Languages (OT)

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 6851

You guys are just going to have to forgive me for answering a post 
that is probably dead, buried and rotting in it's grave by now, but 
I've not caught up on all the messages yet.

Anyway the discussions of languages, and why us Yanks are so pitiful 
at learning them brought up several things in my mind. All of which I 
might add are very much OT. 

When traveling in other countries it was stated that English speakers 
rarely know how to converse with the natives of that country. I must 
add that while I can speak French a little bit i is not the best.  I 
also found, on a good piece of advice that even if you don't know 
much trying to say anything in another language will get you a lot 
farther than staring dumbly and waiting for someone else to talk in 
your tounge.  Most of the time they do know some English and will be 
glad to use it if only you use your limited knowledge of their's.

When it comes to learning other languages early in the schooling 
process I did have Spanish until the fourth grade when the state 
abolished it.  It can be said though that I never learned much from 
these classes.  All I can remember from these early classes is 
skpping in a circle and flapping our arms like chickens, so perhaps 
it is a good thing they were outed. (Or perhaps not, since, flashing 
forward to High School and my latin class I can clearly recall 
dancing in conga lines to new vocabulary words, in fact that was last 
only two weeks ago.)

On the  subject of Latin which I vaguely recall Simon as dubing 
"Silly" (Shame!), I just got back from my Latin Club Christmas party. 
There we played Mythology Charades and Ink Pinks-

A Happy Wizard?

Merry Harry, of course!!!!

Hmmmm, perhaps silly is too mild...

The language which I would most like to learn is Welsh.  I'm not 
really sure why, as I can't find a solid and practical reason for it 
but I still want to learn it.

Scott

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"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in 
fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your 
mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the 
here and now?  Reality leaves a lot to the imagination." - John 
Lennon 

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