justusforus

I see languages much like music or art. Cultures have their own language and it adds to the diversity of the world. A world where everyone looked the same, spoke the same..etc...would be boring in my opinion. I do understand that languages do divide, and for things like business, it would probably streamline things. Again though, I find languages as fascinating as I do varying cultures.

I dislike dubbing especially when it seems the choice of voice and intonation detracts from the story line (plus the lips not matching is eerie). I like subtitles as I can hear the original spoken word and read in my native language (English) and see it as a great learning tool. Especially for learning pronunciation and tone.

I think language is like learning anything else. Motivation is always a factor in learning, to have the discipline to study and practice. I have known people who learn a language for a job requirement or more recently for love. I thought it was great that a friend learned a foreign language to speak to their "new" family. Probably a great idea to get along with the in-laws, or at least know what they are talking about!

I too think he is amazing and inspirational. How great to be able to just walk in and communicate with so many cultures. He must have a brain that is "wired" in such a way that he can master such diversity in the various languages.

I now have to go and look for the Klingon and Avatar languages. My first reaction when I saw the thread was "pig latin" so I am glad someone brought it up. I think it was never meant to be a language but often used t try and say something the idskay (kids) would not understand. Interesting, even though I am not a Trekkie, I think it would be fun to hear a whole group speaking it, like at a convention.

I want to see where I end up when I "grow up" (meaning travel or retire to) so I may add a language or two at that point. I enjoy the learning process as well as the utility of knowing another language, but unless I keep using them I don't think I could retain much more than 4 or so as Trellum suggests.

I think mispronunciations abound both by native and non native speakers. Another thing I often here is problems with tense. using present or past tense interchangeably. (Sometimes with native speakers they seem to purposely use 'slang tense')

I taught at the graduate level and found that mutiple choice actually judge two things 1) whether you understand the subject matter and 2) reading comprehension based on the "call" of the question. I realize some may say they can just "recognize" after discarding answers, but the second aspect of comprehension can make a "buzz word" a wrong answer. (Such as which is the "least likely" counter argument...and then they put a buzz word in the wrong context.) Since so many doctrines and standardized test use multiple choice, I think they are here to stay and the goal should be to understand really what is being asked.

This topic is really interesting and the responses show that we all deal with the inner voice on different levels. It is interesting how the brain can "see" speech as in the inner voice, but control thought, pronunciation and sound to "hear" speech on the verbal level. Even more fascinating is how we also are our own worst critics as to our pronunciation of the language we are learning (that is when we finally get brave enough to speak out loud).

I think video games or music or music videos..anything that keeps your attention and helps you learn the language is a good idea. I posted on another thread about music and languages. I believe anything that makes learning fun or memorable is worthwhile, just don't overdo and lose time on legitimate studies.

I was going to add and limon beat me to a few of the other US versus British (or Canadian) spellings in English. Center - centre humor- humour I lived in the US near the Canadian border and you would see ads and commercials using these alternate spellings quite frequently.

To me I find "hobgoblin" and "antithetical" as funny sounding words, I also think the word"impudent" sounds funny when spoken properly.

I like the sound of the word incandescent. Also the alternate meanings (heating to a point of glowing and also referring to brilliance or masterful) and the fact the incandescent bulb was "brilliance" of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the now typical light bulb makes it more attractive to me.

Back to the "in" words efficient - inefficient tolerable-intolerable sufferable-insufferable I can't think of more the rest have said...but I know there is a lot

As a native speaker, I still notice that even adults either had deficient early education or truly do not care about grammar and spelling. Even punctuation is often improper and I notice it much more with the internet and mass and almost immediate communications. I think those who are learning English, probably will pay more attention to these areas as they are choosing to learn a second language. Goes to show that some native speakers take for granted speaking and writing properly, and those learning are so much more motivated and precise.

Welcome. That is a great handle, especially as you have translated it. I too am glad to see a Greek speaker in the broth here. I am told it is a very difficult language to master.

Never thought of a tongue twister for learning, but seeing them written out shows me the sequential thought that would go into repeating (and understanding) one for a non-native speaker. It never ceases to amaze me who these threads make you look at things in another way you had not even considered.

I would have to agree with Life is beautiful as it is such a compelling as well as tear jerking movie. I walked into the middle of it and watched it despite I rarely do that. When I watched it again, it was still so moving. Incredible film.

I write out my work, proof and edit it myself, since I sometimes do not have it in final form on the first go round. I have a dear friend I have worked with for years who is an incredible proofer and a bright individual who I have read it cold (no clues) and then brainstorm after.

I think absolutely it helps. I am thinking it stimulates another learning level of the brain as well as it is entertaining. When you were young, did you ever remember a rule by a "sing song" or rhyming song? I think it is on that same train of thought. If you have trouble discerning the words, I search for videos with lyrics (you would be surprised how many are uploaded). So you can watch and study and listen and rock out. In any event, it couldn't hurt!

Thanks for all the responses. Maybe I should expand a bit like a "thumb's up" gesture or even the way hands are extended or things like a pat on the back. I realize body language and gesturing may involve more reactive or passive behavior versus more active and communicative gestures. The moustache stroking might not only be in Arab countries, but maybe we should have some gentlemen on the forum comment more.

Had to come back to this thread. I used "stabbed in the back" to a non native speaker who look horrified. I said it was actually a phrase meaning betrayel by one close to you. My understanding is Caesar's "Et tu Brute" is one source that is credited with the history significance of this phrase. "And you Brutus?" Caesar exclaimed in response to a friend stabbing him in the back.

and don't forget "when pigs fly"!

Although I am not as proficient as I would like to be, when traveling I think it is important to at least have a basic understanding of the language. Even though there are plenty of Spanish speakers in the US, many are conversant in English and will defer to English. Now when travelling to Mexico, it is a different story. Even being able to read signs is a plus much less being able to actually communicate on some level.

I think civilizations have grown and proliferated with the development of language and means of communication. I would think there would be much less advancement without the spoken word. A good question and thought provoking.