Language Nerd Thread

[HopefulHeart]

Well here everyone learns Spanish, not French. 

That is my experience as well. For example, in this semester at my college, there are 23 Spanish classes being offered, but only 4 French classes. Spanish classes are apparently in higher demand.

 

I chose to study French because I like the language and, more importantly, because I believe it is significant to the study of literature, which is my chosen field.

Edited February 2, 2015 by HopefulHeart

[Amppax]

Behold how real Germans sound when they speak:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxEQdtKITa4

 

Their accents almost sound French, really.

 

Well, no, it sounds German, actually. :P 

[PhuturePriest]

Well, no, it sounds German, actually. :P

 

Yes. And the accents sound similar to French ones, which would make sense since France was founded by a German tribe known as the Franks.

[marigold]

I remember when I found out that Australian high schools taught Chinese, Malay, etc. It made sense because that's who you'd do business with, but me in my post-colonial safe haven of England, I'd assumed that everyone would just learn English or French, because we are the centre of the universe.

 

In the UK we've typically been given a choice of French, Spanish or German. I took the first two up to GCSE level (equivalent to high school diploma I think?). And nowadays more and more schools are offering Chinese...

 

*love this thread* :)

[Archaeology cat]

That is my experience as well. For example, in this semester at my college, there are 23 Spanish classes being offered, but only 4 French classes. Spanish classes are apparently in higher demand.

 

I chose to study French because I like the language and, more importantly, because I believe it is significant to the study of literature, which is my chosen field.

Awesome. My husband's PhD is in Francophone postcolonial literature (he's a Caribbeanist, focused on Damas)

[Archaeology cat]

I remember when I found out that Australian high schools taught Chinese, Malay, etc. It made sense because that's who you'd do business with, but me in my post-colonial safe haven of England, I'd assumed that everyone would just learn English or French, because we are the centre of the universe.

 

In the UK we've typically been given a choice of French, Spanish or German. I took the first two up to GCSE level (equivalent to high school diploma I think?). And nowadays more and more schools are offering Chinese...

 

*love this thread* :)

Makes sense that more are offering Chinese given that more of the unis are making partnerships with the Chinese. At least, Liverpool did, and I think others were doing that, right? 

[Nihil Obstat]

I have a feeling that in a generation or two Mandarin Chinese will be at least on par with English as the world commercial language.

[franciscanheart]

I've seen a lot of argument to the contrary, despite many assertions that it will.

[Nihil Obstat]

I've seen a lot of argument to the contrary, despite many assertions that it will.

:idontknow:

The Chinese economy is in a pretty unique position right now, as I understand it. It could go either way; either bust into a major depression that lasts for years - and probably take everyone else with it - or continue to grow massively then level off in a sustainable manner, being handily the largest national economy in the world.

Or, of course, somewhere in between.

Personally, I am just interested in being along for the ride.

 

Anyway, Mandarin is already the language with the largest number of native and total speakers. So just in terms of practicality, if China continues diversifying globally, people with Mandarin proficiency will have an easier time.

[HopefulHeart]

amesome. My husband's PhD is in Francophone postcolonial literature (he's a Caribbeanist, focused on Damas)

How fascinating! I am most interested in British literature, and many of those works contain traces of French language and culture. For example, the young girl for whom Jane Eyre is governess speaks only French.

[franciscanheart]

:idontknow:
The Chinese economy is in a pretty unique position right now, as I understand it. It could go either way; either bust into a major depression that lasts for years - and probably take everyone else with it - or continue to grow massively then level off in a sustainable manner, being handily the largest national economy in the world.
Or, of course, somewhere in between.
Personally, I am just interested in being along for the ride.
 
Anyway, Mandarin is already the language with the largest number of native and total speakers. So just in terms of practicality, if China continues diversifying globally, people with Mandarin proficiency will have an easier time.

The arguments I've heard don't necessarily dispute China becoming the leading world economy eventually but they do dispute the idea that Mandarin will become what English is now. I think the main point, if I remember correctly, was something to the effect of this:

No one who wasn't raised with Mandarin will ever be truly proficient in it. There are so many subtleties in tone that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn.

I would imagine a click language is just as difficult.

[Kateri89]

I should probably become proficient in English before I attempt to tackle other languages.

[Nihil Obstat]

The arguments I've heard don't necessarily dispute China becoming the leading world economy eventually but they do dispute the idea that Mandarin will become what English is now. I think the main point, if I remember correctly, was something to the effect of this:

No one who wasn't raised with Mandarin will ever be truly proficient in it. There are so many subtleties in tone that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn.

I would imagine a click language is just as difficult.

Frankly, I am not sure those people know what they are talking about.
Chinese is incredibly hard to write... but to speak? Meh. As hard as any language really. Some oddities, but in terms of basic proficiency in speaking I do not think many experts would consider it too brutal. Fluency obviously is much harder, but speaking proficiency is probably attainable with a reasonable effort.
Besides that, native speakers have trouble writing too. With the ubiquity of pinyin that does not necessarily have to be a major obstacle.
Just my beginner's perspective, plus what I have read from some Sinologists on Language Log.

[franciscanheart]

Frankly, I am not sure those people know what they are talking about.
Chinese is incredibly hard to write... but to speak? Meh. As hard as any language really. Some oddities, but in terms of basic proficiency in speaking I do not think many experts would consider it too brutal. Fluency obviously is much harder, but speaking proficiency is probably attainable with a reasonable effort.
Besides that, native speakers have trouble writing too. With the ubiquity of pinyin that does not necessarily have to be a major obstacle.
Just my beginner's perspective, plus what I have read from some Sinologists on Language Log.

I can't imagine that a language whose written version is difficult to master, even for native speakers, would become the leading world language. We may have to agree to disagree, especially since you want to dispute the validity of sources you do not know. (Yes, I know I have failed to provide them. They were qualified, I assure you -- certainly more than you or I -- but I cannot recall their names at present.)

[Nihil Obstat]

I can't imagine that a language whose written version is difficult to master, even for native speakers, would become the leading world language. We may have to agree to disagree, especially since you want to dispute the validity of sources you do not know. (Yes, I know I have failed to provide them. They were qualified, I assure you -- certainly more than you or I -- but I cannot recall their names at present.)

Like I said, just my perspective. Certainly not the hill I would like to die on. I simply find the whole subject very interesting, and happen to have a mild opinion of my own