What do y'all know? Anyone here bi-lingual? We know Mopper has it down. I suppose you Canucks know some French, ay? Anyone else?
I ask because it's become a 'completely out of nowhere' obsession of mine to learn a new language. Something really random.... Mandarin or Swahili or something out of the blue for a white-ass guy like myself.
My inspiration came from stumbling across this YouTube channel with a guy who can speak upwards of 50 languages and he just walks around and talks to people.... all people....As simple of a concept that is, it blew my mind.
If you have learned another language.... how? When? Tips? Etc!
Only other languages I know are ones I can control computers with.
But it seems to me that Chinese would be the language to learn. There's quite a lot of utility with that seeing how their country is so large and the US does so much trade with them. Not to mention their culture and tea and food absolutely my favorite.
But as far as languages go, even though programming is not a speaking language. All it took for me was to immerse myself in the language in the best way I could. So for programming obviously that means writing programs in that language. For you it could just be Rosetta Stone type situations where you listen to the language being spoken. Or if Denver has a China Town go talk to them haha
So far, I've grasped that, of the Asian languages, Chinese is the most similar to English grammatically.... the order of pronoun/verb/noun is at least the same.... which is easy...
The tones however...
Duolingo is a good free app.
All you really need to know is how to say 12 months in estonian.
https://youtu.be/aU6VBTGjYkk
Korean is probably the easiest language to learn. Chinese is tough. Hundreds of characters. Korean has 21 and they are all phonetic. They can only be pronounced one way. Think about how many ways we pronounce "ough." You can learn to read Korean in under an hour... you won't know what any of it means, but you can sound every word out.
Once you learn the alphabet the grammar is super simple. Verb is always last. Congigation is the same for every verb. Add a syllable for past tense. Same syllable no matter the verb. Super simple.
Then it's just a matter of memorizing vocabulary. Learning words.
After a year there i was conversational. I've lost most of the vocabulary in the ensuing 20 years. But I can still sound it out.
Hmmmm... where did you spend time again?
I definitely hear what you're saying. I started diggging into mandarin today and the
tonal subtleties are practically incomprehensible to me. The grammar, however, made sense.... but if you say Korean is easier perhaps I'll go that route.... I'm not completely foreign to that grammar form, I just figured a more similar form to English would be easiest.
What's more important to focus on.... learning a language or learning a language with proper accent?
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 28, 2018, 12:26:31 AM
Hmmmm... where did you spend time again?
I definitely hear what you're saying. I started diggging into mandarin today and the
tonal subtleties are practically incomprehensible to me. The grammar, however, made sense.... but if you say Korean is easier perhaps I'll go that route.... I'm not completely foreign to that grammar form, I just figured a more similar form to English would be easiest.
What's more important to focus on.... learning a language or learning a language with proper accent?
Yeah... Mandarin has 7 inflections... the ups and downs that make it sound so sing songy. Vietnamese has 4. Korean has none. Your voice goes up toward the end of a sentence to let the listener know you're asking a question. Sound familiar?
Japanese is very similar, but a bit more complex. 29 characters, I think? Plus most Japanese can read Chinese characters as well as Japanese characters. The Chinese alphabet is very rare in Korea.
The proper accent just comes from being around people speaking the language.
And I lived in Suwon... just south of Seoul
Very cool.
... and makes it even harder for me to decide which language to learn! You sure you're not just biased?! :sbw:
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 28, 2018, 12:51:42 AM
Very cool.
... and makes it even harder for me to decide which language to learn! You sure you're not just biased?! :sbw:
Learn Spanish.....you live in a bilingual country. Only a matter of time before it becomes an official language.
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 27, 2018, 10:40:31 PM
What do y'all know? Anyone here bi-lingual? We know Mopper has it down. I suppose you Canucks know some French, ay? Anyone else?
I ask because it's become a 'completely out of nowhere' obsession of mine to learn a new language. Something really random.... Mandarin or Swahili or something out of the blue for a white-ass guy like myself.
My inspiration came from stumbling across this YouTube channel with a guy who can speak upwards of 50 languages and he just walks around and talks to people.... all people....As simple of a concept that is, it blew my mind.
If you have learned another language.... how? When? Tips? Etc!
Tips? First dream in new language, then trip in the new language. Then cover Meatstick with new language.
Quote from: jam> on May 28, 2018, 11:21:48 AM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 27, 2018, 10:40:31 PM
What do y'all know? Anyone here bi-lingual? We know Mopper has it down. I suppose you Canucks know some French, ay? Anyone else?
I ask because it's become a 'completely out of nowhere' obsession of mine to learn a new language. Something really random.... Mandarin or Swahili or something out of the blue for a white-ass guy like myself.
My inspiration came from stumbling across this YouTube channel with a guy who can speak upwards of 50 languages and he just walks around and talks to people.... all people....As simple of a concept that is, it blew my mind.
If you have learned another language.... how? When? Tips? Etc!
Tips? First dream in new language, then trip in the new language. Then cover Meatstick with new language.
Actually, drinking with people who speak a foreign language is possibly the best teacher in the world.
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 27, 2018, 10:40:31 PM
If you have learned another language.... how? When? Tips? Etc!
I learned some German from dating an Austrian in College. My wife is tri-lingual from the Philippines(ie. Tagalog, Ilolongo(her dialect) and English). Music is the Universal language.
My s.o. is 50% German, so I rely on her when we visit the big bad neighbour in the East.
Only 23 million people or speak Dutch, so it''s no wonder that they teach English, French and German in high school. Some schools are thinking of offering Chinese as well.
I can order a beer in Bahasa Indonesia, Danish, Dutch (duh), English, French, Frysian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisian_languagesl), German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The rest of the world can understand sign language. Or just pointing and look thirsty.
Now that's the proper way to do languages
Quote from: Superfreakie on May 28, 2018, 11:08:48 AM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 28, 2018, 12:51:42 AM
Very cool.
... and makes it even harder for me to decide which language to learn! You sure you're not just biased?! :sbw:
Learn Spanish.....you live in a bilingual country. Only a matter of time before it becomes an official language.
Kind of a no-brainer living in Colorado, plus it will help you book that Mexican Jauntee tour. Also, it's pretty easy to pick up, completely phoenetic and you probably already know some conversational phrases from watching Cheech and Chong movies. :mrgreen:
Quote from: Superfreakie on May 28, 2018, 11:08:48 AM
Learn Spanish.....you live in a bilingual country. Only a matter of time before it becomes an official language.
Fun fact: there are no official languages in the US.
Quote from: mbw on May 28, 2018, 01:50:26 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on May 28, 2018, 11:08:48 AM
Learn Spanish.....you live in a bilingual country. Only a matter of time before it becomes an official language.
Fun fact: there are no official languages in the US.
Not for long!
Quote from: khalpin on May 28, 2018, 06:20:06 PM
Quote from: mbw on May 28, 2018, 01:50:26 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on May 28, 2018, 11:08:48 AM
Learn Spanish.....you live in a bilingual country. Only a matter of time before it becomes an official language.
Fun fact: there are no official languages in the US.
Not for long!
Seriously.
I'm fluent in French from studying in middle school through university and can get by in Spanish from travelling to various countries over the years. Spanish may be the most useful to you, given where you live.
For utility, as everyone has advised, Spanish is the way to go.
But another good reason to learn a language is because you find a particular culture fascinating. If you want to become truly fluent, you're going to want to spend some time in a country where they speak whatever language you're learning. So if you have little interest in ever going to Korea or in learning about Korean culture, maybe you shouldn't learn Korean (for example). Actually being enthused about a particular culture will make learning the language a lot more interesting.
yeah, Spanish is the obvious choice for utility but, as silly as it sounds, my reasoning for wanting to learn a new language really wasnt that. I guess I just wanted to do it.... for fun? To see if I could? A challenge I guess.
And furthermore, I think it has to do with a fascination of cultures that I'm so far removed from. I've been rolling with the Mandarin so far and it's been fun. I also started learning some Swahili because..... that just seemed hilarious to me if I were actually able to converse in Swahili some day.
Have you considered learning Klingon? I hear all the cool kids speak it.
I'm OK at Spanish. I can get by in most places but sometimes I get stuck. Not fully conversational by any means. Started practicing again with Rosetta Stone which is pretty good. I have all of the language packs and always thought it would be cool to try others but one thing at a time. There are like 25 in that program. My kids speak Spanish and Japanese pretty well and getting better every day. They have both every day at school. It's crazy to hear my 11 year old start going off in Japanese.
Quote from: Caravan2001 on May 31, 2018, 02:52:54 PM
I'm OK at Spanish. I can get by in most places but sometimes I get stuck. Not fully conversational by any means. Started practicing again with Rosetta Stone which is pretty good. I have all of the language packs and always thought it would be cool to try others but one thing at a time. There are like 25 in that program. My kids speak Spanish and Japanese pretty well and getting better every day. They have both every day at school. It's crazy to hear my 11 year old start going off in Japanese.
I have a few SE Portland friends whose kids are going to a school with Japanese language and culture as part of the program. Sounds cool.
Here's to hoping the next Jauntee album is totally in Swahili!
:beers:
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on May 30, 2018, 05:09:06 PM
yeah, Spanish is the obvious choice for utility but, as silly as it sounds, my reasoning for wanting to learn a new language really wasnt that. I guess I just wanted to do it.... for fun? To see if I could? A challenge I guess.
And furthermore, I think it has to do with a fascination of cultures that I'm so far removed from. I've been rolling with the Mandarin so far and it's been fun. I also started learning some Swahili because..... that just seemed hilarious to me if I were actually able to converse in Swahili some day.
Mrs. SF took Swahili in school. Passed a fluency test
Quote from: jam> on May 31, 2018, 06:13:46 PM
Quote from: Caravan2001 on May 31, 2018, 02:52:54 PM
I'm OK at Spanish. I can get by in most places but sometimes I get stuck. Not fully conversational by any means. Started practicing again with Rosetta Stone which is pretty good. I have all of the language packs and always thought it would be cool to try others but one thing at a time. There are like 25 in that program. My kids speak Spanish and Japanese pretty well and getting better every day. They have both every day at school. It's crazy to hear my 11 year old start going off in Japanese.
I have a few SE Portland friends whose kids are going to a school with Japanese language and culture as part of the program. Sounds cool.
Could be my school, if it's a Waldorf school.
Alright, so pretty much f*ck Mandarin. I threw in the white flag. The tonal pronunciation is insanely difficult to grasp. The difference in vowel pronounciation is so subtle yet so important. Fail.
On the other hand.... I've been crushin' that Swahili! Even have been speaking it in my dreams almost nightly. The grammar is tougher, but the pronounciation is all phonetic so I actually can say the words.
Currently working on 'smack talk' to teach Aug so he can yell obscenities at the Kenyans as they pass him by!
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on June 10, 2018, 05:17:52 PM
Currently working on 'smack talk' to teach Aug so he can yell obscenities at the Kenyans as they pass him by!
:hereitisyousentimentalbastard
Quote from: khalpin on June 10, 2018, 06:22:11 PM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on June 10, 2018, 05:17:52 PM
Currently working on 'smack talk' to teach Aug so he can yell obscenities at the Kenyans as they pass him by!
:hereitisyousentimentalbastard
like he'll be near any Kenyans.
Quote from: birdman on June 10, 2018, 06:35:34 PM
Quote from: khalpin on June 10, 2018, 06:22:11 PM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on June 10, 2018, 05:17:52 PM
Currently working on 'smack talk' to teach Aug so he can yell obscenities at the Kenyans as they pass him by!
:hereitisyousentimentalbastard
like he'll be near any Kenyans.
There's gotta be at least "the slowest person in Kenya" who will start behind him....
Birdman and WTU are the slowest runners on the paug.
Let that soak in.
Quote from: August on June 10, 2018, 06:50:49 PM
Birdman and WTU are the slowest runners on the paug.
Let that soak in.
You have to first "run" to be labeled a "runner". I will not participate in such outlandish suffering.
Quote from: birdman on June 10, 2018, 08:21:11 PM
Quote from: August on June 10, 2018, 06:50:49 PM
Birdman and WTU are the slowest runners on the paug.
Let that soak in.
You have to first "run" to be labeled a "runner". I will not participate in such outlandish suffering.
Leave BM out of this! :crazy:
Bump! Unlike running, I haven't given up on learning languages!
I've been concentrating on TWI (what is spoken in Ghana) as of recently, but still have the biggest vocab of Swahili. I just came to realize it's extremely rare to come across Swahili speakers. There seems to be Ghanaians all over the place however!
I've also dabbled in Wolof (spoken in Senegal) Amharic (spoken in Ethiopia) and a bit of Somali.....it's been a blast and the most I've used my brain in years. I've been going around to African markets/stores etc. while on tour and making a fool of myself trying to talk to people. Most are shocked and elated, some indiffernt, and a few annoyed/offended. It's been a worthy journey I plan to keep at!
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 25, 2018, 08:50:48 PM
Bump! Unlike running, I haven't given up on learning languages!
I've been concentrating on TWI (what is spoken in Ghana) as of recently, but still have the biggest vocab of Swahili. I just came to realize it's extremely rare to come across Swahili speakers. There seems to be Ghanaians all over the place however!
I've also dabbled in Wolof (spoken in Senegal) Amharic (spoken in Ethiopia) and a bit of Somali.....it's been a blast and the most I've used my brain in years. I've been going around to African markets/stores etc. while on tour and making a fool of myself trying to talk to people. Most are shocked and elated, some indiffernt, and a few annoyed/offended. It's been a worthy journey I plan to keep at!
So the same response you get at jauntee shows to your music.
ba dum ching! :hereitisyousentimentalbastard
Quote from: gah on October 26, 2018, 09:15:58 AM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 25, 2018, 08:50:48 PM
Bump! Unlike running, I haven't given up on learning languages!
I've been concentrating on TWI (what is spoken in Ghana) as of recently, but still have the biggest vocab of Swahili. I just came to realize it's extremely rare to come across Swahili speakers. There seems to be Ghanaians all over the place however!
I've also dabbled in Wolof (spoken in Senegal) Amharic (spoken in Ethiopia) and a bit of Somali.....it's been a blast and the most I've used my brain in years. I've been going around to African markets/stores etc. while on tour and making a fool of myself trying to talk to people. Most are shocked and elated, some indiffernt, and a few annoyed/offended. It's been a worthy journey I plan to keep at!
So the same response you get at jauntee shows to your music.
ba dum ching! :hereitisyousentimentalbastard
:sbw:
Quote from: birdman on October 26, 2018, 10:15:50 AM
Quote from: gah on October 26, 2018, 09:15:58 AM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 25, 2018, 08:50:48 PM
Bump! Unlike running, I haven't given up on learning languages!
I've been concentrating on TWI (what is spoken in Ghana) as of recently, but still have the biggest vocab of Swahili. I just came to realize it's extremely rare to come across Swahili speakers. There seems to be Ghanaians all over the place however!
I've also dabbled in Wolof (spoken in Senegal) Amharic (spoken in Ethiopia) and a bit of Somali.....it's been a blast and the most I've used my brain in years. I've been going around to African markets/stores etc. while on tour and making a fool of myself trying to talk to people. Most are shocked and elated, some indiffernt, and a few annoyed/offended. It's been a worthy journey I plan to keep at!
So the same response you get at jauntee shows to your music.
ba dum ching! :hereitisyousentimentalbastard
:sbw:
I'm pretty sure The Jauntee could fill MSG 13 nights in a row w/ people who have seen us and were annoyed by the music.
I've tried to figure out a bit of Amharic due to the fact we stayed over there for a few months.
It's a beautiful language but not an easy task to say the least.
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on October 26, 2018, 11:31:38 AM
I've tried to figure out a bit of Amharic due to the fact we stayed over there for a few months.
It's a beautiful language but not an easy task to say the least.
So hard. Amharic and Somali are way more complicated than the other three I mentioned. The grammar is tough, but as an english speaker, the pronunciation is even tougher. Lots of odd, guttural, throaty sounds.