Living in NYC, I hear a lot of different languages spoken every day, from tourist groups crowding the subways, to people just chatting as I walk by on the subway.
Unfortunately, my own attempts at learning a new language have left me with those smatterings of voulez-vous and je sais pas that we like to throw into random conversation, thinking it might prove we’re cultured…or something. I took French in high school, and then figured, for some logic-defying reason, that it’d be a great idea to switch to a year of German in college. Brilliant, huh?
I’m impressed by those people who actually can engage speak fluently in other languages. That’s a skill I don’t think I’ll ever conquer (so, I adapt by writing fantasy books where I can make up my own freakin’ languages and no one can tell me I spelled asterlalalfuner wrong! My language. My rules.). Whether it’s through a year abroad, coming to the U.S. from another country, or growing up in a bilingual family, language skills awe me.
Ahem. Sorry. Anyways, all this to say that I was astounded to discover a new term–
This is a person who can speak six or more languages fluently.
The most accomplished hyperpolyglot is considered to be Harold Williams, a New Zealander who lived in the 1800s and is said to have known upwards of 98 languages and dialects. Holy crap. What else did this guy have room for in his head? Nowadays, Ziad Youssef Fazah is acclaimed for reading and understanding 58 languages, most of which he learned before the age of 20.
This boggles me. Boggles, I say. Does anyone out there speak another language, or two, or six? Please, let me know so I might be in awe of you as well. Oh, and does anyone write in another language? Writing is hard enough, but that would seem like quite the task.
I see that smile.
Veo esa sonrisa.
Je vois ce sourire.
Ich sehe dieses Lächeln.
Eu v esse sorriso.
Let’s put it this way. I can more or less read/translate another language or so. As for speaking, if you don’t use it, you lose it.
But I know a lot of badbad words in a number of languages.
Naughty words always seem to be the first thing people want to learn in another language. I wonder why that is…
We know some people who were signing up for a race (running) in Germany with some friends (one with a ditzy wife). When the (German) officials were asking her (the ditzy one) to fill out her paperwork she told them, “I don’t parlez-vous that.” Her friends told her that they were speaking German to which she replied, “Well, I don’t parlez-vous that either!” We love throwing that phrase around in our house! 🙂 I’m with you, make up your own language.
Lanny should make up his own language as he is continually making up words and using phrases the wrong way (i.e. it’s just a bridge under the water–Mr. Malaprop?). 🙂
A bridge under the water, hmm? For some reason, I like that twist of words. Maybe I’ll steal it sometime.
I’ve met someone who spoke English as a fourth language and who spoke it perfectly, with correct slang and without accent. I have a friend who speaks German (1st), Cantonese (2nd) and English (3rd) with only the faintest trace of accent or bumpy usage.
Me? I took French for years. Still suck at it.
Lim (aptitude for languages) -> 0
Unfortunately, there’s the idea that English is going to take over the world someday and become some prime language that everyone will have to speak. I hope that’s not true, but in the meantime it fosters the feeling that we don’t need to put the effort into learning other languages since people learn ours instead. Laziness and pride on our part, maybe?
I studied sign language for a year.
My instructor insistec we use what we learned too. So, I got into some interesting conversations with some deaf students at Galludet College–one even almost asked me out on a date and I was married at the time–but that is another story…
I think it is a beautiful language because it involves hands.
And, just as a reminder, you (and all your siblings) learned some basic sign language before you could talk. Milk. More. Come. Book. Cookie. Star. No. No. No.
That sort of thing.
As for me? This year I’m attempting to learn Latin, the most pretty and most dead language. I am also (unhappily) taking Spanish as part of a co-op. I only have six classes, though, so it shouldn’t take too long to forget. My favorite language, however, will always be English, the most efficient language on the planet.
~Always~
I can struggle through the sign-language alphabet at this point. Such a claim to fame.
You’re right about the English is the superiour language that wil rule the world myth…
“Laziness and pride on our part, maybe?”
So many other countries teach their children other languages at an early age which puts them at a huge advantage on so many levels. Many of the people we encountered in Germany spoke excellent English (even though they’d tell you they just know a little bit) and usually a few other languages as well. They not only spoke well, but they knew our grammar inside and out, something that I am ashamed to say I most certainly do not, even with a degree in English.
When we visited China, we saw their Kindergartners learn English and observed English words on their walls. The school children were so adorable, they’d run up to us to practice their English and would either be a chatter box or would be so shy as to blurt something nice out and run back to join their classmates.
The people of China were so kind and welcoming, inviting strangers into their schools. It was a wonderful experience, and I realized how differents American society is…what, you want to go in our schools, where are your credentials, who are you, what do you want and why, and please empty your pockets for the metal detectors. Not to mention the attitude our kids would have towards, “foreigners.” Anyway…
Well in Polish it’s “Widzie taki usmiech” 🙂
But the issue here is what is “fluent” in a language? You can learn thousands of words of a foreign language and then get tripped up by an idiom – are you fluent if you can order a beer, or discuss politics, history, your vacation – what?
English is quite easy to get into – a vocab of 5,000 words and basic grammar is enough for most non-native speakers (although it’s much more difficult at an advanced level), whereas with most languages you need to get all the grammar up front before you can say anything. I’m always suspicious when I hear that someone is “fluent” in a lot of languages – unless you live in that country and are immersed in the culture as well as the language, I don’t see how you can do much more than get by…