How many languages do you speak or would like to speak?

Question

I've also heard that if you learn Latin it is the gateway to a myriad of other languages. Do any multiligual people concur?

Answer 1

You are right about thelati language. The rest comes easy. I am trying to learn spanish myself.

I speak hindi and malay. Hindi helps me with the r pronounciation. It is harder for a native english speaker to pick up languages coz they probably will have a very thick accent and have to work harder to properly pronounce words.

Answer 2

I speak English and French. I studied Italian for three years, but now can only barely read it. My German is coming along, but I would like to improve it.
I haven't studied Latin, but overall I'd concur. A lot of the vocabulary in French, Italian, Spanish (and English) etc. comes from Latin, and its grammar has some elements in common with German, among others. However, I would say that studying ANY second language can be a gateway to a third, because you just come to appreciate how many differences and similarities there can be in languages. Studying linguistics is even better! (I've learned bits about Japanese, Chinese, Somali, Turkish, Swahili in various linguistics classes.)

Answer 3

I speak German (native), English, (European) Portuguese, French, Spanish, a bit of Polish, and I am learning Arab.
I had several years of Latin; my advice: Don't waste your time with it, get started with the living languages you want to speak instead of struggling with a dead one. The similarities between Latin and the other Romance Languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian etc.) exist only in terms of vocabulary. Each of the modern languages of latin origin has a very distinct phonological system which you have to learn.

Answer 4

I speak French, English, some German, a little Spanish, and took some Russian classes.

I also took Latin in college, and it does help a LOT! Mostly with grammar. Many languages (like German and Russian) still use declination cases like they did in Latin (Accusative, Nominative, Genitive, etc.) When you've learned them in one language, you can easily use that knowledge in all other languages that use that as well. I know it made German and Russian much easier to learn for me.

Answer 5

I speak English and German, my French is coming along and I'm learning Spanish. I've also taught myself the Korean alphabet, some of the Arabic alprabet and how to read/write in old German script. I'd like to learn Chinese and Arabic also.

Answer 6

I speak English, but I understand a lot of Portuguese and French.

Answer 7

I speak english and korean. I am learning spanish in school and i'm learing japanese by myself. I want to be fluent in those languages.

Answer 8

yes, i agree. Latin is a wonderful tool, specially in grammar.
but it's painful to study it...trust me..(unless u study it superficially only)
i speak 5. and right now, it would be useful to learn Korean, coz i cant order food if i cant read what's there, and want to improve my japanese.

Answer 9

I'm fluent in two languages and now, I'm studying Japanese. I certainly want to learn more, especially Español and Francais. XD

Answer 10

i speak two, spanish and english, i would like to learn french