Linguistics

 

Anyone here speak Italian? Figg, you do, right? I've wanted to learn it for ages, and now I think I'm going to get my "ass in gear" as the fjordian expression goes (I thought about German as well since that's more useful, but Italian is just way cooler, and beautiful as well. German isn't, no offense ). I've found a really good website that I'm going to use in combination with music and tv shows, and simple books when I reach a certain level. Would love to discuss grammar and all that with people here if anyone speaks it. Or better yet, if anyone feels like learning Italian, join me

I am actually learning Italian

Nice! Are you taking classes, or just doing it by yourself? I thought about taking a course or something, but those are so slow. I'll learn the grammar and a decent amount of words by myself, then go to Italy for a couple of weeks or three and practise a little. I just got to remind myself to stick with it in the beginning.

There's a class here, the only class that has nothing to do with music (well apart from being the language they use in music, like notations in sheet-music and opera lyrics)

Nice school My progess will probably be slow, got both work and other studies to focus on as well, but I really want to learn this language, so I'll do my best to stick with it

Ciao. Come stai? Va bene, non?

Ecco quoi?

That's about it though.

I would love to learn Italian at some point, but I think time, or at least time and energy, might be a bit short in supply at the moment.

But best of luck to the both of you. Would be interesting to hear how you get on.

I dont think Id want to learn Italian, I mean bad enough having to learn another language (whats wrong with the traditional British method of just speaking very slowly and ever more loudly at johnny-foreigner until they do what you want?) but learning Italian, its not just the words, you need to learn all the hand gestures too and when and when not in conversation you are supposed to touch your own bollocks. Its too complicated

Ringdrotten wrote:Nice school My progess will probably be slow, got both work and other studies to focus on as well, but I really want to learn this language, so I'll do my best to stick with it

i know, very nice school  we have just started with the basic, "who's she" "I am" etc. but over the autumn break we had to make a dialogue where we order a hotel room in italian

Buengiorno, vorrei prenotare una camera per questo fine settimana.

Buengiorno, vorrei prenotare una camera per questo fine settimana.

I have no idea what that means, but you appear to be asking for a hotel room with a camera! Students today!

Pettytyrant101 wrote:I dont think Id want to learn Italian, I mean bad enough having to learn another language (whats wrong with the traditional British method of just speaking very slowly and ever more loudly at johnny-foreigner until they do what you want?) but learning Italian, its not just the words, you need to learn all the hand gestures too and when and when not in conversation you are supposed to touch your own bollocks. Its too complicated

But i don't have any bollocks..

Ah well, there you see is where you dffer from an Italian lady {{{well I can cross Italy off my list of places to visit now!}}}}

Don't they give you some ornamental ones for the purpose of the class?

well yes of course.

Ah, I was kind of hoping you would say no. So I could say something to the effect of, you obviously don't need bollocks to talk italian then.

I think we're fortunate, Petty, that we get to learn a second language very early and become somewhat fluent in at least English. I'm not sure you know what you're missing out on - being able to talk to a person from a different country in his or her own language is a lot of fun, and if you're half decent at it they'll love you for it (until they find out you're a dick, that is ). Learning other languages is one of the most rewarding things I've done (though I know only two besides Norwegian) - for instance, if I hadn't learned English I wouldn't be here telling you how great all this is

until they find out you're a dick, that is - Ringdrotten

Oh I think you fill find that s one thing I can successfully convey without the need for other languages, often within minutes.


for instance, if I hadn't learned English I wouldn't be here telling you how great all this is- Ringdrotten

Yes well you see thats rather the point when you are brought up in Britain. So you bloody should learn English if you want to have a sensible conversation. I have no need of other languages because foreigners should all have to learn English. Its this attitude, plus a bloody huge empire to enforce it on, that has made English the international language and language of the global internet.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:Yes well you see thats rather the point when you are brought up in Britain. So you bloody should learn English if you want to have a sensible conversation. I have no need of other languages because foreigners should all have to learn English. Its this attitude, plus a bloody huge empire to enforce it on, that has made English the international language and language of the global internet.

Pretty sure the Internet part is because Americans invented the Internet and most of its core infrastructure was owned by the US government until very recently.

Yes but you only speak English because Britian went over there, civilised the place with some trains and a post office or two and killed all the non english speakers or forced them to work in casinos and serve us dry martinis and gin and tonic. So we still count that as one of ours. You lot are just the family youngsters that grows up to be a stroppy teen and keeps getting in fights.

Don't forget that we're also footing your nursing home bill and visiting you every once in a while out of sympathy (though why we bother I can't imagine).

Its because secretly and deep down every American pines for a Monarchy

Pettytyrant101 wrote:

Yes well you see thats rather the point when you are brought up in Britain. So you bloody should learn English if you want to have a sensible conversation. I have no need of other languages because foreigners should all have to learn English. Its this attitude, plus a bloody huge empire to enforce it on, that has made English the international language and language of the global internet.

And luckily that seems to be changing -

(...) It's a type of primary school lesson which may become more common across England, as changes to the curriculum make foreign languages compulsory across key stage two. From 2014 onwards, students aged seven to 11 will be required to reach a high standard of written and spoken communication in one of seven languages, including: French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, Latin and Greek.

http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/may/15/languages-primary-schools-2014

The rest can keep their attitudes

It wont work, the attitude is too ingrained, I did French, German and Latin in school (the last just in case I meet the Doctor and time travel!) and all I can remember to do is ask where the pub is, count (got to keep an eye on the sporran in foreign parts! They cant be trusted you know ) and how to swear for when I find out the pub is closed or for when I see the prices.

This is different, though  - most fjordians do either French or German (or Spanish) as well, but not until 8th-9th grade, and only a few of those actually bother to learn to read and write, let alone speak those languages. English we learn from we're six, and even though there's a lot of variation in how well people know it, the vast majority knows enough to get around. If British children begin learning a second language from the age of seven, I'm sure you'll see similar results. Of course, our advantage is that the internet and most of the shows on TV are in English, so we're exposed to it to a much higher degree. Still, it's definitely a step in the right direction, and it'll be interesting to see the results in 10-20 years from now. Offering Chinese is brilliant, the ones that pick Chinese and actually learn it will be fluent in two of the three most spoken languages in the world. That's not a bad combination

Well, some theorize that the language of the future will be a english mandorin hybrid. So at least they'll make a good start at that.