Chaotic Coffee Klatch (tea also available)

[Lindi37]

Who said your favourites must be ones that you speak?

True!
Although any language other than English is fascinating to me.

 

[Dunes_et_Soleil]

For me the ones I use have become... Too everyday stuff.
My favourite might thus be Italy, which I definitely don't speak.

In general, I like Italians more. Even when they don't speak any English and my Italian is really.... bad. We usually find some sort of common ground or understanding.
English is not my native tongue and that actually helps.

 

[Strixaluco]

In general, I like Italians more. Even when they don't speak any English and my Italian is really.... bad. We usually find some sort of common ground or understanding.
English is not my native tongue and that actually helps.

English is the 3rd language I learned (counting my native one as 1st), and the 2nd in terms of how much I use.
If I learned any Italian, it would be my 6th language to study. Unfortunately I've forgotten Russian, so I only speak 4 nowadays.

And frankly I'd love to speak German and Spanish as well. Just because they are majors languages in Europe as well. I don't have enough energy to invest in that, though.

 

[Cindy027]

I was born into Swenglish and only learnt proper Swedish when I started school. My father couldn’t speak the language (imported from Boston), he does okayish now. He is fluent in French as my grandparents were French Canadian so I learnt French at school. I used to speak to my dad in French and my mom in Swedish when I didn’t want the other to know what I was asking for. Other than that I was a delightful child

 

[Strixaluco]

I was born into Swenglish and only learnt proper Swedish when I started school. My father couldn’t speak the language (imported from Boston), he does okayish now. He is fluent in French as my grandparents where French Canadian so I learnt French at school. I used to speak to my dad in French and my mom in Swedish when I didn’t want the other to know what I was asking for. Other than that I was a delightful child

So we have 3 languages in common. I learned Swedish in school and in hobbies.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Ooh! Languages!
20 years ago I was nearly fluent in German. Now I can probably get by, but it'd be in very halting, awkward conversations with terrible grammar. I've forgotten all the French I knew. Same with Russian. Although learning Russian grammar did help when it came time to learn Koine Greek - they're not closely related languages, but some of the structures are similar. Hebrew was its own beast, though. Nothing helped with Hebrew. But for all of those languages I just know enough of the grammar to make sense of the writing if I sit down with a dictionary.

 

[Thom_the_gleeman]

Ooh! Languages!
20 years ago I was nearly fluent in German. Now I can probably get by, but it'd be in very halting, awkward conversations with terrible grammar. I've forgotten all the French I knew. Same with Russian. Although learning Russian grammar did help when it came time to learn Koine Greek - they're not closely related languages, but some of the structures are similar. Hebrew was its own beast, though. Nothing helped with Hebrew. But for all of those languages I just know enough of the grammar to make sense of the writing if I sit down with a dictionary.

It is terrible how much of a language one can forget, isn't it. I listed my German as "good" on my last resume. I just got back from a trip to Germany and I might have to revise that... I can still read it fine... but speaking it is a whole different matter.
Love,
Thom

 

[Strixaluco]

You known my English skills. I can do well in Swedish, and my French is still enough to read newspapers though speaking is a challenge. And then of course I excel in my native language.

But if I learned more languages now, I'd be happy with tourist level skills.

 

[Strixaluco]

It is terrible how much of a language one can forget, isn't it. I listed my German as "good" on my last resume. I just got back from a trip to Germany and I might have to revise that... I can still read it fine... but speaking it is a whole different matter.
Love,
Thom

It would come back if you needed to use it extensively.

 

[LustfulIntentions2]

True!
Although any language other than English is fascinating to me.

To be fair, English can be fascinating for how pointlessly difficult it is.

 

[Strixaluco]

To be fair, English can be fascinating for how pointlessly difficult it is.

The funny thing is, many don't even realise its difficulty. One reason is its omnipresence, but often those people have just not learned enough to come across how many competing logics it uses.

 

[Strixaluco]

And them people say French is so difficult. Well first of all it has pretty regular pronunciation... You see a new word written and you can deduce how it's pronounced. Doesn't apply to English (case ghoti).
It's just a bit different, and requires learning a different r-sound.

 

[Mrtenant]

Good morning.....coffee's on...(and apparently, so was I)

View attachment 2204763

 

[Cindy027]

It would come back if you needed to use it extensively.

This is why I always fly back to Sweden on Air France

 

[LustfulIntentions2]

The funny thing is, many don't even realise its difficulty. One reason is its omnipresence, but often those people have just not learned enough to come across how many competing logics it uses.

Well, and because they've never attempted to learn another language. I got to a marginally functional level of Spanish in HS, and I only got there because much of the logic is more straightforward

 

[rjr_1954]

Goodmorning Chaos:
Arrrrgghh! Morning and it's late for me!
Cold and snowing out. Need coffee!
I don't want to....

 

[rjr_1954]

Whispers back 'They are very good at pretending to be civilized '

As for the languages, which are your favourite ones? I would say, for me it is English and French. I like Italian too but haven't spoken that in years.

Is Scottish still english, I like their accents

 

[rjr_1954]

Good morning.....coffee's on...(and apparently, so was I)

View attachment 2204763

Well, Hello!

 

[Strixaluco]

Well, and because they've never attempted to learn another language. I got to a marginally functional level of Spanish in HS, and I only got there because much of the logic is more straightforward

Around here that doesn't apply. Our 2nd official language is obligatory in school. And Swedish is actually the easiest language I've studied! Once you learn the basics, becoming fluent doesn't take much more. Yet many claim English is easier... it isn't. It might be easy to get started with, but after that it's a hard climb upwards. It's just everywhere in TV and onlin unlike Swedish (and we use subtitles here, only kids get there programs dubbed).

 

[Cindy027]

And Swedish is actually the easiest language I've studied!

Yes, we are very accommodating.

 

[Strixaluco]

Yes, we are very accommodating.

The challenge is the different versions of Swedish. The one spoken here is different from rikssvenska. And Skåne... ouch. Even worse - some local dialects here, which omit at least half the consonants.

 

[Justadesperatewifeandmom]

Good morning.....coffee's on...(and apparently, so was I)

View attachment 2204763

suddenly I want coffee.

 

[LustfulIntentions2]

Around here that doesn't apply. Our 2nd official language is obligatory in school. And Swedish is actually the easiest language I've studied! Once you learn the basics, becoming fluent doesn't take much more. Yet many claim English is easier... it isn't. It might be easy to get started with, but after that it's a hard climb upwards. It's just everywhere in TV and onlin unlike Swedish (and we use subtitles here, only kids get there programs dubbed).

Lady, I'm American. The benefit being that we don't have to learn a damn thing (as though that's not obvious)

 

[lakesailer_mi]

Good morning everyone!
https://i.pinimg.com/222x/6f/55/9f/6f559f32bb5dc7e54be3e32825fa2a77.jpg

 

[lakesailer_mi]

Good morning.....coffee's on...(and apparently, so was I)

You can bring my coffee anytime!