Some of us can speak multiple languages. Do you find them useful when you go around the world? Do you find whereas other people have a language barrier, you do not have one?
2007-08-09 23:54:28 · 12 answers · asked by Adrian X 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Definitely. Even a really basic knowledge of other languages is better than nothing. I can speak Afrikaans, which is based on Dutch. So I could guess my way through basic conversations in Germany, and could make myself understood (although I sounded like a child) in Dutch.
Even if you don't speak multiple languages, learning basics like 'please', 'thank you', 'excuse me' and 'do you speak English' in the language of they country you're visiting can take you a long way. People see you're making an effort, and they help you rather than being rude to you. Even in France, people were willing to be nice to me if I approached them with "Pardon, monsieur, parlez-vous Anglais?", whereas they ignored people who said (at top of voice) "SCUUUSE ME, WHERE'S the BATHROOM? WHAT, can't anyone TALK around here?"
2007-08-10 00:10:48 · answer #1 · answered by Marie Antoinette 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Learning a language is very liberating. There is a saying that "you live a lifetime for every language you learn...If you only learn one language, you only live once."
Of course, when you learn a language that is spoken by a lot of people, it allows you to get around. Before I learned Mandarin, Chinese people seemed to me very alien and different. Not a little unscrutable. Becoming fluent in their language, step by step the alienness disappears. And finally with time, they come to be familiar and totally comfortable to be around. Then you realize that truly, all peopIe are the same inside.
2007-08-10 08:14:54 · answer #2 · answered by Jean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is correct. I can communicate with other people whereas the rest cannot.
In one of my jobs we had once a French lady who spoke no english. I was the only one who could translate. The rest of the people kept talking in english, but no use. They seemed to think that if they kept talking in english the lady eventually would understand them, but she didn't.
The curious thing is that in the usa most people consider a waste of time learning another language
2007-08-10 16:02:40 · answer #3 · answered by nadie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It helps a lot, but only in countries which use the languages I know (sigh).
I think it also makes you more aware than other languages and people have different rules from yours, and helps you understand more easily what the other one is saying because you are not limited to your own language.
2007-08-10 08:58:54 · answer #4 · answered by Cabal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely. Apart from talking to girls in other languages, a good knowledge of a couple of European languages plus more than a smattering of several others has helped secure me senior positions with companies having a pan-European interest. I'm now a consultant and couldn't do my work effectively without having acquired these linguistic skills.
2007-08-10 07:18:50 · answer #5 · answered by JJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It helps out a lot in communicating, learning & building human networks & social skills internationally.
Being well versed in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, basic Hindu & Tamil, besides basic French & Japanese - I get the best from both East & West.
Most ppl. in my country, Malaysia can speak in min. 2 languages. Many can understand Chinese dialects although didn't study it professional in schools.
2007-08-10 07:23:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately I haven't been able to travel outside Australia, but I do find being bilingual in English and Auslan to be most useful. In fact, if I wasn't, I wouldn't be sitting here at this computer. My partner is half Deaf, and wouldn't have gone out with me in the first place if I couldn't sign.
2007-08-10 07:00:27 · answer #7 · answered by Rosie_0801 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To know languages means to know different cultures. Yes, it is worth learning languages. Did not I know English I would have never been able to experience, learn and explore as much as I have been lucky to do in my life.
2007-08-16 13:58:21 · answer #8 · answered by Alina M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah course! i speak spanish(still leanring) french(still learning) english(fluently) and irish(fluently)
and im taking up sign language soon because i love being able to communicate to other people through different ways, i want to base my career on this because its interesting and fun! and probably the most useful thing you could learn for a foreign country!
good question :)
xoxoxo
2007-08-10 07:04:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just for the record, it's not multilinguist, but multilingual.
Linguist is someone who studies linguistics, and there's not a word "multilinguist".
2007-08-10 14:38:41 · answer #10 · answered by Earthling 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋