Thread: How many Languages can you speak Fluently or a Little?

Originally Posted by david44

I am still struggling learning written Euskara

You spelt English wrong.

Originally Posted by david44

I was functionally illiterate

I can believe that.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Have you ever posted without demonstrating your abject stupidity?

He has and does . . . you, on the other hand . . . nah.

First language is Doric, second English..

I learned German for 4 years in School and aced the exam (went in drunk for that one) but I struggle with it since learning Thai to a convenient level.

Originally Posted by david44

I've a diminishing grasp of reality.
Like Simon I grew amongst linguists learning French, Latin , Nederlands, Vlaams,English,Irish, Welsh ,Italian HochKraut nearly all forgotton

I learnt but don't recall much very minimal survival Awabakal, Dutch ,Flemish, Scandihooligan, Mandarin, Yiddish, Czech,, Classical Greek(only useful in far reaching sceances) Old Prussian and Thai , tho Lao a mystery still but a mix of Franglais Mandarin and Thai seems to get by.Luckily like so many other aspects a quick brsush up by a pert teacher brings it back to life.

While in situ because of 12 years Latin I found Castellano, Gallego Catala and Castellano easy (but not understanding Cubanos nor Colombianos who speak at coke speed)

I was fluent in English French, Continental Portuguese and almost identical Gallego and MuhlerviertleralmAustrian dialekt but according to my wife and confirmed by cunning linguists here I speak manly Bollox and oh of course Langue de Boeuf

Fortunately after years in places I was functionally illiterate Myanmar, China, UAE, KSA, Qatar I find if you smile a lot and are nice to people you can get by, they just assume you have Mongolism,what I believe Mongols call simplified Yank's syndrome. I am still struggling learning written Euskara, Thai but Bahasa seems a doddle and when in Indo all comes back , a knowledge of Malay and Dutch helps.

For those with free time it is never too late, however just as I would not have a circumcision from a butcher, or buy smuggled pork pies from a defrocked rabbi I do not advice learning Thai from your wife unless she is also a linguist, she will find plenty of other chances to correct you , while you may seek a teacher nilly willy.

As they say in my ancestors brogue Zuberoaka Euskara (Souletine Basque)

Inki Minki

Darf het Thanon se levar tu encontre In'shalla'

Never a dull moment, david.
I know what you mean though, if you don't use it you lose it.

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

First language is Doric, second English..

I learned German for 4 years in School and aced the exam (went in drunk for that one) but I struggle with it since learning Thai to a convenient level.

I'm not familiar with Doric? lol
Kudos as German and Thai aren't easy languages. I know some Thai phrases that's about it.

Languages . . . sybill will go into a spin at someone 'knowing' a language other than their mother tongue.

Fluent - German, French, English, Dutch
Working knowledge - Spanish (used to be fluent but have forgotten far too much)
Basic - Bahasa Melayu, Italian
Learning - Te Reo Maōri
Want to learn - Italian to fluency level

Not many of these were learned, rather absorbed 'osmosis' through living 'there.

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

I wish that I would have studied some languages more in depth and at university in certain countries

I node the vealing. It's hard, no really paying way through college I did it Amweigh

Rugrats I've dad a few, two phoo to Mansion.

That was my Old Man's funeral song.

^Class, for sure.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Languages . . . sybill will go into a spin at someone 'knowing' a language other than their mother tongue.

Fluent - German, French, English, Dutch
Working knowledge - Spanish (used to be fluent but have forgotten far too much)
Basic - Bahasa Melayu, Italian
Learning - Te Reo Maōri
Want to learn - Italian to fluency level

Not many of these were learned, rather absorbed 'osmosis' through living 'there.

Dutch and Malay? You must have a massive motivation (and a fondness) for language learning to learn those.

Two of the easiest countries in the world to get by in as long as you speaka da English.

I suppose the Italian should come quite easily too now with your command of French and Spanish.

Fair play to you.

I'm dabbling a bit with Portuguese (which to my ear sounds like Sean Connery speaking Spanish with a Russian accent, lol).

Originally Posted by happynz

I'm dabbling a bit with Portuguese (which to my ear sounds like Sean Connery speaking Spanish with a Russian accent, lol).

Easy peasy for you though, I imagine?

Originally Posted by happynz

I'm dabbling a bit with Portuguese (which to my ear sounds like Sean Connery speaking Spanish with a Russian accent, lol).

555 first time for me i overheard it i thought initially they were east european

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Dutch and Malay? You must have a massive motivation (and a fondness) for language learning to learn those.

Two of the easiest countries in the world to get by in as long as you speaka da English.
.

Both are easy languages

I speak 5 languages. Farsi, Urdu, English, Thai, Isan

Originally Posted by panama hat

Learning - Te Reo Maōri

That must be difficult?

I know a bit of Mohawk as I worked with Mohawk natives for a year.

Originally Posted by happynz

I'm dabbling a bit with Portuguese (which to my ear sounds like Sean Connery speaking Spanish with a Russian accent, lol).

Cool.. are you in Brazil?
Is it similar to Spanish? I often teach English to Brazilians and they say they can understand quite a bit of Spanish.

Originally Posted by Arman Ahmedi

I speak 5 languages. Farsi, Urdu, English, Thai, Isan

Isan, is that different from Thai? lol
Welcome!

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Isan, is that different from Thai? lol
Welcome!

Yes. :facepalm:

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Cool.. are you in Brazil?

Have you ever heard of Portugal?

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Isan, is that different from Thai? lol

I can understand your ignorance, but the lol really affirms it.

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Isan, is that different from Thai? lol

There are several different languages and dialects spoke in Isan. The main language is Laos but they write it in Thai, which screws up google translate.... Our area speaks mainly Laos in the village and Thai at school or on official business. My wife's mother and her relatives (not far from Na Wa) speak "Soh", which is quite rarely spoken and confuses the hell out of me. Moving South East to Surin, I think they speak a Cambodian dialect in some areas but others, from the area, will confirm. There are also a few villages on the way to Sakon Nakhon that speak a Vietnamese dialect because a lot of Viet soldiers used to go there for a rest during the war.

Originally Posted by Troy

There are several different languages and dialects spoke in Isan. The main language is Laos but they write it in Thai, which screws up google translate.... Our area speaks mainly Laos in the village and Thai at school or on official business. My wife's mother and her relatives (not far from Na Wa) speak "Soh", which is quite rarely spoken and confuses the hell out of me. Moving South East to Surin, I think they speak a Cambodian dialect in some areas but others, from the area, will confirm. There are also a few villages on the way to Sakon Nakhon that speak a Vietnamese dialect because a lot of Viet soldiers used to go there for a rest during the war.

It is truly interesting, thanks Troy. I assumed Thai, but I did do a google search after I wrote it to check and there are different dialects spoken up there in Isan. I've never been to Issan.

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

It is truly interesting, thanks Troy. I assumed Thai, but I did do a google search after I wrote it to check and there are different dialects spoken up there in Isan. I've never been to Issan.

Yet you lived and worked in Thailand for how long?

Come down South, different language again - Southern Thai.

Lop leun, kot haw - Going home, with takeaway (not food)

North and South can generally only communicate with The King's Thai AKA Central Thai AKA Bangkok Thai.