True2marie

I think your spouse's family is overreacting. Your son mainly speaks his native language throughout the day. So, learning a second language is not going to impede his development in any way.

And yes - I certainly believe that people should start learning a second language as a child. It's when they are most open and apt to pick up new information quickly.

Telepathy is a form of communication, but not a language.

To me, it's a gift most people have, but rarely use (at least overtly).  When couples have been together for a while, they can sense things about each other that is akin to a sort of telepathy. This, I believe, is true about mothers with their children. 

In my travels, I have noticed that many people believe native English speakers who are Caucasian or rich. In my case, being African American, they think I am poor.  They also think that I live either in New York (why?) or the south.

What I didn't know is this girl had secret.  She was a master of marshal arts trained to be an assassin.

“There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.”

This quote is an excellent one. So many people want to be winners, but they refuse to lace up their shoes and join the race.  With that said, my favorite quote comes from a Nike promo - 'just do it!'

No, I speak English to my friends in a casual manner. I do not see a need to be so proper with them.  Only at work or formal events do I use 'proper' English.

I have never had a pen pal for the sake of learning a new language.

This method sounds like a great way to exchange information and boost up a second language and also interact with a different culture.

Also, since Skype is available to the public, being a pen pal can go to a higher dimension.

It all depends on your style of learning.

If you learn best by reading alone in a solitary place, then this method is great for you.

If you learn best through interaction with others or writing down information, then this method won't work for you.

There are definitely free language software programs all over the web.

One place to visit for Indian dialects is Download.com.  Link: http://download.cnet.com/windows/language-software/

Softonic.com is another great place.  Link: http://en.softonic.com/s/language-lab-software

Whether you are speaking a foreign language or your native language, it seems that body language is key. The way you move your hands, cock your neck or stand can effect the manner in which words come across to someone else.  With this in mind, how much does body language effect your ability to communicate?

If you check out the sites for toy manufacturers, you will see they are focusing on electronics. Tablets and other gizmos exist for toddler. It seems to be a way to get them prepared for the high tech world they will grow up to live in.

Should the same be done in regards to language?  The world is getting smaller and most people can't hide within their own culture. Maybe proper parenting should involve exposing toddlers to a second language.

After moving from Puerto Rico back to the mainland of U.S., I didn't speak Spanish for a while. I just spoke my native language of English. Suddenly, I noticed myself struggling to remember certain words in Spanish. It made me feel as though I might lose this language all together. Then, I began to speak it again and everything came back.

Can you lose a language you haven't spoken in a while? Or, is it just lying dormant waiting for you to recall it?

In teen movies, there's always a set of kids who are part of the French Club. Then, they grow up. What happens after that?  Is anyone (past high school age) part of a language club? 

The weirdest part of knowing a foreign language is . . . the reaction of others when I speak it.

For some reason, people have a lot of stereotypes on who they think should ore shouldn't know a foreign language. So, when I speak Spanish, onlookers act stunned and stare at me in the oddest way.

For people who enjoy higher learning, Academia.edu is an excellent platform.

I am so happy to see people with strong minds join forces to share information.  Some of the other sites that involve sharing of information seem to cater to individuals who aren't bright.

Excellent article!

In reality, the world is getting smaller and smaller. In other words, it's no longer odd to visit another country or know someone who's not from your native land. As a result, you have to be open to learning a foreign language. It's good socially, spiritually and business-wise.

I believe words will shorten over time.

This is already happening because of texting and other activities that rely on abbreviations.

Will this be good for society?  I don't know.  I think that communicating fully helps boost intimacy in relationships because of the effort taken to share and express one's self.

:angel:

Funny question. 

The most appropriate language for swearing is your native language. This way, you won't have any trouble enunciating the words correctly or using them in the proper context.

My 2014 goal is to get out of debt, lose more weight and be happy.

I also want to discover more streams of income. I heard a motivator speaker say everyone should have eight.  Based on how the U.S. economy has been over the past few years, I agree with him.  :angel:

I will never forget one of my Spanish teachers in high school.  This guy never got out of his seat or put much effort into instructing the class.

Fortunately, I had already taken a few Spanish classes before running into him, so I muddled through his course just fine. Yet, his behavior made me feel as though there should be better stands for foreign language teachers (and teachers period).

I worked in the world of insurance and customer service for years. We were required to use an interpreting service for calls with people who didn't speak English or requested it. At times, the Spanish-speaking interpreters were terrible. A few times, I could tell they were struggling to communicate with the other person on the line and had to interrupt the process.

I learned a foreign language by age . . . 18.

I learned to speak Spanish fluently because of courses in school and my family moving to Puerto Rico. The combo was a winning won that motivated me to speak more than English.

My best quote about language is courtesy of Nelson Mandela.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.

Truly, an ability to talk to someone else on their own terms is a way to connect intimately.

Languages definitely sound different. The way certain constants are addressed vary depending on the culture. Also, you have to think of the person who is speaking it.

Regardless of the culture, some people (within it) have beautiful voices. So, they could be cursing your out, but the tone of their voice is smooth.

No, I don't keep track of how large my vocabulary is. I just monitor my use of it and if my vocabulary is effective. When I can tell the person I am talking to (in the foreign language) can't understand me, then I know I need a brush up.