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I do wonder if there will be a universal language, and a blend of cultures.
in the very distant future. Or will it be just different as you say...
posted by
marieclaire66
on October 8, 2006 at 3:49 PM
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It won't always be this way..
the pendulum is swinging, and the power will shift. Another society may invent something the world can't live without, may become predominant. Another language may gain precedence. Not in our time. Such tectonic waves take more than a generation. But one day our ancestors may all speak some clear universal tongue and there will be no misunderstandings.
posted by
Pat_B
on October 8, 2006 at 9:55 AM
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I get your drift alright
all the way from Germany, I tried to communicate in German while I was in Hamburg, it was quite a mission, but we got a painful conversation going... if i had persevered i would be speaking it by now... but I am not bothered, since I don't need it. I make the effort if I have to, but I speak English for the most part. Good luck with your German.
posted by
marieclaire66
on October 7, 2006 at 6:58 PM
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ahh yes
Moving to germany I am realizing how difficult it must be for nonenglish speakers in america. Because yes, a lot of germans, especially the younger ones speak english. But when I go up to someone and they don't speak english I feel very stupid and foolish for not knowing german! So I can finally relate to it all! I want to learn german because its a beautiful language and since I am living in this country its only respectful! I shouldn't expect everyone to understand me! But you would be amazed at how many people here get offended if someone doesn't understand english! hello we are living in germany!!
Sorry if this didn't make any sense as I am tired tonight, LOL but I hope you get my drift.
posted by
Nitewriter
on October 7, 2006 at 6:53 PM
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Dear MarieClaire66,
I have just been commenting up a storm today, and this past week due to being sick with the flu. Now that I am starting to get back to my usual good health you come along. It's been such a terrible week in the world, your humor and presence would have been most appreciated.
It's nice to see you and your humor returned! 
posted by
Moxie_Maven
on October 7, 2006 at 12:05 AM
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Non
J'aime écouter et essayer de parler d'autres langues
posted by
Azur
on October 6, 2006 at 11:57 PM
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English Speakers
I think it is difficult for English speakers to learn other languages because we all brought up watching American films and listening to British or American music. Unless you live in one of the major cities you have very little exposure to other languages. I actually think most native English speakers are very tolerant of people learning English and unlike French we we don't put so much emphasis on accent,pronunciation etc. The general attitude is that along as what is said is understood everything is fine.
posted by
Triggy
on October 4, 2006 at 10:01 AM
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terpgirl, i like the analogy with the designer dress versus knowckoff.
something gets lost in translation: nothing beats the real thing, right?
posted by
marieclaire66
on October 3, 2006 at 6:02 PM
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I hope not. My son knows many languages at age 18. My daughter, 22,
watches movies in French and can get around quite well in Europe. This is all just another aspect of learning. There is so much more outside our borders. To translate things to English all the time is to lose the nuances of some things. You can translate words that describe something as "pretty," but if you describe it and understand it in the mother tongue, it is much closer to the subject. It's the difference between a designer dress and the knock off. Something really gets lost in the translation.
posted by
terpgirl30
on October 3, 2006 at 4:24 PM
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Mike, thanks for you very interesting information.
yes the Brits love France, but I am not sure the French are so hot about it. They quietly grumble but take the cash all the same. The spread of English is a relatively new phenomenon, you are right it is linked to the advance in travel, never thought of that. Thanks for the insight.
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 30, 2006 at 12:30 PM
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Air traffic controllers mam, I believe are the reason for the spread of the english language. Meaning pilots taking off and landing all had too learn a common spoken tongue. Imagine all the different languages of the world being spoken as planes converge on airports ? French was spoken in England along with Latin up until the printed word came about, so us english peasants could understand the Bible, which was wrote in latin or the French, still english as segments of French and German, Celt. I visit Spain at least four times a year, the good people of Spain tell me themselves, how pleased they are that the British take lessons in Spanish and are not afraid of speaking their Latin. The same in France, the prase coming from your French president himself, on the way, us British have adapted and enbraced France. Now that France as become our dream of lifestyle, more of us settling there. . . Then, place else. Thank you Marieclaire for my chance in comment. Mike
posted by
lionladroar
on September 30, 2006 at 5:01 AM
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No, I am not French. I am from Poland. I was visiting my friends in Paris
twice in early 80-tis and took 2 weeks vacation, traveling through France.This is all my knowing about France and French.
posted by
shypettite
on September 28, 2006 at 6:22 PM
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Shypetite, how interesting! you are doing very well, I think.
I read your profile, you don't say which part of Europe you come from, you would not happen to be French too??? (I just picked up some hitch-hikers the other day and they happened to be French, we had a wonderful time, they come from my area, such coincidence in life). It can be scary writing in another language, I still find it scary at times.
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 28, 2006 at 6:04 PM
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English is my second language. I moved to States a few years ago without
knowing single word in English. I didn't have time and opportunity to learn this language in school, so I learned from tv, from people around me, from books, all by myself. I still don't speak "proper "English, but I have no problems with communication with others. Something more happend to me... one day I decided to try to write a poetry in English. It just happened - that I feel the tension to express in this language. I never wrote any poem in my native language.I am far from thinking about myself as a poet, but this experience is something , what I will never be able to understand.
posted by
shypettite
on September 28, 2006 at 4:18 PM
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Moxie, I have an uncanny sense of humour, or at least uncanny timing!
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 27, 2006 at 1:44 AM
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Oh wow, Marieclaire66,
If you haven't read my posting on Chinese you don't know what you just said. If you have read it, then you have a great sense of humor!
posted by
Moxie_Maven
on September 27, 2006 at 12:55 AM
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Moxie, you might have more luck with Chinese!
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 27, 2006 at 12:46 AM
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It's all in good fun, Marieclaire66!
My name is 99% of the time misspelled unless someone has a relative with the same name as mine. Even when I spell it out for them distinctly rarely is it acknowledged. Guess I must be speaking Chinese!
posted by
Moxie_Maven
on September 26, 2006 at 11:36 PM
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avant-guarde, it is okay no offence taken,
I cannot hide under a bushell in case I get hurt... such is life. Looks like you have your hands full, you are forgiven for not learning French then.
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 26, 2006 at 11:19 PM
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marie
I have a book on learning French. I'm enamored with it. But, alas, I fell in love, got married, and starting having babies. My apologies for the insensitive topic for the day.
posted by
avant-garde
on September 26, 2006 at 4:50 PM
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OOOOPs I am sooo sorry Moxie Maven!
I hope I got it right this time. If it is any consolation, people butcher my name almost every day! Go in peace.
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 26, 2006 at 4:39 PM
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Dear Marieclaire66,
It's moXie_maven. I will aloow you to butcher any language, but PLEASE do not butcher my name!
posted by
Moxie_Maven
on September 26, 2006 at 4:02 PM
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Movie Maven, your attempts will always be much appreciated!
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 26, 2006 at 2:05 PM
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Some of us do have the consideration
to attempt other languages and bridge the barriers of communication in doing so. Unfortunately instead of appreciating the joy of opening those doors, many people do not consider the opportunities they are passing up.
posted by
Moxie_Maven
on September 26, 2006 at 7:52 AM
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true, English speakers don't have a clue about subjunctive.
Most don't know about their own language let alone anything else. As a kid, we were all taught formal grammar, there is no other way of being able to write French properly. You cannot pick it up as you go along, it is a myth, but English speakers seem to think they can get away with it. I have heard some say, I can speak it so why bother?
posted by
marieclaire66
on September 26, 2006 at 4:46 AM
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in all my years teaching English....
I've noticed the ultimate paradox: when it comes to teaching English the approach is strictly all in English without lapsing into the mother tongue, but God forbid a native speaker of English tries to learn a foreign language...all they look for is the comparisons of the learned language structure to English! I've seen many a native English speaker sweat when learning the subjunctive in a Romance language or the cases in German....
Honestly....to have any understanding of language in general, I'd do what has been going on for years in most European countries: make Latin compulsory in school again.
posted by
NewYorker_in_Sicily
on September 26, 2006 at 3:11 AM
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