How many languages do you know?

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How many languages do you know (and which ones)?

I am learning three languages (Russian, Italian, and Spanish), and I was wondering if anyone here knows more than one language other than their native language.

I'm currently learning French (got too I live in France now).
Many years ago I studied Russian and Sanskrit but am very rusty on them now.

Languages are much easier to learn when you are younger, so if anyone has the inclination to learn a new language better to start as young as possible.

If computer languages count too I can add lots more to the list

Fluently:

English (my first language) and French

Conversationally:

ASL, Cantonese

Rudiments:

German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Spanish, Italian and Portugese

In addition I am fluent in Latin, and have a good working knowledge of Quenya and Sindarin (Tolkein's Elven languages)

Last edited by visagrunt on 06 Nov 2009, 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I speak English natively and am just starting to lean German for GCSE, and am trying to learn a programming language (python) I also speak very bad French

My native language (english).
I did know some French from school but I've forgotten it all now

I know four languages;

Norwegian

Swedish

Danish

English

......... And some German, I learned it at school, I would probable learn German easier than English if I studied it more anyway.

Last edited by bdhkhsfgk on 06 Nov 2009, 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

My native language is Dutch and to be honest I really love my own language but I tend to speak (and surely writing it) a tad pedantic and formal in Dutch. I'd be a rich bloke if I counted the times people said 'what do you say?'/ 'what?' and get a € in the process. (never mind)

I also love English but bizarrely my ability to use it properly goes in tidal waves. Do not know what causes this but at times it frustrates the heck out of me. Reading it in a book, here on WP (other sites or fora) and hearing it on TV, in a song isn't really the problem but writing or speaking English sometimes really is. My Dutch brain is in the way or something and acts sort of stubborn.

I know a little German but that's not really a big achievement. I understand what Germans say (my older sister lives in Germany and TV also) but the same with English.. reproducing it myself.. well, not always that easy.

The German and Dutch language are quite closely related. More even so than English and Dutch and maybe that's part of the trouble I have at times language wise. When there are small differences one is more lightly to mix up things, I think.

French is a beautiful language also but a real tough one to conquer having a old German language based brain-wiring. I studied it for a couple of years (20 years ago) and to be honest again (a thing I do) I cannot say I can speak or understand French in a way I could get around easily there. Due to a few members here I got my French school books out of the box I kept them and started to read them (a little) again.

When I started learning French some Russian words kept popping out of my mouth - that really confused the French people. At the time it was like my brain had two categories: "English" and "Foreign". Now it seems the French has pushed most of the Russian out of my brain.

Good for you (Fr. pushed Rus. out) and you're a brave man (plus loved one) moving to France (at your age also ) and started learning the French language. You said something about learning a foreign language at a young age being quite a bit easier than doing so being mature and that is right as rain, I think. (goes for learning things in general, I suppose).

At the age of 4/5/6/7 I repeatedly said (to my parents and sisters in particular) after being on Summer holiday there those years (1974-77), one day I emigrate to France and.... (?), live there.

Point is, here? Um, two categories, (Dutch and foreign, for me), yeah, I understand what you mean and that's not really a negative thing I think. T. Attwood, a man who I have high regard towards, said that aspergers moving abroad and try living in a culture not native to their own, could turn out to be a well working thing. 'Faux pas'' socially are forgiven easily and little clumsiness in that area isn't perceived as.... as bad in ones native(?) born country.

~einde~end~ende~fin~. (off)

Currently only English (my native is "British English", although I also know "American English"), but I'm also learning Spanish.

Yes, I think that is generally true. I'm sure the French just think "Oh, he's English!" he doesn't know any better! It also gives me a reason for not talking a lot sometimes. Though I do find it a bigger strain to make small talk in French. It is bad enough in English, so thinking of things to talk about in French is worse. Thankfully my French neighbour can talk for the French national team and can go on and on and on - and I keep nodding and smiling not understanding half of what he is saying at high speed. Sometimes I get it wrong though "somebody has been run over with a car" and I'm there smiling saying "Bon, bon".

I'm interested in Etymology (the origins of words) and through that I have a little knowledge of
various languages,although the only one I could hold a basic conversation in would be French.
I started learning Russian,because I found the aspect of having a completely different alphabet
was something that broadened the mind.

Thanks for replies so far.

TallyMan, I know what you mean about having two categories in your brain (English/Foreign). It was like that for me at first, but now I seem to have separate categories for each language, so I don't have that problem anymore.

My main problem has been that I get obsessed with learning one particular language (generally the one I started learning most recently) so I don't spend much time on the other languages, but I have solved that problem by studying a different language on each day of the week (two days a week on each language, and one day revising all three).

Another question for people: does anyone else sometimes have dreams in foreign languages? I do, because I study languages so much, often just before bed, so sometimes I wake up in the morning with my head full of foreign words and phrases, it's quite awesome.

Yes sometimes. I've started thinking to a certain extent in French too now. I remember when that first happened when I was learning Russian, it was quite a strange feeling observing a Russian phrase pass spontaneously through my mind.

One, American. I can read German, but don't speak it or understand it very well.

I know two languages. English and Cockney Rhyming Slang.