Seriousness How many language can you read in?

FinancialWar · 02-24-2014, 12:20 AM

We all love to read, that's why we all on mobileread.

But how many language can you read in? For me, I can read English, Chinese and Japanese. But I only read English on my eReader.

cromag · 02-24-2014, 01:18 AM

I have no talent for languages. I drove several teachers into early retirements. I did, finally, manage to pass a few years of Latin, and I refreshed on it when my son was in high school, but I'm afraid Cicero isn't writing much these days.

So, basically, just English for me.

Freeshadow · 02-24-2014, 03:48 AM

Three.

Polish native living in Germany, so no further explanation needed.
(I'm a certified translator of those)
English build up from school basics, due to frequent usage, as it is lingua franca of the IT, I'm interested in computers and the cutting edge Linux stuff is anglophone.

My knowledge of French is too low to consider serious reading.
Survival in a francophone environment - yes, but not much above it.

Rumpelteazer · 02-24-2014, 04:34 AM

Dutch and English, and despite dropping German after the compulsory two years I should be able to understand it if it isn't too complicated.

Despite having been taught French for five years and getting a reasonable grade for my final exams I wouldn't be able to read a text and understand more than a few words.

Sweetpea · 02-24-2014, 04:41 AM

Dutch and English, and despite dropping German after the compulsory two years, I should be able to understand it if it's not too complicated. (

)

French, which I dropped after the compulsory three years, I won't even contemplate...

I'm terrible at languages (even Dutch). The only reason I'm somewhat fluent in English is because I use it on a daily basis (software developer) and having lived in the US for a year helped as well... I could read German, simply because it's the same language family as Dutch and English (all three are Germanic languages). Don't ask me to spell it 100% correct though...

Gazella · 02-24-2014, 05:10 AM

Arabic and English.

Cyberman tM · 02-24-2014, 07:02 AM

German and english.

Given enough time and a dictionary, and maybe several tries, I should be able to read simple klingon texts.
(Considering the time I had to learn the vocabulary, I should be able to read the entire Hamlet. Alas, I didn't spend that time wisely, so I still need a dictionary just to read a two-liner...)

poohbear_nc · 02-24-2014, 08:46 AM

Hmmmm .... English, Latin (with a dictionary) (had a great high school Latin teacher that actually made learning Latin fun), German (getting rusty now), smattering of Japanese, broke my brain trying to learn French ....

Love.Forever. · 02-26-2014, 07:33 PM

English and French, I've been trying to learn Spanish recently so eventually I'll be able to read in that language too (I hope)

FinancialWar · 02-26-2014, 08:10 PM

Is it true that after English, German is the best language to learn if one wants to read good literatures.

Gazella · 02-27-2014, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinancialWar

Is it true that after English, German is the best language to learn if one wants to read good literatures.

I say Russian for good literatures.

Lin2412 · 03-05-2014, 06:54 PM

I'm totally on the same boat with cromag here. I have no absolute talent for language except English, and the good lord even knows that I'm not even a great expert on that language alone. lol

I wish to learn other languages, but I find French too difficult, I struggle with Latin, and my attempts of reading Chinese or Japanese may lead to the end of me. It will take an absolute miracle for me to get to learn those.

Sweetpea · 03-06-2014, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lin2412

I wish to learn other languages, but I find French too difficult, I struggle with Latin, and my attempts of reading Chinese or Japanese may lead to the end of me. It will take an absolute miracle for me to get to learn those.

Why those languages then? If you're not too good at learning them, wouldn't it be easier to start with a language that is of the same family as yours? (the Germanic languages).

Lin2412 · 03-06-2014, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Why those languages then? If you're not too good at learning them, wouldn't it be easier to start with a language that is of the same family as yours? (the Germanic languages).

That is because I've always been interested (especially with the Japanese) in the above languages as a kid, possibly because of the TV shows or movies that have some characters speaking them.

I realize now that interest alone won't make you an expert in those. They're too difficult for me, so I'll try and get around to your suggestion. Thank you.

02-24-2014, 12:20 AM	#1
FinancialWar Banned Posts: 397 Karma: 85500 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sydney Device: Sony PRS350, Onyx M92, Onyx T68 (defective!)	How many language can you read in? We all love to read, that's why we all on mobileread. But how many language can you read in? For me, I can read English, Chinese and Japanese. But I only read English on my eReader. Last edited by FinancialWar; 02-24-2014 at 10:26 AM.

02-24-2014, 04:41 AM	#5
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Dutch and English, and despite dropping German after the compulsory two years, I should be able to understand it if it's not too complicated. () French, which I dropped after the compulsory three years, I won't even contemplate... I'm terrible at languages (even Dutch). The only reason I'm somewhat fluent in English is because I use it on a daily basis (software developer) and having lived in the US for a year helped as well... I could read German, simply because it's the same language family as Dutch and English (all three are Germanic languages). Don't ask me to spell it 100% correct though...

02-24-2014, 05:10 AM	#6
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	How many language can you read in? Arabic and English.

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02-24-2014, 01:18 AM	#2
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,290 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I have no talent for languages. I drove several teachers into early retirements. I did, finally, manage to pass a few years of Latin, and I refreshed on it when my son was in high school, but I'm afraid Cicero isn't writing much these days. So, basically, just English for me.

02-24-2014, 03:48 AM	#3
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Three. Polish native living in Germany, so no further explanation needed. (I'm a certified translator of those) English build up from school basics, due to frequent usage, as it is lingua franca of the IT, I'm interested in computers and the cutting edge Linux stuff is anglophone. My knowledge of French is too low to consider serious reading. Survival in a francophone environment - yes, but not much above it.

02-24-2014, 04:34 AM	#4
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,321 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	Dutch and English, and despite dropping German after the compulsory two years I should be able to understand it if it isn't too complicated. Despite having been taught French for five years and getting a reasonable grade for my final exams I wouldn't be able to read a text and understand more than a few words.

02-24-2014, 07:02 AM	#7
Cyberman tM Evangelist Posts: 439 Karma: 2248782 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austria Device: Inkbook Prime; Icarus Illumina;ImcoV6l;EB600;Kobo	German and english. Given enough time and a dictionary, and maybe several tries, I should be able to read simple klingon texts. (Considering the time I had to learn the vocabulary, I should be able to read the entire Hamlet. Alas, I didn't spend that time wisely, so I still need a dictionary just to read a two-liner...)

02-24-2014, 08:46 AM	#8
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,407 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Hmmmm .... English, Latin (with a dictionary) (had a great high school Latin teacher that actually made learning Latin fun), German (getting rusty now), smattering of Japanese, broke my brain trying to learn French ....

02-26-2014, 07:33 PM	#9
Love.Forever. Monarch Butterfly ... Posts: 255 Karma: 1068968 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canada Device: Samsung Galaxy S4, Nexus 7 32GB, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8"	English and French, I've been trying to learn Spanish recently so eventually I'll be able to read in that language too (I hope)

02-26-2014, 08:10 PM	#10
FinancialWar Banned Posts: 397 Karma: 85500 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sydney Device: Sony PRS350, Onyx M92, Onyx T68 (defective!)	Is it true that after English, German is the best language to learn if one wants to read good literatures.

03-05-2014, 06:54 PM	#12
Lin2412 Grand Sorceress Posts: 456 Karma: 12931465 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Florida Device: Kindle	I'm totally on the same boat with cromag here. I have no absolute talent for language except English, and the good lord even knows that I'm not even a great expert on that language alone. lol I wish to learn other languages, but I find French too difficult, I struggle with Latin, and my attempts of reading Chinese or Japanese may lead to the end of me. It will take an absolute miracle for me to get to learn those.

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