languages

[Violinschlüssel]

your country is very beautiful, Violinschlüssel.

Thanx! I'm flattered!

[Sybarite]

I'm afraid that the English are awful at other languages – it's partly because English is so widely spoken, but also (in my opinion) indicative of the island mentality and what I'll describe as 'Little Englander mentality' that exists here.

We don't teach languages well either.

I studied French for seven years and German for two at school, but was an absolute linguistic disaster zone. Personally, I don't think that my father's considered opinion that, since we were English we shouldn't have to learn any other langauges – especially German, 'cos we won the war, didn't help, as it implied that such things were not important.

In recent years, I have studied German and can read quite a bit and speak a little (though I don't get much practise and am not confident). When visiting Spain and France, I have managed to muddle through in boh those languages and, even in Amsterdam, where most of the residents speak immaculate English, I make the effort to speak a little Dutch. It always helps – indeed, when people discover that you're English and you're making an effort, it helps a lot!

[methodistgirl]

Via Con Dios-May God Bless!
America is also known for different languages such as spanish, english,
french, Italian, and even Hebrew. Brauch Ba Sham Adoni! Trans, Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord. I just know a phrase or two
from each. I'm not that good at any of the languages from Sweden,
Finland, or Demark.
Judy tooley

[toejamfootball]

Via Con Dios-May God Bless!
America is also known for different languages such as spanish, english,
french, Italian, and even Hebrew. Brauch Ba Sham Adoni! Trans, Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord. I just know a phrase or two
from each. I'm not that good at any of the languages from Sweden,
Finland, or Demark.
Judy tooley

lol, reminds me of Monsignor Martinez from King of the Hill, he is a priest that kills people, he says Via Con Dios before he does it.

Anyways I only speak American English...

[Krummhorn]

I took two years of German in high school as part of the requirements (then) for music majors. I would be totally lost in conversational German today, except for a couple words ... like Bach ... and ... Volkswagen

As musicians though, we do tend to translate several languages fairly easily in the music scores we play, direct or just read.

[oisfetz]

A slight correction; Its'n "Via con Dios", but "Vaya con Dios". Spanish "via" is way,road,passage. An also railway.
Vaya, is the present imperative of the verb "ir",= to go.
So, "vaya con Dios" means go with God, a good wish.
And another slight correction; IMHO England didn't win
the war;they loose the Empire and end on total banckruptcy. So,she was one of the loosers.The URSS and USA were the only winners.