What language would you like to learn most?

Question

And why did you choose that certain language? For me, I'm planning to make Italian as my third language (After Bahasa Melayu and English) because I've always been fascinated with the country, the culture and so on. How about you?

Answer 1

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 Spanish 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 2

Some parents truly think so... "Do you think my kid will be able to translate for us when we go on a cruise to Mexico?", "I want my son to study Spanish so that he can take our business on llamas"..... (1) Most of the times, students take a modern language just to get the credits so that they can go to a pretigious college. Period. I am not saying that this was your case, but this is what happens in every day life. I am from Spain, I teach PAP Spanish in Texas and many of my students take my class to get those extra points. Now, do they speak in Spanish with their other school mates (either Hispanic or non-Hispanic ones) after class? No. Do they watch Spanish TV programs? No. Do they read in Spanish regularly? No. Do they NEED Spanish for life (asking for directions, going shopping, buying medicines)? Of course not. If we watch a movie, I know they will ask me, "Do we have to watch it in Spanish?". If I explain something in Spanish, I will get to hear , "IN ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!" (2) A very low percentage will be truly interested in learning the language. I keep on running into my students in different places around town and they are unable to follow a basic, simple conversation. Awesome kids, great grades, but poor oral skills. Which leads me to the fact that as they are not immersed in the language all day long, being in class for 50-55 minutes is not going to make them bilingual. When I was at university, we had to communicate in English all the time (no excuse), so much so that even professors expected that after school hours, on the train back home...... (3) Take the example of Hispanic kids in the US, for example. They are surrounded by the language all the time, except maybe at home: school, friends, stores, doctor; they even translate for parents at an early age...they really need to learn the language for life; thence, there is a real purpose. And very often, they have to learn it quick too if they want to pass their exams and get promoted for the next year. So yes, I agree with you. The first time I traveled abroad I stayed with an English family for a year. Did I choose a big city? Not really! I wanted to be isolated and far away from any possible Spanish speaking person in order to LIVE in English and to really know how much English I knew.... and let me tell you I'd rather prefer being abroad for just a month rather than practicing verb conjugations at school for a whole year.

Answer 3

Spanish as #1 because my abuelo speaks Spanish and I want to communicate with him in his native tounge instead of english! Also so many people speak spanish instead of english contrary to popular belief! Then I don't know there are so many languages, hmmm mabe i would learn Esperanto like that man was talking about or Chinese or Japaniese. I definatley want to learn Italian or French or Portuguese after Spanish if I ever become fluent!

Answer 4

I would love to learn RUSSIAN. It sounds so rich and cultured. I think it is one of the oldest European languages around. And don't be surprised if European's forefathers had spoken it before being Germanized or Latinized during the wars of the middle ages.

Answer 5

Bonjorno I am a Sri Lankan and lived in Italy for few years and learn the language, but I prefer English to learn.

Answer 6

I know Spanish (my first language) then English, then French, then Japanese, then Arabic, then Dialect, then Portuguese, then Turkish, then Russian, then dutch, then Estonian, then Finnish, then Swedish and also i can do sign language pretty well.

so I would like to speak Armenian so I could communicate with my aunt.

Answer 7

I would like to get my French perfected. I grew up with a mix of French and English so some of what I say is not comprehended by a true Frenchman. Then I would like to learn Spanish.

Answer 8

I'd like to learn Japanese. I've always been fascinated with the country and I'm beginning to like anime.

Answer 9

Italian. I speak English and Spanish (fluent) but Italian, i've taken classes and it's very similar to Spanish.

Answer 10

Japanese!
Because I just love the country and culture too! :)

Then I'd want to learn Mandarin Chinese.

And then Korean.

Plus...I listen to music in all of those languages...so it would help me understand the songs I listen to. lol