Need for Other Languages besides English?

[Ansar]

Haha I was actually talking to you!

Yeah, I do know Spanish.

Learning Latin isn't needed to become a doctor or anything. I mean, it's somewhat useful, but it's not like you'll be preforming surgery and mess up because of a Latin term...

Well, of course, but knowing Latin would help me identify Medical terms with a lot of ease, from what I hear...

I ask because I've been told that learning a second Romance language after you know one is rather easy. Though I doubt you'll need another language besides Spanish unless you're doing some doctors without borders thing in former French Africa/ Asia

Yeah, French is pretty simple if you already know Spanish (or Italian - at least from what I hear).

 

[Den Valdron]

I suppose it depends on where you are in another country.

If you stick to the tourist areas and stay out of trouble, then usually the staff will know english, or some of the staff will know enough english. It's their job after all.

If you're dealing with the business community, or anything relatively high level, in terms of politics, government or professional conduct, most people won't speak English. But you should be able to find someone who does who can take care of you.

If you have to deal with the police, with security forces, soldiers, or anything like that, you're screwed. They won't speak English. There won't be anyone around who will speak English. You're taking your chances.

If you're in the countryside, in villages or small towns, or even medium sized towns, if you're in urban residential neighborhoods, local shopping districts, etc., in short, if you go 100 yards from the Holiday Inn, your chances of finding English speakers drops dramatically.

 

[Fronx]

I think everyone should learn sign language.

Not because of the people whom cannot hear, but it would be useful for every people when discussing

a) in loud places
b) where being quiet is required
c) long distances with some extra noise (sign language could assist shouting).


But that really doesn't answer your question, because rare people know that language. (I only think that all should).


Also, it would be funny if two people, whom speak different languages, would suddenly notice that they are actually able to communicate through sign language, as they both have learned it =)

(This under assumption that sign language is actually universal, I am under impression that it (somewhat) is).

 

[zjl56]

If you're going to study a language, I would study Mandarin, Hindi, or Spanish. Spanish, along with your English, should be enough to "get by" in Latin America and most of Europe. Speaking in Mandarin be enough to talk to most Chinese and Japanese and Koreans would be able to understand you. And Hindi would allow you to speak to pretty much all Indians. It would be nice to know the native language you were going into. but not needed for most of Europe. Most French and Germans have a basic grasp on English, and Italians are used to dealing with Spaniards. Knowing those three other languages would be plenty enough.

 

[Rossiya]

Nah, all you need is English in this world of 7000 languages, and countless more dialects.

 

[gangleri2001]

Also, it would be funny if two people, whom speak different languages, would suddenly notice that they are actually able to communicate through sign language, as they both have learned it

There're different sign languages.

 

[scherbchen]

There're different sign languages.

which is so sad. otherwise it would probably be the most useful language ever invented.

 

[bhsup]

There're different sign languages.

And some sign language is universal.

 

[gangleri2001]

Yes, there's a universal sign language. But some sign language speakers can't it. I saw it in an international conference held in Barcelona last year.

For Arwon: Did you know that sign language was created in Mañoworld? Probably the best contribution of Aragon to the mankind.

 

[The Fishman]

I simply hate it when Punjabi, Chinese, Gujurathi, or Mexican kids start jabbering away in their language to another person when they KNOW you don't understand. My thing is, if you want to say something, say it to my face...

How do you know they are insulting you if you can't understand them? Perhaps they are just doing it because they find what they are saying difficult for them to express in English? That is often the case, I speak almost no Urdu, but my friends often drift in and out of it because they find it easier for them to speak like that.

I know it is not very polite of them to leave you out, but you shouldn't just jump to conclusions...

 

[Bigfoot3814]

The finger isn't universal. It's different in some places. I remember from On Wings of Eagles by Ken Follet that a thumbs up is like the finger in Iran. That's why it's a bad idea to hitch a ride in Iran.

 

[Stormrage]

If you learn Latin, med school will be easier. Since you already know Spanish - Italian, Portugese, Romanian, French, German and Dutch will be a helluva lot easier after knowing English, Spanish and/or Latin.

Also, learn a Slavic language and you are set to go learn all other Slavic Languages

 

[uppi]

Spanish, along with your English, should be enough to "get by" in Latin America and most of Europe.

That "most of Europe" should be replaced by "most of Western Europe". Once you go east of the former Iron Curtain, the value of English greatly decreases (and the value of Spanish in Europe is mostly limited to Spain anyway.) Fluent English speakers there are usually limited to people younger than 25. Russian and other Slavic languages and to a certain extent German, will be much more helpful when traveling to Central and Eastern Europe.


As for the usefulness of Latin: The communication value of Latin is about zero. I think it is only really useful either to learn a Latin derived language afterwards or in certain academic subjects.

 

[scherbchen]

you'd be amazed how far a romanic language will get you.

 

[woody60707]

A lot of what Arwon said is true. But knowing TWO western European languages isn't going to help much, If your goal is to become more worldly that is. Unless you go to France, any place that speaks French as a second language is likely to know English, and understand English better too.

Like other people have side, the world is a bigger place then the US and western Europe.

 

[Angst]

You should learn French. Them stupid boozers still think it's the most important language in the world.

- Do most people nowadays speak English in your country?

Yes. Not in France.

- Would they talk to you if you asked them something in English?

Yes. Not in France.

- What's better: only knowing how to say that "I don't speak (insert language here)" and talk to them in English or if you know some of that language, attempt to talk your way through?

Both works. English is normally best. Neither works in France.

- With English growing, is there really a point to learning other languages besides for the additional knowledge and being able to talk with people in their language?

Learn Chinese, it will be important in a couple of years.

 

[dutchfire]

My questions are:
- Do most people nowadays speak English in your country? Yes, though most of it is pretty bad, you'll be able to understand them.
- Would they talk to you if you asked them something in English? Yes, they would.
- What's better: only knowing how to say that "I don't speak (insert language here)" and talk to them in English or if you know some of that language, attempt to talk your way through? Over here, just speaking English would be best.
- With English growing, is there really a point to learning other languages besides for the additional knowledge and being able to talk with people in their language? Yes.

 

[Sofista]

"My questions are:
- Do most people nowadays speak English in your country?"

Depends on who "most people" are. Everyone learns it in school nowadays, but many didn't, French was prevalent. Doing business should be easy... ordering coffee exactly as you want it cold prove harder.

"- Would they talk to you if you asked them something in English?"

Not sure what you mean. See above.

"- What's better: only knowing how to say that "I don't speak (insert language here)" and talk to them in English or if you know some of that language, attempt to talk your way through?"

Depends on how much you know of the native language. But I'd try that first.

"- With English growing, is there really a point to learning other languages besides for the additional knowledge and being able to talk with people in their language?"

With language one generally also learns culture.
So a British tourist I on-the-fly acted as interpreter for in a bar one day would have known that asking for "raspberry juice" in an Italian bar isn't gonna work, both becase you're chancing that the barista has learned English and because, well, nobody knew such a thing existed. (And sticking around to say "thanks" to the guy interrupting his coffee ritual to be the interpreter would have rewarded her with that precious little tidbit )

 

[Mirc]

- Do most people nowadays speak English in your country? In the cities, you'll definitely find many, many people with very good English. We all learn it in school since the 2nd grade, up to the 12th, however the older generations are more likely to speak French than English. About 25% of the people are recorded to speak English (which would still be 1 in 4) but most of those who don't are in the countryside, in places you're not likely to go as a foreigner.

Would they talk to you if you asked them something in English? Those who speak English would, those who don't would most likely say something like "I don't speak English".

What's better: only knowing how to say that "I don't speak (insert language here)" and talk to them in English or if you know some of that language, attempt to talk your way through? Better talk to them in English. Although I personally would be flattered by someone attempting to talk in Romanian when being obviously not a native speaker, I'm not sure if everyone would feel the same. However there's nobody there that speaks English, of course you could try to speak in Romanian if you have a basic idea about the language. For you, I'd recommend trying in Spanish - many people learn it without even trying from watching Spanish-language TV (mainly the idiotic telenovelas ).

With English growing, is there really a point to learning other languages besides for the additional knowledge and being able to talk with people in their language? Of course.

 

[Arwon]

My questions are:
- Do most people nowadays speak English in your country? Yes, though most of it is pretty bad, you'll be able to understand them.
- Would they talk to you if you asked them something in English? Yes, they would.
- What's better: only knowing how to say that "I don't speak (insert language here)" and talk to them in English or if you know some of that language, attempt to talk your way through? Over here, just speaking English would be best.
- With English growing, is there really a point to learning other languages besides for the additional knowledge and being able to talk with people in their language? Yes.

This is something I'm interested in regarding the Netherlands in particular and with other small monolingual states with smaller languages like Denmark.

You guys speak a language very closely related to English and, I assume, find the language easier than an Italian or Russian would. Most Dutch people I've met speak perfect, idiomatic English, probably more correctly than I do. Do you think that it's possible English could actually replace Dutch at some point in the future? Or at least, become an official and recognised second language? I mean, given the excellent and widespread English education and the presence of English-language media in your country, and the increasing contacts with other EU countries and such.

Just something I'm curious about cos it seems like if there is a country where English could actually supplant and replace another language, it's the Netherlands.