongs are people that are from laos and thailand, but they aren't laotian or thai, they are another group. well, i always rely on subtitles, but when none is there, i can still understand the drama even though i can't understand what the people are saying, but i'm getting there.
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This is a weird one. I'm British so English is my first language, but I've been studying Japanese intensively for 1 year in London (and plan to carry on).
I find that conversation-wise I'm generally fine, but when it comes to dramas and movies they are a bit harder to 100% understand. I recently watched HYD without the need of subtitles, but found a lot of trouble keeping up with something like Waterboys. This is probably down to dialects or something. A lot of the time I can watch programmes without the need for subtitles, so I guess I can hesitantly check the "Japanese" box.
(P.S. To everyone learning any foreign language, good luck and don't give up!)
I find that conversation-wise I'm generally fine, but when it comes to dramas and movies they are a bit harder to 100% understand. I recently watched HYD without the need of subtitles, but found a lot of trouble keeping up with something like Waterboys. This is probably down to dialects or something. A lot of the time I can watch programmes without the need for subtitles, so I guess I can hesitantly check the "Japanese" box.
(P.S. To everyone learning any foreign language, good luck and don't give up!)
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I envy people who can speak multiple languages, especially with fluency!
I have been studying Japanese for two and a half years, and have lived in Japan for the last 5 months. Not that I would say I have managed to become in any way fluent. For example, when watching drama it heavily depends on the show how much I understand. These days I never use subtitles. The most recent drama I have been watching is dare yori mo mama wo aisu. I can probably understand about 50%, and get the other 50% out of context. But if I watch a show like PS Rashoumon, I can barely tell what it going on apart from visually. In a real life example, today some religious door knocking group for some japanese religion came to the door, and I talked to them for about 30 minutes. (Because they were so insistent and wouldnt go away.) I could understand and communicate with them fairly easily, but in general I find understanding and effectively communicating with people extremely difficult. I have had to work very hard just to get the little I have (since I am not very skilled), then I meet people who can speak multiple languages, who also seem able to learn Japanese with ease (obviously especially if they are fluent in chinese because of kanji), and it makes me feel as though my efforts have been totally hopeless.
So to people who grow up knowing multiple languages, for example my friend who knows malaysian and chinese from living in malaysia and english from living in australia, please dont take it for granted! You have a life-skill for free right there.
As for people who have actually learnt multiple languages, I think you are some kind of language genius. I have no idea how anyone can do that.
I have been studying Japanese for two and a half years, and have lived in Japan for the last 5 months. Not that I would say I have managed to become in any way fluent. For example, when watching drama it heavily depends on the show how much I understand. These days I never use subtitles. The most recent drama I have been watching is dare yori mo mama wo aisu. I can probably understand about 50%, and get the other 50% out of context. But if I watch a show like PS Rashoumon, I can barely tell what it going on apart from visually. In a real life example, today some religious door knocking group for some japanese religion came to the door, and I talked to them for about 30 minutes. (Because they were so insistent and wouldnt go away.) I could understand and communicate with them fairly easily, but in general I find understanding and effectively communicating with people extremely difficult. I have had to work very hard just to get the little I have (since I am not very skilled), then I meet people who can speak multiple languages, who also seem able to learn Japanese with ease (obviously especially if they are fluent in chinese because of kanji), and it makes me feel as though my efforts have been totally hopeless.
So to people who grow up knowing multiple languages, for example my friend who knows malaysian and chinese from living in malaysia and english from living in australia, please dont take it for granted! You have a life-skill for free right there.
As for people who have actually learnt multiple languages, I think you are some kind of language genius. I have no idea how anyone can do that.
fluent : french, english, arabic (maghrebian)
good: german
basic : japanese (studying for 2 years now!)
started this year : dutch and chinese (chinese is very hard )
i'm studying foreign languages at university, it's a bit hard to switch btw 5 different languages! (english, german, japanese, dutch and chinese!)
thank god in my university there are some asian languages (but no korean )
good: german
basic : japanese (studying for 2 years now!)
started this year : dutch and chinese (chinese is very hard )
i'm studying foreign languages at university, it's a bit hard to switch btw 5 different languages! (english, german, japanese, dutch and chinese!)
thank god in my university there are some asian languages (but no korean )
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what's important is that you're trying! and you know you can't compare with others when it comes to things with learning...everyone has their own way and own pace..so yeah be happy you have such a good opportunity though i think...cos i really want to learn jap and really finish off my mandarin...but yeah the damn course is tying me down...Aulcard wrote:I envy people who can speak multiple languages, especially with fluency!
I have been studying Japanese for two and a half years, and have lived in Japan for the last 5 months. Not that I would say I have managed to become in any way fluent. For example, when watching drama it heavily depends on the show how much I understand. These days I never use subtitles. The most recent drama I have been watching is dare yori mo mama wo aisu. I can probably understand about 50%, and get the other 50% out of context. But if I watch a show like PS Rashoumon, I can barely tell what it going on apart from visually. In a real life example, today some religious door knocking group for some japanese religion came to the door, and I talked to them for about 30 minutes. (Because they were so insistent and wouldnt go away.) I could understand and communicate with them fairly easily, but in general I find understanding and effectively communicating with people extremely difficult. I have had to work very hard just to get the little I have (since I am not very skilled), then I meet people who can speak multiple languages, who also seem able to learn Japanese with ease (obviously especially if they are fluent in chinese because of kanji), and it makes me feel as though my efforts have been totally hopeless.
So to people who grow up knowing multiple languages, for example my friend who knows malaysian and chinese from living in malaysia and english from living in australia, please dont take it for granted! You have a life-skill for free right there.
As for people who have actually learnt multiple languages, I think you are some kind of language genius. I have no idea how anyone can do that.
oh and some people just find learning languages easier than say...mathematics or sports...
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OMG I'm so surprised that there's at least 10 people voted for 'All of above' option by now...what a surprise!!! I'm just English/Korean speaker...LOL
can read some French (able to order the food at the restaurant, but couldn't watch TV without subs)
picked up some Japanese while watching Jdrama..without sub could understand half...but couldn't read at all...
know some Chinese chracters so could guess a little while reading Chinese subtitle, but couldn't understand what they're saying...
can read some French (able to order the food at the restaurant, but couldn't watch TV without subs)
picked up some Japanese while watching Jdrama..without sub could understand half...but couldn't read at all...
know some Chinese chracters so could guess a little while reading Chinese subtitle, but couldn't understand what they're saying...
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I'm chinese by birth, but english is my first language at school, so I can speak, read and write english fairly well, whereas my own mother tongue is rather rusty, I can speak mandarin with no problem but I can't read or write as well. My partner is norwegian, so I have picked up the norwegian language. Better in writing than speaking or reading it. ^^P Most of the time, english is my most preferred language. ^^
Since I have seen so much anime shows in japanese, I felt I have learnt quite a few phrases and words and expressions. But it's hard to understand totally 100% without actually learning the language properly. ^^P I can't really speak a full sentence. I would love to learn japanese.
It's a beautiful language, the speaking sound .. whereas korean to me sounds abit harsh... like german ..or danish..hehe.. swedish sounds very nice too comparing to danish and norwegian. I used to like to learn french since it's sounded good to me, but it's not easy.
It's great to learn and understand new languages.....ahh....
I can understand ?3/4? cantonese but I can't speak it. Saw many HK drama during my youth...haha..
Since I have seen so much anime shows in japanese, I felt I have learnt quite a few phrases and words and expressions. But it's hard to understand totally 100% without actually learning the language properly. ^^P I can't really speak a full sentence. I would love to learn japanese.
It's a beautiful language, the speaking sound .. whereas korean to me sounds abit harsh... like german ..or danish..hehe.. swedish sounds very nice too comparing to danish and norwegian. I used to like to learn french since it's sounded good to me, but it's not easy.
It's great to learn and understand new languages.....ahh....
I can understand ?3/4? cantonese but I can't speak it. Saw many HK drama during my youth...haha..
nicebeet languages
English 99% - Growing up in the US makes you know less English than you should, if you know what I mean.
Cambodian - Uhhh... I can understand it fluently and repeat random phrases that my parents yell at me but it's weird that I can't carry on a conversation in it. It's my first language so I don't think I can ever forget it but I'm not that good in it.
French - Took like a million years of French in middle school and highschool but I can mostly read it and not understand it that well.
Korean - I know a little bit of Korean because I gew up babysitting some Korean kids. I think Korean would be easy for me to learn because I can verbally understand a lot of the words without translating them into English, which is what I'm trying to do with Japanese.
Japanese - I know how to read the Kana and understand some few catch phrases but hardly enough to watch doramas without subtitles but understand and speaking don't seem to be a problem. The hardest part is the written Kanji and grammer. OMG KANJI!!!
I think it would be a lot easier to learn a language if you try not to translate it everytime you use a word. When I was learning French I was always translating whatever into English because they're so similar so I don't think I learned it as well, but now that I'm learning Japanese I think it's easier and better way to learn if you don't rely on English as much and learn it using symbols more. I'm majoring in education so I have a lot of learning theories. LOL thanks for reading.
Cambodian - Uhhh... I can understand it fluently and repeat random phrases that my parents yell at me but it's weird that I can't carry on a conversation in it. It's my first language so I don't think I can ever forget it but I'm not that good in it.
French - Took like a million years of French in middle school and highschool but I can mostly read it and not understand it that well.
Korean - I know a little bit of Korean because I gew up babysitting some Korean kids. I think Korean would be easy for me to learn because I can verbally understand a lot of the words without translating them into English, which is what I'm trying to do with Japanese.
Japanese - I know how to read the Kana and understand some few catch phrases but hardly enough to watch doramas without subtitles but understand and speaking don't seem to be a problem. The hardest part is the written Kanji and grammer. OMG KANJI!!!
I think it would be a lot easier to learn a language if you try not to translate it everytime you use a word. When I was learning French I was always translating whatever into English because they're so similar so I don't think I learned it as well, but now that I'm learning Japanese I think it's easier and better way to learn if you don't rely on English as much and learn it using symbols more. I'm majoring in education so I have a lot of learning theories. LOL thanks for reading.
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I speak English, Korean, and Japanese. I might work on Chinese next, though I am a bit intimidated by the tones. I guess I will have to train my ears even better.
Last edited by eternalstar on Jan 1st, '07, 13:58, edited 1 time in total.
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