How many languages do you speak?

[SpiritAlight 1]

Hello VJers,

Out of curiosity, as this comes up every now and then.

Awhile back I heard a report on CBC radio that multi-lingual people think faster than unilingual people.

That their brains have learnt to compute and solve problems quicker.

Interesting.

What I like about being tri-lingual, with bits and pieces of a few other languages, is how that opens one up to the various cultures.

What say you?

[Otto 83]

According to the last Census in the US; 9 out of 10 Americans speak only English...

[SpiritAlight 1]

According to the last Census in the US; 9 out of 10 Americans speak only English...

Hence the problem.

Hahaha!

I wonder if it has changed now with so many people here from South of the border and other places?

[Jenn! 918]

I wonder if it has changed now with so many people here from South of the border and other places?

They're not REAL Americans! In fact, I think speaking more than just English may be considered treason in Real America.

Anyhoo...I speak one foreign language - Italian - but I have to admit it is getting rusty as I'm no longer living there and my husband and I speak almost exclusively in English now.

[Otto 83]

I wonder if it has changed now with so many people here from South of the border and other places?

Can't imagine it's changed significantly since 2000...we'll see in 2010.

[SpiritAlight 1]

I wonder if it has changed now with so many people here from South of the border and other places?

They're not REAL Americans! In fact, I think speaking more than just English may be considered treason in Real America.

Anyhoo...I speak one foreign language - Italian - but I have to admit it is getting rusty as I'm no longer living there and my husband and I speak almost exclusively in English now.

I speak Greek with my parents and other elders...which is good to not lose it.

[antda 13]

Hi SpiritAlight and Everyone,

As I also posted this on the Canada forum too, which also can be posted here as well, since it relates to the same topic/question:

Hi SpiritAlight,

Likewise too, I can understand about being "tri-lingual", as I'm a bit of that myself too, as in:

-English (my main language of communication, a 100,000+ words vocabulary both verbally and visually/written down)

-Birth Country language (only about a 5000+ words vocabulary, only verbally, mainly because of my granny who doesn't speak English, and it's way too hard and uninteresting to learn more otherwise)

-French (only about a 1000+ words vocabulary, both verbally and visually/written down, mainly because I had to learn that in school in Canada like everyone else there)

-A little bit of other languages here and there. Lol..I can count from 1-10 in different lanugages/dialects (now you see why I get my dates confused).

As well, I have/will have "triple citizenships" in my lifetime (but will later on only be a "dual citizen"):

-Canadian (which I currently have through Naturalization, and will continue to have for rest of my life)

-American (which I will have in about 1+ years or so, according to the USCIS..lol..)

-Birth Country (which I might not still have, but would like to revoke if I do still have)

Furthermore:

-I'm "multicultural"...enough said...

Lol...as you can see, it's no wonder I can get confused at times! And others get confused at me too...

Not sure if all this "tri-lingual"/"tri-cultural" stuff has helped me throughout my life, in terms of thinking faster. However, it does make for interesting stories to tell, and a lot of interesting (though it can be frustrating at times) questions

I agree, one has to "translate" and communicate differently, according to the place and the situation. Sometimes I think to myself: Why can't we just all communicate in one language, to make life easier and more understandable? No wonder I prefer to communicate in English, the language which is the most commonly used throughout the world.

Then there's always the langauge of love, which is also common throughout the world too...

Ant (Tri-lingual, tri-cultural, tri-confused!!!)

Hello VJers,

Out of curiosity, as this comes up every now and then.

Awhile back I heard a report on CBC radio that multi-lingual people think faster than unilingual people.

That their brains have learnt to compute and solve problems quicker.

Interesting.

What I like about being tri-lingual, with bits and pieces of a few other languages, is how that opens one up to the various cultures.

What say you?

Edited October 25, 2008 by AntandD

[PlatyPius 5]

I speak English and Bad English.

A little Mexi-Spanish, some French, and I can ask where the tobacco store is in Swedish.

[jundp 191]

English and conversational French and Spanish. Plus I know how order beer and say I love you in German.

[Laura+Tom 2]

I only speak English fluently. I did learn French and German at school but I found it really hard so didn't retain it very well. I know enough German to get me by but I can't hold a conversation.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Laura+Tom

[diadromous mermaid 36]

At one time, many years ago, I was reasonably fluent (conversational) in 7 languages, aside from my native tongue, English: Japanese, Chinese (mandarin), Russian, Frensh, Spanish, Italian and German. Not using some of them on a regular basis for years, however, I find I am only able to muddle though basic written text, and totally uncomfortable with the spoken language. Nonetheless, when someone speaks to me, it all sounds very familiar, but my brain needs a lot of time to keep up. Oftentimes, the proper translation occurs to me hours afterwards!

[Marilyn. 340]

one.. I do know a few words in German though but not enough to have a conversation..

[Mina76 0]

English and Spanish, but right now I am learning my husband's Turkish language and just know enough to get me by whenever I am visiting his country.

[britty 1]

Conversational Italian but that is getting very rusty as I don't use it at all here. I can understand Spanish but not speak it strangely. I attended school with a group of girls who had Spanish/catholic backgrounds and they would always speak to eachother in Spanish. Eventually it sunk in. I used to work with a guy who was fluent in 9 languages (spoken and written).

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

When I was a kid (and only bilingual at the time), I met a kid from Switzerland who was teaching us how to say things in some of the 7 languages he spoke. From that moment, I swore I would be that multilingual by the time I grew up.

Sadly, I'm only trilingual at this point. English, Spanish, Italian (and that's only up to a conversational level). Guh. But our baby's going to be raised with all 3 and hopefully French as well. Plus my husband started picking up German for fun. We'll see where that gets us...

I wish more Americans saw the value of speaking multiple languages. Where I grew up, speaking TWO was considered un-cool, and lots of people abandoned their home language by the time they hit junior high.