Practicing a new language lately?

[Skip Sackett]

I usually don't come to this part of the forum. I'm a troll in the reloading section. That is more my "style" so to speak. If it weren't for the ability for us Americans to reload for our firearms, I and many others that aren't independently wealthy, couldn't afford to shoot, or shoot as much anyway.

Here is something I have been thinking of for a while now though. With the current influx of folks from across our southern border and along with the tensions in the world community, coupled with our current administration, has anyone been trying to learn a new language lately?

Spanish or Korean would seem to be two that may come in handy in the near future!

All kidding aside, the current state of affairs on the world scene doesn't give me any warm fuzzies about our future as a nation. Nukes in rouge regimes like North Korea coupled with the possibility of them falling into the hands of terrorists or Iran gives me a start to be quite honest.

I can see reloading components being harder to get as well as ammunition too.

As I was typing this I even got to thinking about what a fat old man could do for his country if such a thing was to take place.

Do they make those new digital cammos in 40" waist sizes?

Any one else just a tad concerned?

 

[fat tom]

I picked up my grandchildren from daycare at the church last week. The 4 year old walks up to me and says: "Ola Granddaddy." Pissed me off!

f.t.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Due to time spent in Quebec as a teenager, I speak French.

In the last twenty years it has come in handy twice, other than the occasional translation of an unimportant part of a movie.

 

[Erich]

Spanish helps me out, but then I live in a place where Spanish was spoken long before English.

I think it's likely that more Spanish will get glommed into American English (a language which has proven adept at surviving just about anything) and that the appearance of the "average" American is likely to be different when I die than it was when I was born, and I don't care. I just hope that the spirit is the same.

The variety of food is better since I was born, no doubt.

 

[grit]

I read a quote when I was in college...

"El mundo es un libro, y quienes no viajan, leen solo una pagina." -Desconocido

"The world is a book, and those that don't travel, read only one page." -Unknown

This thought motivated me to live abroad for a while...learning different languages and customs. I use Spanish quite a bit now.

This exposure to the "outside world" gave me a great appreciation for other cultures.

More importantly, it helped me to really appreciate our country. It's sad when I see so much negativity on the news and in the papers. The reality is that the United States truly is a miracle, unlike any place on earth.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

"Via con Dios" is one of my favorite phrases-right up there with "Cervesa pour favor"

 

[glypnir]

Good posts. I especially liked Erich's, since it pretty much expressed my viewpoint.

I started trying to learn Mandarin after my last trip to China.

My wife said I was saying "Ni hau ma" in my sleep. My attempt didn't last too long. It's hard to hear the tones. Although I think I've had a breakthrough on the fricatives this time. Your tongue has to do somersaults.

I've thought about learning Spanish, but more because I like to go to Cozumel for the diving than because I find it useful around here. Even though Dallas County apparently now has a few more Hispanics in it than it does gringos.

Most of the Hispanics already speak English, or are trying real hard to learn it.

 

[godlessgael]

Spanish, but growing up in Southern California, it is kind of a given.

I am more worried about the bastardization of the English language because of texting and the internet. My wife, a teacher, gets the most absurd spellings in the essays that are turned in.

 

[truckemup97]

I know enough Spanish to get something to eat, find the bathroom, and get a cab to the airport. I've not made any special effort to learn it, I've just picked it up here and there.

My daughter, however, is fluent in Spanish. We had a choice between Spanish and French immersion schools for her. Spanish seemed like a no-brainer.

 

[mississippi revolverman]

I picked up some Russian and Indonesian Bahasan while working overseas. Don't help in S. Fl need Spanish and Hatian

 

[Frizzman]

My father, a WWII veteran and career navy man, adised me to study Spanish when I was going to take a language in HS around 1969. He said it was "the other language of the New World". I did and it has been handy many times. If nothing else, I can listen in on people talking in Spanish and see if they are talking about me...LOL.

I later studied Russian and Arabic. My fluency in both of those langauges is pretty limited. When my daughter was going to study a language starting in intermediate school, I told her the same thing my father told me. She was required to take a year of Latin before taking any other language. After that, it has been five years of Spanish. We chat in Spanish at home at times for practice.

So far as speaking Spanish being a threat to American culture, I think that is invalid. This country has absorbed many cultures and languages and has somehow not collapsed. How many people eat Chinese and Mexican and Italian and Thai and other types of ethinic cusine and don't think anything of it? If my kid says hello to me in any langauge(I have a teen), I am glad to get that from her! Buenos Dios, Amigos

 

[Skip Sackett]

So far as speaking Spanish being a threat to American culture, I think that is invalid.

Point taken, although not what I am speaking to. Absorbing cultures means a melding, I live in a community where there was an influx of over 5000 Hispanics (as reported by our local Police Chief) in one year. It doesn't seem that they are assimilating but resisting. I like using what little Spanish I know, learned it in LA Community Schools a long time ago, but it seems that most of that 5000 that I've had a pleasure to meet, don't WANT to learn English. That is the point I am speaking to.

As for Korean, that is speaking to the current nuclear problem and the possibilities there.

As for living in a foreign country, I have done that too, courtesy of University of Science of Music and Culture, USMC.

Japan, 1974-1975. Mushy, mushy annonay. (Spelling wrong but phonetically correct!)

 

[FrankD45]

Excellent point Skip, and spot on as well. When my Dad emigrated here from Italy he worked hard at becoming a citizen and at "melting" into the fabric of this country. The point was that there was a reason he wanted to come here and it made no sense to change the place he came to in order to make it like the one he left. In today's world it seems that many folks who come here do so with the thought of making the USA more like the hovel they came from. Adding to the problem is the fact that our leaders do not seem to notice and consequently continue to add benefits to those who would tear us down. As far as I can tell there is no imperative for an immigrant to even try to become a citizen.

Rant Off!

Frank

 

[HarryWatson]

My wife said I was saying "Ni hau ma" in my sleep. My attempt didn't last too long. It's hard to hear the tones. Although I think I've had a breakthrough on the fricatives this time. Your tongue has to do somersaults.

I had the same difficulty with Chinese. You have to hear it a lot to learn the proper tones for any word. I do read Japanese, but only techical material and material related to swords. Right now, I am trying to learn Korean using Rosetta Stone. I do not know why, since I will be 74 next month, but it does keep me off the street.

 

[deralte]

Harry, you probably already know more from Roesetta Stone than I learned from being in Korea for two years. I can get along in Germany where I spent 6 years. I guess I know a word or two from numerous languages - spent time in Japan, Taiwan, Okinawa, Guam, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Spain, Turkey and North Africa. Most of those words are probably cusswords.

 

[Kazo]

I studied German in college; and, whenever we go to Mexico, I try to brush up my basic Spanish skills.

 

[jrm53]

I learned this spanish at Wal Mart, "Piso Majoda" means wet floor. I think this is to deter any one from suing them for falling.

 

[DeathGrip]

Ein pils bitte? But It worked well for me,maybe stories that start like that should be on "Stupid Drunk Moments" thread. Danke.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

I speak English, and .45.

Works for me.

Sorry Skip. Didn't mean to piss on your thread, but I am just about fed up with "Change"

WG840

 

[Marshwheeling]

I studied German, Dutch and linguistics in college, which brought me in contact with a lot of languages and some knowledge of how they work. Lately, I've been working on Spanish with Rosetta Stone, alternating that with winter motorcycle trips to Mexico. I know how to ask directions, but not necessarily how to understand the answer. Thank God for GPS.

P.S. Cormac Mccarthy's Border Trilogy is a lot better if you can read a bit of Spanish.