Which foreign language would you like to speak?

Question

I only speak English but I'd love to speak French

Answer 1

Chinese, it has such a rich history. French is a beautiful sounding language though.

Answer 2

I seem to have an uncanny ability to pick up languages quite easily. The only language I tried to learn and could not was the local language of Sardinia, SARDO. In my travels in the U.S. Navy, I've picked up Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian, some Arabic, Turkish, Russian, Swahili, and Cantonese. I already knew Spanish and some French. Oddly enough where ever I was, if I made and attempt to speak the local language, I ALWAYS was treated better and the locals helped me with the language, EXCEPT the French. I've been to Toulon, and Nice/Villefranche-sur-Mer. They said they could not understand me. I often had to resort to speaking Italian. However, when I was in Tunis, Tunisia and Mauritius, I had no problem being understood with my poor French. In fact, a shop keeper in Tunis thought I was Italian because I spoke French with an Itaian accent. I learned Russian from a Russian scientist I was stationed with in Antarctica and the first Russian I met a few years later knew my teacher had been a Ukranian from MY accent. I learned Spanish from some Puerto Rican kids near where I lived and through 4 years of Spanish in school (I had a Castillian Spaniard, a Puerto Rican, a Cuban and a Mexican for teachers). I was learning Cantonese while working with the Taiwan navy in 94 and 99-00. But like anything, if you don't use it, you lose it and I've forgotten much of what I learned. My grandmother taught me Finn as a boy. My parents would not teach me Finn and did not speak it around me. I guess if I could concentrate on ONE language, RUSSIAN would be the choice. It is as difficult to learn as is English is by one who does not speak English as a main language. I find Italian to be a beautiful, expressive language and love speaking it and hearing it spoken. To hear Chinese (in particular Mandarin) spoken softly by a woman is so erotic. Even when I can't understand a word. I know, I'm weird. hehe

Answer 3

My kids and I are learning Esperanto. We use it every day, and believe it or not, Esperanto represents the best chance for the survival of the multitude of dying languages since it's purpose is to forestall the monopoly of any one National tongue to the disadvantage of another.
Consider if you will, Esperanto is an easily learnt AUXILIARY language. This means that myself and that French fellow over there needn't sink a lot of time and effort into learning each others mother tongue, where whose ever tongue we settle to communicate in will hold the advantage in any discussions; since the likelihood of having a mastery of the second language will be remote at best. Each partner has exerted a similar effort in order to communicate; a linguisticly neutral hand shake if you will. Yet we are still free to talk in our mother tongues when and where we choose.
Further, I am now in a position to visit just about every country in the world and with the help of my new found Esperanto speaking friend (2 million plus) learn of his / her culture and language. This second facet is possible because in learning Esperanto I now have a firmer grip on linguistic principles. I will provide a link below on the benefits of learning tertiary languages after Esperanto.
However, if it is Culture you desire, then you've no need to look much further than the Internet. In music there are Folk, Jazz, Opera, Rock, Hip Hop, Rap, childrens' songs, etc. In literature there is multinational translations plus original works. The yearly Esperanto Congresses are a play ground for young and old alike for interaction.
The error it seems that most people make, is the assumption that a focus on one area or language will detract from other areas. Although it may be true to a point, it is extremely unlikely to effect an area to the point of destruction. There are simply too many people in the world to allow that to happen. None of this precludes learning another language.
Conversely, nobody would feel forced to learn it, especially if they've no desire to leave their comfort zone.
The fact is that like it or not, it's use is expanding exponentially. The last educated guess puts the number of functionally fluent speakers at 2 million plus and another 2,000 native speakers (those that were born to an Esperanto household; yes they exist).
Yet many feel almost threatened by it, which is the last intention of the Esperantistoj (ehs-pehr-ahn-TEES-toy). It is simply a tool to allow those that might otherwise struggle to learn a new language, the option of expanding their horizons.
Finally, there is currently $600 million plus a year being spent on translation services at the UN, and a similar amount in the EU, because no one nationality wants to loose the prestige of owning one of the 'working' languages in each of those institutions. This a huge waste of resources that might otherwise go to feeding and housing those less fortunate. A single working language, easily learnt (less than a year to become fluent) would certainly go along way towards that goal. The Universal Esperanto Asociation (UEA) currently holds observer status (class B) at the UN and UNESCO. So there is some movement towards this goal.
Research and draw your own conclusions.

Gxis!

Answer 4

Japanese, it looks so interesting. Someone told me it doesn't have an alphabet.... I don't know if that's true.

I've been learning German at school for the last 5 years, I'm doing it for AS at the moment (if that means anything to you), and I really love the language. I'm hoping to be able to speak it a lot better in the future, I might even consider moving to Germany, I went there last year and it's beautiful.

I'm also planning on starting Sign Language classes if I can find one to go to. Never mind talking to foreign people, I think they ought to have sign language as an option in schools. OK, you couldn't have a written exam on it, but we have Speaking and Listening as parts of our German exams, that would work to an extent.

Answer 5

I speak Arabic, English and un peu French. I would love to speak Latin, or Italian or German. Or Portugeese.... In fact all Romanic Languages, and Korean.

Answer 6

I currently speak Italian, English and Dutch, but I'd love to learn Swedish or Danish.

Answer 7

Russian ... although I live in England, about 20% of the town's population speak Russian. They try to speak in English, but I'd love to be able to communicate with them in their mother tongue

Answer 8

Portuguese

Answer 9

I do speak some french although it is very rusty, but I would love to learn Gaelic or even some native american langages.

Answer 10

Depending on where in Europe I am, I feel that speaking Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Russian or blackish would often be useful.