How many languages do you speak?

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BlueShift

571 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 103578 11-Jun-2012 14:57
NZ tends to be a very monocultural society. Even though we have 3 official languages, few are fluent in even 2 of them (and many can't name all three). Having said that, some professions tend to attract a more globe-trotting crowd, I'm thinking doctors and scientists. How polyglottal is the Geekzone community? I am only really fluent in English, but can follow some (very) simple written French & Spanish. My brother's fiance however is fluent in about 6 or 7 languages, and can swear in several more, they're raising their sprog to be at least bilingual.

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581 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 639010 11-Jun-2012 15:30
2, although only fluent in one official NZ one. My native tongue is Dutch. I still find it very easy to read and understand, although writing and speaking (constructing sentences) is a bit rusty now, after not having lived there for 30 odd years.

xpd

Minecraft n00b
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Reply # 639021 11-Jun-2012 15:37
English.... can read a bit of German. Somehow I came in the top 3 of my class for French/German back in 3rd form... XPD / @DemiseNZ / Gavin Website CPU : Intel E5300 GFX: Geforce 9800GTX/+ RAM: 3GB DDR2 A+ - MCDST - MCTS CCNA Arriving soon.

dclegg

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Reply # 639030 11-Jun-2012 15:45
I was top of my school in 3rd Form French, but gave it up after 4th Form (taken again primarily to score a trip to Tahiti :-)), so now even my rusty French is rusty. I am multilingual when it comes to software development though. Does that net me any bonus points?

freitasm

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Reply # 639042 11-Jun-2012 15:56
Portuguese, English, Spanish. Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

tdgeek

1701 posts

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Reply # 639045 11-Jun-2012 15:59
English, German 3 years, base Mandarin

groynk

109 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 639062 11-Jun-2012 16:15
English, Portuguese (and rusty primary school Maori) It's harder to learn a new language without having an environment which enables day to day practice. Since English is so widely used it is less likely for English speakers to need to learn another language too. Just my theory based on my experiences. I know our 3 official languages, but won't spoil the fun for everyone :)

Klipspringer

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Reply # 639064 11-Jun-2012 16:16
English, Afrikaans Offense can never be given, only taken ...

geek4me

538 posts

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Reply # 639065 11-Jun-2012 16:16
English, Dutch and some German.

BlueShift

571 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 639067 11-Jun-2012 16:18
groynk: It's harder to learn a new language without having an environment which enables day to day practice. Since English is so widely used it is less likely for English speakers to need to learn another language too. Just my theory based on my experiences. They say the best way to learn a new language is in bed. I'm not sure if by 'best' they mean 'most effective' or 'most fun'.

insane

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Reply # 639093 11-Jun-2012 16:34
English and Afrikaans. Three years of trying to learn Xhosa was time wasted though...

IlDuce

768 posts

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Reply # 639097 11-Jun-2012 16:41
English and Russian. Would like to learn sign language, but don't know anyone locally who uses it to learn from.

xpd

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Reply # 639100 11-Jun-2012 16:43
No Klingon yet ? XPD / @DemiseNZ / Gavin Website CPU : Intel E5300 GFX: Geforce 9800GTX/+ RAM: 3GB DDR2 A+ - MCDST - MCTS CCNA Arriving soon.

tdgeek

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Reply # 639124 11-Jun-2012 17:10
IlDuce: English and Russian. Would like to learn sign language, but don't know anyone locally who uses it to learn from. A mate is Jeremy the earthquake, sign language guy's brother. I didn't know, but about a half hour into a few beers in Summer, hmm, he looks familiar! I can find out if you want, where are you?

wanghou168

358 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 639143 11-Jun-2012 17:33
English and Mandarin Trying to learn Spanish now Cheapest Online Bookstore Free Worldwide Delivery http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/?a_aid=lhou021 MOBILE: Motorola Defy (Quarx JB 4.1.2) TABLET: Samsung Galaxy tablet OTHER: Asus laptop + Samsung ChromeBook

Behodar

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Reply # 639148 11-Jun-2012 17:34
日本語を勉強しています (I am learning Japanese) but I'm far from fluent at this stage.

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