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What languages do you speak/want to learn?
DaftChris
Spiritually conflicted. Not of this world. Veteran
What languages, other than English, do you speak? If any?
I'm currently learning Spanish, which is no where near as hard as I remembered (my high school teacher was a nightmare) and I'm considering perhaps tackling Japanese or Korean after I get a good grasp on Spanish.
If you don't speak another language, which one(s) do you want to learn and why?
I'm currently learning Spanish, which is no where near as hard as I remembered (my high school teacher was a nightmare) and I'm considering perhaps tackling Japanese or Korean after I get a good grasp on Spanish.
If you don't speak another language, which one(s) do you want to learn and why?
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While living in Thailand I began taking Thai lessons. It was practical.
I'm learning Spanish, because it is practical and I find Spanish culture (particularly Mexico and Spain) to be absolutely wonderful. So much that I'm considering celebrating Los Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Day instead of Halloween.
As for Japanese or Korean, a part of it is (admittingly) because of Buddhism in those countries and the other is because of the large Asian population where I live. I want to know what they are saying!
I used to study languages just for the fun of it, not for any particular reason, but just to "collect" languages, and to pick 'em apart and see what made 'em tick. The more of them you learn, the easier it gets. I think you'll find any of the Asian languages sufficiently interesting and challenging. I'll only warn you, though, that with the visual component, the writing, you have to keep practicing after you're done with your study, in order to maintain the skill. Let it go for a year while you focus on other things, and it's gone, and you have to start over again painstakingly, re-learning all those characters, from Square One.
That was on what language would/could you learn as a Buddhist. This is just more of a generalized "what else do you speak or want to learn"?
And repetition on this site? Never...
Also, on my moving from language one the other:
Spanish is my current definite one. I'm going to gain some fluency in this one; even if it kills me.
The assortment of Asian languages are just my curiosity and interest trying to find one that resonates with me.
@DaftChris Well, that's good that you have a local population you might be able to practice with, when you learn a language. That's very practical. And I can relate to wanting to know what they're saying. I think that's natural, anytime you find yourself surrounded by speakers of another language. So go for it, and enjoy!
After learning the language, you MUST go to Romania! You'll be glad you did!
I've always loved languages, even when I was in school. I took Spanish for six years and was getting pretty good... but I never put it to any practical use. I started learning Japanese on my own in 11th grade, and took a class my senior year. I've studied on my own ever since... and 10 years later I'm still figuring things out. It was Japanese the brought me to Buddhism, and it's been very handy in the learning process. Though I do have to admit it plays a big role in my bias towards Japanese Buddhism, I know some of the language, and don't want to start over with another.
If it were possible I'd want to learn every language in the world.
Hmmm... maybe I'll dig it out and try again.
I would love to be fluent in Italian and Spanish. But I suspect I just don't have that special language skill gene that so many others have.
No worries. I've tried to learn, like, 15 languages since High school.
All of whom have been extremely unsuccessful.
Part of that sense might be due to the fact that many Mandarin broadcasts were thundering in from China proper; the uppity quality had more to do with it's being a preachy propaganda piece, I imagine. Taiwanese Mandarin broadcasts didn't strike us as all that snooty, for example, but the subject matter was also earthier (by far!), so maybe that was part of it. I've definitely heard mainland media, usually in a local dialect, that is also delightfully spunky! Check on the Tom & Jerry cartoons translated into Lanzhou dialect on Youtube, for starters!
I'm kind of with Tolkien on Finnish and Welsh being two of the most beautiful languages.
I really want to study Tibetan! There are some cool websites online, I think I'm gonna have to go out and find a class sometime soon..
Learning languages is really beautiful -- tune in to the sounds and song of a cultural group.. We are really not so different..
it's funny how many arguments can ensue just from birds with different plumage all singing the same song .. when to agree would be harmony
Also if you know Spanish you will understand a 40% of Portuguese,
I would love to learn Chinese.
I've been dying to learn Esperanto, especially because of how easy it is to learn compared to other languages that I've poked around with.
I'd also like to learn Italian. German or Arabic would be cool one day.
Sadly, I have to admit that I'll never be able to dedicate myself to any of the languages as I have serious issues with keeping myself on track and focused
The massive collection of audio and video conversations, from easy to difficult, at the Tibetan and Himalayan Library: http://www.thlib.org/avarch/mediaflowcat/project_tree.php
Kunleng TV broadcasts: http://www.voatibetanenglish.com/
RFA Tibetan broadcasts (now labeled by dialect--yay!) http://www.youtube.com/user/RFATibetan
Voice of Tibet broadcasts: http://www.vot.org/
Free podcasts (search iTunes store for "Tibetan"), multiple dialects
Great movies like The Cup (in Bhutanese, but very close to Tibetan)
Tibetan songs on YouTube such as the now-famous Shapale:
Tibetan movies on YouTube such as Unpredictable Life (full length):
I've found it's always good to saturate yourself with many different sources for a language--keeps things interesting, and the more of the language you get flowing into your ear, the better, even when you're not specifically "studying!"