How Many Languages Can You Speak?

[burn_baby_burn]

Talking to the students that work at Vimy Ridge 18 months ago, I was a little embarrassed that I only know one language. I explained that living in Western Canada you only need to know english. Lately I have been finding that another language would be useful in ordering fast food. I'm confused as what exactly that language should be.

[awildermode]

surprised Yeah_Baby does not speak Klingon

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Talking to the students that work at Vimy Ridge 18 months ago, I was a little embarrassed that I only know one language. I explained that living in Western Canada you only need to know english. Lately I have been finding that another language would be useful in ordering fast food. I'm confused as what exactly that language should be.

Tagalog

[jtfrogger]

Two: English & Ukrainian

I know a little bit of Spanish from travelling, but not enough to hold a conversation. It would be neat to take a Spanish course to learn it, since it wouldn't be too hard to get it to a conversational level. But in reality, I know that I am not likely to put in the effort to do so.

[Ozy_Flame]

English, basic French, conversational Japanese (self taught!)

[Rathji]

English, Java, C, Pascal, VB, Haskell, Prolog.

And many others that I only know 'ok'

[kenk-la]

English and Français. I speak very limited versions of Spanish and German, so I don't count those. I was trying to teach myself Finnish, but that turned out rather fail.

[Devils'Advocate]

I know some Dutch.

I can say "Do you want a cheese sandwich?" and "Wipe your muddy feet!!".

From that age of 2 until 5 I had a sitter from the Netherlands.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Tagalog

recently, i think you could add Mandarin to the list...

If North East Calgary: Hindi, Punjabi, Farsi

[Devils'Advocate]

The common joke with my friends from Europe:
Someone who speaks many languages: Multi-Lingual
Someone who speaks three languages: Tri-lingual
Someone who speaks two languages: Bi-Lingual
Someone who speaks one language: Anglophone

My french professors response:
Europeans are fond of saying that they can speak 5 languages. Now if they didn't speak them all at once, someone might be able to make out what they were saying.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

The common joke with my friends from Europe:
Someone who speaks many languages: Multi-Lingual
Someone who speaks three languages: Tri-lingual
Someone who speaks two languages: Bi-Lingual
Someone who speaks one language: Anglophone

My french professors response:
Europeans are fond of saying that they can speak 5 languages. Now if they didn't speak them all at once, someone might be able to make out what they were saying.

I thought that was what Dutch was. Speaking multiple languages at the same time with marbles in your mouth.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I'm fluent in English and Icelandic. My French is decent, not fantastic. I can ask where the bathroom is and order beer in German, so I didn't count that one.

What else do you need to know?

[worth]

I figure this is a decent place to ask this question:

Does anyone know the correct male and female pronunciation of "Canadian" in Egyptian Arabic?

I know American is Amrekee and Amrekia (not spelled properly) but that doesn't do me any good since I'm not American. I guess I can always say "mish Amrekee"

[PyramidsofMars]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Two - Arabic and english.

Same. I suck at the former, though.

[PyramidsofMars]

Originally Posted by worth

I figure this is a decent place to ask this question:

Does anyone know the correct male and female pronunciation of "Canadian" in Egyptian Arabic?

I know American is Amrekee and Amrekia (not spelled properly) but that doesn't do me any good since I'm not American. I guess I can always say "mish Amrekee"

Canadi, female: Canadia.

[Sylvanfan]

Well I can ask directions, order food and more or less get by in Spanish and Portugese, and used to speak okay French where I could talk to the people in France if they would slow down enough when they spoke to me. But realistically I only speak one language.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by kipperiggy

Just one. I took 3 years of French in Junior High but opted for Accounting 10 instead of French 10. Kinda wish I had taken it in high school, and that I had extra elective room now that I'm in uni, because I'd love to be bilingual.

I took three years of French in junior high and opted for Smoking 10 instead of French 10. In my experience, the people that took French for two hours a week in high school can speak French as well as I can -- not at all.

Maybe a uni course would improve that, but it seemed so half-assed in public school. Pick up a few phrases that, combined with an unintelligible accent, were meaningless (if not comical) to someone who actually speaks French, then forget them after the test.

Comment Apelle tu?
J'mapelle Gordie!

[worth]

Originally Posted by PyramidsofMars

Canadi, female: Canadia.

Pronunciation:

Can-a-di
and
Can-a-di-a?

[killer_carlson]

english and profanity (although with the kids around I use this one less and less)

[PyramidsofMars]

Originally Posted by worth

Pronunciation:

Can-a-di
and
Can-a-di-a?

yep