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The last language you would want to learn | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| Presidio Triglot Newbie United States Joined 4376 days ago 39 posts - 150 votes  Speaks: English*, Russian, German Studies: Spanish, Arabic (Gulf) | Message 313 of 346 09 July 2012 at 4:12pm | IP Logged |
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I would have to agree that Esperanto would be at the bottom of my list.
It isn't the language itself so much as the speakers of that language. When I first mentioned a possible interest in learning that language, several people who spoke the language were very kind and helpful and offered me free materials and suggestions. But the more time I spent with them, the more I saw their enthusiasm pass into zealotry. They spoke of how this would eventually become the one "true" language that would replace English as the world's Lingua Franca. They spoke of it becoming the one language eventually used at the UN, the EU, and even the Olympics. They felt that classes in this language should become mandatory in order to help "speed the transition" and ensure fluency to more people in more places around the world. They felt that parts of the UN budget, as well as individual nation's budgets should be set aside for this purpose. I was smart enough to stay silent until one of them brought out the claim that is is easier to go anywhere in the world and get by with Esperanto than with any other language because so many people speak it worldwide. I was silly enough to make the mistake of actually questioning that claim. I pointed out that if their claim of 2 Million speakers worldwide is correct, then even if every single one of those 2 million is fluent in the language, the odds of finding one that speaks it in the majority of cities around the world - let alone being willing to accompany you all day every day in your travels - is still unlikely, at best. I was immediately branded an 'elitist' and 'heretic' and accused of trying to subvert the language. I was 'disinvited' from several chats and told I am likely "too stupid to learn the language anyway." By the time all was said and done, I felt as though I had just escaped a cult. Yes, there were a number of wonderful people I met who spoke the language and were willing to help without requiring a secret handshake. But a large portion were people who did not tolerate questioning of their language, even as you were attempting to learn it. 8 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Medulin Tetraglot Senior Member Croatia Joined 4463 days ago 1199 posts - 2192 votes Speaks: Croatian*, English, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Norwegian, Hindi, Nepali | Message 314 of 346 09 July 2012 at 11:55pm | IP Logged |
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Arabic and Mandarin.
1 person has voted this message useful | |
| clumsy Octoglot Senior Member Poland lang-8.com/6715Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4973 days ago 1116 posts - 1367 votes Speaks: Polish*, English, Japanese, Korean, French, Mandarin, Italian, Vietnamese Studies: Spanish, Arabic (Written), Swedish Studies: Danish, Dari, Kirundi | Message 315 of 346 10 July 2012 at 1:15am | IP Logged |
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Some language which was made up by linguists.
Like something that is considered a language only by a few people. No offence. Like: 6 Marwari languages :S 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| zerrubabbel Senior Member United States Joined 4395 days ago 232 posts - 287 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese, Mandarin | Message 316 of 346 11 July 2012 at 12:18am | IP Logged |
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It depends on the reason... I feel like learning a dead language would be a total waste of my time because
there are no native speakers to talk to... Also, I'm not a big fan of languages that are heavily slurred sounding like French, though I have considered trying it, That's all my thoughts for now 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| 98789 Diglot Groupie Colombia Joined 4838 days ago 48 posts - 55 votes Speaks: Spanish*, English | Message 317 of 346 16 July 2012 at 2:01am | IP Logged |
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I can't pick just one, really I wouldn't learn:
*Indigenous languages *Dead (or almost) Languages Perhaps, I think I'd give a try to artificial languages (in fact, once I tried Esperanto). Yes, maybe those are not used in "real life" or don't have oficial status in any country, but I think that they may help you to familiarize with some rules/sounds/ideas from other languages. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| sipes23 Diglot Senior Member United States pluteopleno.com/wprs Joined 4665 days ago 134 posts - 235 votes Speaks: English*, Latin Studies: Spanish, Ancient Greek, Persian | Message 318 of 346 16 July 2012 at 7:58am | IP Logged |
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Of the natural languages, I've got no real interest in Korean. Hebrew, which people are always asking me when I'm
going to learn (ergh), and Swahili, which seems to crop up too often in linguistics examples, are also high on the no interest list. Of the Romance languages, French holds the least interest to me. Persian and Sanskrit high on the list that I want, but the materials are all so terrible for the way my brain works. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Rykketid Diglot Groupie Italy Joined 4628 days ago 88 posts - 146 votes Speaks: Italian*, English Studies: French | Message 319 of 346 16 July 2012 at 12:03pm | IP Logged |
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mmm, does Elvish count? I mean, it sounds cool but I think I'll never get to visit
Lothlorien :-P 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Jappy58 Bilingual Super Polyglot Senior Member United States Joined 4433 days ago 200 posts - 413 votes Speaks: Spanish*, Guarani*, Arabic (Levantine), Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Maghribi), Arabic (Written), French, English, Persian, Quechua, Portuguese Studies: Modern Hebrew | Message 320 of 346 16 July 2012 at 5:30pm | IP Logged |
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I have the least interest in conlangs, but I haven't completely scratched them out.
Other than that, I'd say languages that I'm very unlikely to use in all areas: speaking, reading, and writing, etc. If I can't have access to any form of the language outside of my studies, then I'm obviously not going to put the time into it. For example, I have an interest in Garifuna and Aymara, because I have at least a few friends who speak each of them, respectively, so despite the fact that Garifuna is a very small language, it doesn't matter to me. Edited by Jappy58 on 16 July 2012 at 5:31pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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