Originally posted by Moldy CrowI have looked up a couple of words in books - usually words I should know, but had forgotten or wasn't sure about. Occasionally I have used google to make sure I get the spelling right. But you don't really need to be fluent in a language to be able to say "good night"... I am fluent in three languages, German, Norwegian and English. My French was good enough to have a not too advanced discussion or read a book many years ago, but it's very, very rusty now. But I could probably get into it again rather quickly. I have also forgotten a lot of my Japanese, but I was never fluent in it anyway, and at my best time I probably knew about 300 signs, which is far from enough to read anything else than children's books. I learned Latin and classical Greek at school, but I was never fluent in them because we didn't learn to speak them. 😉 And then there are several languages (for example Irish and Finnish) I learned a little bit, not so much for the purpose of communicating, but because I find it interesting how different languages are constructed.
Are you googling all of these , or are you fluent in many languages ? How many would you consider yourself fluent in ?
Originally posted by NordlysDo you sometimes get confused when you are talking, and mix in words from multiple languages? If not, perhaps you should. That would make people have to really pay attention.
I have looked up a couple of words in books - usually words I should know, but had forgotten or wasn't sure about. Occasionally I have used google to make sure I get the spelling right. But you don't really need to be fluent in a language to be able to say "good night"... I am fluent in three languages, German, Norwegian and English. My French was good e ...[text shortened]... ose of communicating, but because I find it interesting how different languages are constructed.
Originally posted by RookRAKOh yes. I do that a lot when I am talking to my parents on the phone, for example. Especially small words like "but". And occasionally I use a Norwegian construction or expression in German. It has also happened that I have used the wrong language for a sentence or two (until noticing the blank stare of the person I was talking to) when I had to switch quickly between two languages.
Do you sometimes get confused when you are talking, and mix in words from multiple languages?
Originally posted by NordlysI've heard it said that with every language you learn, the next one becomes easier. Have you found that to be true?
Oh yes. I do that a lot when I am talking to my parents on the phone, for example. Especially small words like "but". And occasionally I use a Norwegian construction or expression in German. It has also happened that I have used the wrong language for a sentence or two (until noticing the blank stare of the person I was talking to) when I had to switch quickly between two languages.
A co-worker is trying to talk me into taking an Italian class. I wonder if it would make me any smarter.
Originally posted by RookRAKI am not sure. I think it makes a big difference whether you have learned any foreign language as a child or not. For example, my American brother-in-law is trying to learn German, but he has never learned a foreign language before, and it's really hard for him. But I don't know if someone who has learned two languages before will learn easier than someone who has learned one, assuming that the new language is not related to the other ones. Of course many languages are related to each other, and in that case knowing one or several of them makes it much easier to learn another one (although you can also get them mixed up).
I've heard it said that with every language you learn, the next one becomes easier. Have you found that to be true?
