ANTHONY BROWNE: Waste your life, learn to speak a foreign language

The Times ^ | December 23, 2002 | Anthony Browne

[anatolfz]

*cough*...ahem. And Irish! ;-)

Tigim leat go hiomlan.

[JeanLM]

Ah...A subject I like. I agree with the Latin study proposal. I had 4 years of it and it does what you and others say. It makes you understand grammar and language as an independent thing.

I don't agree with the premise that modern language study is a waste of time. Requiring all students in high school to take a foriegn language is a waste of time, but on an individual basis, acquiring speaking knowledge of another language is a very rewarding experience. I think Mark Twain said," Acquiring another language is like getting another soul". He learned German late in life like I did.

He also said something to the effect that one had to wait for the second act of a Wagnerian opera to get to the verb.

I also believe that language shapes an individual's perception of the world. The exactitude of the German language parallels and probably accounts for their renowned precision.

The most widely spoken language in the world is and will always be broken English, however. For non-English speakers, learning some English is a must.

[KeyWest]

A good friend of mine spoke fluent Japanese. He was stationed in Japan and worked with Japanese contractors. They thought he was a typical English only Yank and spoke freely in front of him, insulting him and taking about how they were fleecing the Americans. He passed on the information and the information was discretely used. About three months before he left (after three years) he started speaking to them. The loss of face was overwhelming and many lost their jobs because the investigation of price fixing was a done deal.

[AnnaZ]

And also, our refusal to speak any other language drives the French and Germans absolutely barmy. ;)

LOL!!

 

I loved the article for all its politically incorrect bluster and heartily agree. But, as I'm fluent in several languages and always trying to learn more, I must add that if one has an interest in it, it is only a rewarding endeavor.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I wish I knew Hebrew (more than a few dozen words of it) and Gaelic, but I struggled with German to cover my language requirement. Foreign languages are one thing I struggle with.

I agree that German and French are becomming less and less useful. OTOH, various Chinese dialects, Japanese, and Russian, among others, are very useful. And I dare say we could use a few more people with at least a reading knowledge of Arabic.

[VOA]

The loss of face was overwhelming and many lost their jobs because the investigation
of price fixing was a done deal.

Man, that's about as rich as watching the stunned faces of the Japanese aviators as they
pan across the view of their three sinking aircraft carriers in the movie "Midway".

Not to bash the Japanese...I just love the stunned look of realization on bad-guys
when it dawns on them that their little party is over...

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

A good friend of mine spoke fluent Japanese. He was stationed in Japan and worked with Japanese contractors. They thought he was a typical English only Yank and spoke freely in front of him, insulting him and taking about how they were fleecing the Americans. He passed on the information and the information was discretely used. About three months before he left (after three years) he started speaking to them. The loss of face was overwhelming and many lost their jobs because the investigation of price fixing was a done deal.

If true, one of the sweetest things I've ever read regarding language on this forum. Oh man, you made my day.

[mhking]

Donde estas el banjo?

[Hacksaw]

The only German I remember is "Du bist ein sheiskopf".

[KarlInOhio]

Donde estas el banjo?

Right next to the guitars, senor. :-)

[mhking]

Right next to the guitars, senor. :-)

Oops...I meant banyo!!

I guess that would make the banjos wet ones, eh? [g]

Hey - I only took high school Spanish!

[Tony in Hawaii]

Compare that to the actual footage of Japanese sailors cheering as the Pearl Harbor attackers take off. They looked so happy, but that feeling didn't last.

[Tony in Hawaii]

I learned a lot of that from my Austrian-born mom when Clinton was on TV.

[BlueLancer]

"The only German I remember is "Du bist ein sheiskopf"."

My wife learned that one, and used it to great effect, when we were assigned to Mannheim.

She was "detained" by the Military Police once at the streetcar stop. It seems that one of those smelly, scruffy, anti-American protesters was in her face about Reagan's deployment of tactical nukes to Germany. She proceeded to smack him with her purse and, when he was down on the ground, commenced to beating him with his own sign. When the 1x4 shaft of the sign broke, she kicked him a few times for good measure until he broke and ran.

The MPs were highly amused about the incident and, since there was no "complaint" filed, they released her to my custody ...

... yeah, like I could restrain her ... right ...

[rmvh]

Re your # 10....I think I am a better writer in English because of my studies in French.

Your effort would have been much more productive if you had studied Latin instead.