Random Thoughts Thread

[flojocabron]

Ever since I started working in a kitchen, my Spanish skills have increased tenfold, and I'm loving it. It's a fun language to speak.

You learn the bad words real quick too!

You can get into a "laugh with you/at you" kinda situation if you think your spanish is good enough.

They'll be pleasantly surprised if you speak it out of nowhere. Especially with insults.

[Luke]

Yes, because whatever second language you learn affects how women will view you.

Have you ever traveled abroad?

Trust me, it does matter.*

Learning Greek or Latin is fun, but in the end basically worthless. Learning etymology is also a great way to expand your vocabulary, but if you want to speak another language that people actually speak, Latin and Greek are a waste of time.


*You don't even have to cross the boarder to know this. You and oppy-wocky can perform this simple test; ask any American woman if they find it sexy when a man can speak in French or Spanish. Nine times out of ten (perhaps ten times out of ten) they'll say yes.

[prfsnl_gmr]

If you want to learn a second language you will actually use, take Spanish.

If you want to pick up girls, take French.

If you want German people - who all speak perfect English, BTW - to be impressed with yout thoughtfulness, take German.

If you want to study the classics, take Greek and Latin.

If you are a sucker for punishment, take Russian.

If you want to get an exciting, high-paying job, take Mandarin Chinese.

If you want to play import RPGs, take Japanese.

I think that about sums it up...

[Ack]

If you want to learn a second language you will actually use, take Spanish.

If you want to pick up girls, take French.

If you want German people - who all speak perfect English, BTW - to be impressed with yout thoughtfulness, take German.

If you want to study the classics, take Greek and Latin.

If you are a sucker for punishment, take Russian.

If you want to get an exciting, high-paying job, take Mandarin Chinese.

If you want to play import RPGs, take Japanese.

I think that about sums it up...

Russian really isn't that bad. One of my stepbrothers speaks it. And one of my brothers speaks Korean, but also knows some Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.

[o.pwuaioc]

Russian isn't actually that difficult. The worst is the idiomatic nature of the language, but it's no more difficult than Italian in that respect. Actually, the real terrible part is the pronunciation of the myagki' znak and other softened letters. It's something that Americans (and most other Western Europeans) do not have in their languages.

[Luke]

If you want German people - who all speak perfect English, BTW - to be impressed with yout thoughtfulness, take German.

The best group partner I had in academia resided in Germany. He flew his family and friends in when he earned his MBA, and one of my professors took us all out for dinner (I placed a bet we would ace his course, which had never been done before. We aced it, prof owed us dinner).

Not only did my friend Karsten speak perfect English, so did his family and friends. Their accents were noticeable, but not heavy. Their manners were exemplary, only matched by their courtesy.

I'm multilingual at what I call "The restaurant level". Might not be able to hold a deep conversation, but I'll be able to tell you what is on the menu and how to ask where the bathrooms are.

[dsheinem]

Of course, but then again, in Oklahoma (for a lot of people, especially in the capitol since it is a more conservative state) Christianity pretty much is the endorsed religion there, despite the idea of separation of church and state. I also personally believe that, except for a select few, separation of church and state is a very hard thing to do. When you grow up with a certain set of values, that tends to affect your viewpoint on certain things, including political things, which can cause quite a few problems when trying to decide the laws and such. (Abortion anyone?)

Also, there was a group moving for removal of the Ten Commandments monument, and I believe there was a court case over it, although I can't think of the group at this time.

Excellent Salon piece on this: http://www.salon.com/2014/01/10/why_thi ... t_partner/

[SamuraiMegas]

edit: and i don't want to stay in the states so i would prefer to learn a european language.

Protip: Spanish is still a European language.

But is it as fun to shout in?

[prfsnl_gmr]

edit: and i don't want to stay in the states so i would prefer to learn a european language.

Protip: Spanish is still a European language.

But is it as fun to shout in?

If you want to shout, I recommend German or Japanese. They both have a guttural sound that makes shouting a lot of fun.

[Luke]

It's Deutsch!

But yes. Screaming in "German" is a tradition in my family. The only bad thing about being able to speak Deutsch is that one time at O'Hare I was in line behind a German couple who talked about nothing other than sex. It didn't matter that they were a gay couple, but what did matter is what they planned on doing to each other.


Thought:

You know those people at the grocery store who have a tiny kiosk near an isle and ask "Would you like to sample so and so?" that you always say "No thanks" to?

Humor them. I bet that their job stinks and probably don't receive a lot of positive reinforcement. Be a good duder and sample what they are peddling, and a simple "How're things going?" goes a long way. These guys and gals stand around all day in front of mini-sausages and seem to loathe life in general. Doesn't hurt to play along and pretend that they're doing a great job to brighten their day.