Do you speak more than one language? If so, how have you been rewarded?

Question

Also curious if you consider fluent knowledge of "trade" vocabulary (for example medical, scientific, or computer programming language) to be proficiency in another "language". Finally, where do you live?

Answer 1

until you speak at least one other language you never realise how subtly your native tongue colours how you think and even what opinions you have.

there is a latin poem by horace where he explains that 'each new language is a new soul'.

this is how it feels. my first language is english, and i am conscious how english that makes me (even though i am welsh). my partner speaks welsh at home (including to me sometimes) and i understand welsh just enough to see how that makes her magically different from me - distanced yet entrancing.

when i am in africa i am able to speak french when that is appropriate. until you have listened to how french speakers speak to each other, you will never understand them.

because i read latin i can hear the voices of great people who died two thousand years ago.

it was only when i learned greek that i discovered what Jesus really says in the new testament (you would never guess if you read only the king james travesty).

people learn everything we know through languages, and you will never truly know another person until you speak with them in theirs.

Answer 2

I speak English, Polish, French and German at least very well, and at least some of a lot more(1) (not necessarily even human :> - ever tried to tell a stray cat 'NO!' in 'human talk'? Won't work. So that's been one of my rewards for knowing how to say 'Get the h*** out of here RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!!' in cat - keeping them out of my apartment).

But on a more serious note, I lost track ages ago of how many people I wouldn't have gotten to know if I didn't speak their native language. Furthermore, I now make a living as a translator. I would not call knowledge of just trade-specific language complete fluency - if I had such a situation and had to put it down on a resume, I'd probably say "field-specific" or "trade-specific" etc. [language].

Answer 3

I speak French, and my wife and I just had a phenomenal first anniversary in Paris in part because of it. I also know bits of Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Parsi Gujarati, Chadian Arabic, Koine Greek, and Biblical Hebrew. Those last two obviously help me appreciate literary texts in their original idiom. I enjoy Latin culture and the fact that I can appreciate the lyrics of (some) music in Spanish when I hear it.

Aside from travel, texts, and music, though, it's just great to be able to relate to people of different cultures here where I live in the US (California). I think being in some small way multicultural enriches my life in ways that are hard to quantify.

As for your other question, I think certain "trades" are in a way a culture unto themselves, so in that sense learning their vocabulary enables you to experience a slice of life that you wouldn't otherwise have any interaction with. For instance, I grew up with no knowledge of construction but happen to be in construction management now and I know the lingo decently well. I can now talk to a lot of people on a level I couldn't before. I personally don't think it's quite as rewarding as an actual non-English language, though.

Answer 4

I am fluent in Spanish and English with no accents on either language. The way that i am rewarded is with self gratitude knowing that i can help others. A smile on a persons face when i break a language barrier is reward good enough for me.

Answer 5

English, some rusty German, a little bit of French, Spanish, Latin. I have a little better ability to read the last three. I can often get the gist of written Italian and Dutch, although I don't have any real ability with them. Have picked up a few words of Hindi, Japanese (mostly relating to food). One interesting result is that I can play pool online with someone from Germany and carry on a reasonable conversation with them in his language. I'm from west of New York.

Answer 6

I had learned to speak spanish way back in school. It has been rewarding when working with some primarly spanish speaking co-workers, as well as when traveling to Mexico. Being able to have at least a reasonable dialogue with the local folks gives much greater depth to the experience than expecting them to know english. Live near seattle

Answer 7

Well, I used to be decently fluent in Spanish, then I took latin, and now sometimes I wind up speaking an amalgamation of both, guess I'd call it "splatin". Most people just look at me cross-eyed. However, I would consider a 350 point raise on my SATs post-latin to be quite a reward. And I live in Raleigh, NC

Answer 8

i speak English, and also in the Heavenly Language,

this is called by Christians, Speaking in Tongues.

it is the gift and ability that God gives you to speak in the language of the Spirit of God, that nobody but God understands unless you recieve the gift of interperetation...it is used for spiritual warfare and to pray stiff that only God and you can know.

Speaking in Tongues also allows you to speak other languages that you never learned, if you need to, so that you can communicate with people that you may not have been able to without this gift...

so i can actually speak every language in the world, but only by the grace and will of God.

Speaking in Tongues, the Heavenly language, is awesome!

How have i been rewarded? the language is a gift of its own..the victories and wisdom that follows it are a bonus too!

im from Australia

Answer 9

I speak English and Spanish fluently. Ive lived in Texas and Puerto Rico. As far as being rewarded for it, well you make tons of friends and grow acceptance and interest for other cultures plus in my experience you can get a job faster than those who only speak one language.

Answer 10

I can speak 4 lanuages, I've been rewarded with stisfaction, knowing that I have learned beyond what I was taught grwoing up. I'm about to learn my 5th language next year, and it's nice to know that not that many people can talk about you right in your face, without understanding. I live in PA...in the US.