Greetings in Foreign Languages

Alban Berg

Banned
German, easy?

I have been told that German is the easiest language to learn. Also the most important if you are going to study languages generally, or read the classics. Any comments from anyone?

teddy

Enschuldiegen see!

False. this language has femenin "things", masculin "things" and neutral "things" and DECLENSIONS as latin and Russian...Plurals are always femenin...It is very difficult.

Classical like Goethe? I hate him! His Faust was a nightmare, his Werther a IIX century tragedy with a very bad ending (the guy kills himself)...Schiller, is boring for me! Of course, this is my OPINION.

Danke schön

Martin
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
I have been told that German is the easiest language to learn. Also the most important if you are going to study languages generally, or read the classics. Any comments from anyone?

teddy

Yeh I did German at school it was not hard but I think Latin is a good one to have under your belt, I also did Russian for 4-5 years but unlike riding a bike you soon get out of practice when you have not used them for a long time.
 

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
I hate German. It just sounds ugly to me. Though, after having learnt it for a few years back in school, I can proudly say what's my name and where I come from. Oh, and of course - scheiße. :lol:

And as to greetings in foreign languages:

Serdeczne pozdrowienia z Polski dla wszystkich forumowiczów.
 

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
sir-detch-ne (e as in egg) pose-draw-wee-e (as in egg)-gna (gna as in cognac) z pole-ski. Ok, I give up. It's really hard to write an accurate pronunciation of the phrase...
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Modern Korean isn't as widespread as Chinese, English, Japanese, or Spanish but it is a "scientifically" constructed language. Yes, Classical Korean does have Chinese Characters but Modern Korean does not need Chinese Characters. I studied it many years ago but now have sadly forgotten it. It is very easy to learn - Easier than Spanish even.......
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Corno and Martin as knowledgeable language persons [how PC am I?] is it feasible that Chinese characters could be substituted with our Arabic letters??
 

Alban Berg

Banned
I know nothing!

Corno and Martin as knowledgeable language persons [how PC am I?] is it feasible that Chinese characters could be substituted with our Arabic letters??

But I can tell you that if they could make every sound with them...it would be feasible, but I'm not sure they are interested in it...People are very conservative and once they've learned something (so difficult, BTW) they won't give up easily. Arabic, Hebrew, Russian the same.

Then, my answer is NO.

in all modesty, Martin
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Modern Korean isn't as widespread as Chinese, English, Japanese, or Spanish but it is a "scientifically" constructed language. Yes, Classical Korean does have Chinese Characters but Modern Korean does not need Chinese Characters. I studied it many years ago but now have sadly forgotten it. It is very easy to learn - Easier than Spanish even.......

Hey Corno - you are spot on. The Korean emporer at the time told his wise-men to devise a alphabet that a peasant could learn in a week and a genius in an afternoon. Korean is thoroughly alphabetic and phonetic.
 

Alban Berg

Banned
You probably know I love opera...When I was 17 I bought Boris Godunov with the libretto (LP of course). The libretto came in Cyrillic (Russian), the pronounciation in Russian and English...with this I learned to read and write in Russian, when I was 18, my first trip to Russia, I was able to read the name of the streets, subways, etc...It helpped my mother a lot. I bought a camera there and I had not any idea about how it worked...and I read on the phone to a Russian guy the intructions and he translated me everything...after he asked me where did I lean Russian....Well.. Nowhere, my pronounciation came from the operas, the guy was impressed.
Now I read Russian at the same speed as English, French or Spanish. I'm far from being a genious...

LOL
 

teddy

Duckmeister
We could do with Esperanto over here. We have schools were 27 different languages are spoken. I do not think it unreasonable to expect anyone coming to live in this country to learn English. The latest census for is available in (I believe I am correct) 57 different languages. The b*$&&* money that is wasted over here in the name of political correctness is horrendous. I am beginning to believe that I would welcome real aliens instead, but that is another thread.

teddy

PS Are there any other countries where so much effort is made for foreigners?
 

White Knight

Spectral Warrior con passion
We could do with Esperanto over here. We have schools were 27 different languages are spoken. I do not think it unreasonable to expect anyone coming to live in this country to learn English. The latest census for is available in (I believe I am correct) 57 different languages. The b*$&&* money that is wasted over here in the name of political correctness is horrendous. I am beginning to believe that I would welcome real aliens instead, but that is another thread.

teddy

PS Are there any other countries where so much effort is made for foreigners?

We're not too far behind--if at all-- the UK in our "PC efforts". I sometimes wonder if Americans born on this side of the ocean tried to settle in India or one of these other countries from which we are allowing so many of their people to become citizens here, how much they would try to accomodate us in terms of language, dress etc. etc. On second thought though, I don't have to wonder at all--the answer is "Not at all!"
 
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