-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
What additional languages can you speak and/or read?
- Thread starter Tabris
- Start date
- Status
I'm from Austria so I mainly speak German in real life, although it is a very heavy dialect, we even text using the dialect (you just spell the way you talk if that makes sense), it's kinda weird I guess. All official text is of course in proper German, I can also speak proper German, but there will be slip ups and I don't enjoy it as it makes me feel very unnatural.
English is my favorite though, I just stopped watching TV shows with shitty dubs at 15 and never looked back, I consume all my media in English, I read pretty much everything in English, I set all my devices to English etc.
English is my favorite though, I just stopped watching TV shows with shitty dubs at 15 and never looked back, I consume all my media in English, I read pretty much everything in English, I set all my devices to English etc.
Fluent Portuguese, proficient Spanish and a little Japanese. My mom is Japanese but grew up in Brazil and I've been going to visit family in Brazil since i was a baby. Also did two study abroads there. Took Spanish in school and studied abroad in Spain. Took a couple of Japanese classes in college, but still need a lot of work on it. Can also understand some French and Italian since they're other romance languages.
If you know Spanish, you shouldn't have any trouble with Portuguese. They're very similar.
If you know Spanish, you shouldn't have any trouble with Portuguese. They're very similar.
ComeBackBaby
Member
Yoruba, a common language in Nigeria (both parents Nigerian)
and English (grew up my entire life in the U.S.)
and English (grew up my entire life in the U.S.)
Haha goddamn. No wonder those expat English teachers I know have been plugging iTalki.
Yeah the only thing I can think of that is similar to DuoLingo that has Japanese as an option is Language Perfect. But as far as I know that's solely for schools.
Dayner_Kurdi
Banned
mother is Arabic, so English and i can understand and speak Japaneses with some mistake there and there but not fluent level, holding level 2 in Japaneses.
D
Deleted member 518153
Unconfirmed Member
- German and Russian because they're my mother tongue
- enough French so I can understand intermediate texts and easy conversations
- bad Spanish
- solid intermediate Mandarin but listening comprehension is a bitch outside of putonghua/most outside the classroom
Would love to learn Arabic at some point or use my knowledge in Chinese characters to start Japanese.
- enough French so I can understand intermediate texts and easy conversations
- bad Spanish
- solid intermediate Mandarin but listening comprehension is a bitch outside of putonghua/most outside the classroom
Would love to learn Arabic at some point or use my knowledge in Chinese characters to start Japanese.
I used to be excited about chasing fluency in my second languages and working towards a career overseas, but shout-outs to rare autoimmune conditions handcuffing me to Canadian health care. Still, I've got a few second languages kicking around from the days I had motivation:
French – Studied from the beginning of elementary school until the 11th grade. I get most of my news from French Canadian public radio, read it fine, and speak it fairly well most of the time as long as I'm focused. Every now and then I get to use my French with customers at work as well, which has never gone badly. My spelling has gone to hell though. Still, I live in what is a de jure bilingual city, so it's hard for me to get too lazy with my French as long as I get out of my apartment enough.
Spanish – Studied from the middle of high school to the end of university (was my minor) after which point I moved to Buenos Aires for a year. At my peak, I was pretty comfortable dealing in Argentine dialects and the professional Spanish I learned in school, but was pretty easily thrown off by dialects that I had less exposure to. I originally kept up learning the language to read a variety of untranslated literature that interested me, and reading is still definitely my strength. These days, when I know what I need to say, I can still say it well, but if I try to roll with it or make impulsive small talk, I end up kicking myself because at some point I started to mix-in...
...Brazilian Portuguese – You see, when I lived in Argentina, I befriended a Brazilian actress and continued keeping up with her online after I returned home to Canada. At this point, I decided I loved the sound and the feel of the language and plowed through beginner, intermediate and advanced Pimsleur audio lessons. These worked wonders for making me feel confident and fluent in the language in three measly months (largely in thanks to my other Romance languages, obviously), and I managed to apply it at a Portuguese meetup/chat group; however, eventually that dissolved, life got busy and I fell out of IM'ing my Brazilian friend. These days I just get some Portuguese out of listening to music and the rare customer at work.
Lately, however, the language bug is biting again and I'm assessing what I can get out of learning Japanese, as well as what sort of resources are available. (Thank you GAF for putting the idea in my head.) I wouldn't necessarily want to go all the way with it, but I like the idea of the challenge of learning kanji, and wouldn't mind better understanding all of the Japanese that my fighting game hobby exposes me to.
French – Studied from the beginning of elementary school until the 11th grade. I get most of my news from French Canadian public radio, read it fine, and speak it fairly well most of the time as long as I'm focused. Every now and then I get to use my French with customers at work as well, which has never gone badly. My spelling has gone to hell though. Still, I live in what is a de jure bilingual city, so it's hard for me to get too lazy with my French as long as I get out of my apartment enough.
Spanish – Studied from the middle of high school to the end of university (was my minor) after which point I moved to Buenos Aires for a year. At my peak, I was pretty comfortable dealing in Argentine dialects and the professional Spanish I learned in school, but was pretty easily thrown off by dialects that I had less exposure to. I originally kept up learning the language to read a variety of untranslated literature that interested me, and reading is still definitely my strength. These days, when I know what I need to say, I can still say it well, but if I try to roll with it or make impulsive small talk, I end up kicking myself because at some point I started to mix-in...
...Brazilian Portuguese – You see, when I lived in Argentina, I befriended a Brazilian actress and continued keeping up with her online after I returned home to Canada. At this point, I decided I loved the sound and the feel of the language and plowed through beginner, intermediate and advanced Pimsleur audio lessons. These worked wonders for making me feel confident and fluent in the language in three measly months (largely in thanks to my other Romance languages, obviously), and I managed to apply it at a Portuguese meetup/chat group; however, eventually that dissolved, life got busy and I fell out of IM'ing my Brazilian friend. These days I just get some Portuguese out of listening to music and the rare customer at work.
Lately, however, the language bug is biting again and I'm assessing what I can get out of learning Japanese, as well as what sort of resources are available. (Thank you GAF for putting the idea in my head.) I wouldn't necessarily want to go all the way with it, but I like the idea of the challenge of learning kanji, and wouldn't mind better understanding all of the Japanese that my fighting game hobby exposes me to.
Laevateinn
Member
Other than English, I can carry on a conversation in Japanese and read stuff meant for kids. I also took 5 years of French so I can read quite a bit but when French people talk it just sounds like mumbles. I also took two years of Latin so I know a bit but it's been a while.
hugocésar
Member
Spanish and English. I'm learning French and can read it pretty alright, but hearing it is a whole different story. Got a long way to go, but i find it pretty easy, being a Latin language and all. I'd like to learn Japanese, but well, I just need the dedication cause every time I try to it just feels impenetrable.
Native language is Spanish.
I can speak and read English fluently, and I also speak and read Japanese at a basic level. Will start studying Portuguese next month and probably Italian after that.
I studied Japanese because my school was Peruvian-Japanese, if it weren't for that I probably wouldn't have approached the language on my own. I'm actually grateful I learned a bit, enough to hold basic conversations and read hiragana and katakana. Kanji can go to hell, it's the main reason I stopped studying the language
I can speak and read English fluently, and I also speak and read Japanese at a basic level. Will start studying Portuguese next month and probably Italian after that.
I studied Japanese because my school was Peruvian-Japanese, if it weren't for that I probably wouldn't have approached the language on my own. I'm actually grateful I learned a bit, enough to hold basic conversations and read hiragana and katakana. Kanji can go to hell, it's the main reason I stopped studying the language
SolVanderlyn
Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
English - native speaker
Japanese - proficient, not fluent, read like a first grader (so can't really read at all basically)
I wish I could read and write Arabic, it's such a beautiful written language.
Japanese - proficient, not fluent, read like a first grader (so can't really read at all basically)
I wish I could read and write Arabic, it's such a beautiful written language.
loaf of bread
Member
I used to be proficient in Italian but abrupty stopped altogether 3 years ago and forgot most of it , I could probably get back up if I studied for a couple weeks though. Really wish I spent all the time I spent on Italian on French instead.
Spanish I can read and understand pretty much fine but probably couldn't have a conversation.
Learning Korean now, can form and read extremely basic phrases.
Starting Japanese next year. Aiming on being fluent in Japanese within 2 years of starting then go back to finish up learning Korean.
After I'm done with all that I'll start Mandarin lol.
Spanish I can read and understand pretty much fine but probably couldn't have a conversation.
Learning Korean now, can form and read extremely basic phrases.
Starting Japanese next year. Aiming on being fluent in Japanese within 2 years of starting then go back to finish up learning Korean.
After I'm done with all that I'll start Mandarin lol.
Evo Shandor
Member
Studied Linguistics in university.
Although it has been some time now for many of the languages I learned to read, I am confident that I can pick up a book in the following languages and read either comfortably or with minimal assistance:
Latin
Italian
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Icelandic
Old Icelandic
Old Norse
Hebrew
English
Anglo-Saxon
Scots
Irish Gaelic
Other languages would require studying. For conversation, I am comfortable in:
English
Italian
Spanish
French
Although it has been some time now for many of the languages I learned to read, I am confident that I can pick up a book in the following languages and read either comfortably or with minimal assistance:
Latin
Italian
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Icelandic
Old Icelandic
Old Norse
Hebrew
English
Anglo-Saxon
Scots
Irish Gaelic
Other languages would require studying. For conversation, I am comfortable in:
English
Italian
Spanish
French
Doczu
Member
I am fluent in Polish, English and Dutch. I understand spoken German, can talk a bit if needed and i (mostly) understand what is written in German (thanks to my work it get's better every day).
I also understand other Slavic languages, as they have a lot in common, specifically Czech and Russian (this one is a bit wonky).
Next on my list is French, gonna try and learn for myself.
I also understand other Slavic languages, as they have a lot in common, specifically Czech and Russian (this one is a bit wonky).
Next on my list is French, gonna try and learn for myself.
Earthpainting
Member
Been raised in Dutch and French, pop culture taught me English, and studied up German and Latin in school. Not sure if I'd say I'm fluent in German, since I catch myself not being able to think in German. It's always thinking in Dutch, and then translating it in my head. I assume it's mostly because I don't use it enough. I also know a decent amount of Italian by growing up in a immigrant neighbourhood and associations I can make to other languages. I'm nowhere near fluent enough to hold a conversation without having sounding like a toddler, but my comprehension seems decent enough to understand Italian television.
Been messing with the idea of trying to dabble into Spanish, but I won't get any practical use out of it in my day-to-day life. This makes it harder to practice and stay motivated.
Been messing with the idea of trying to dabble into Spanish, but I won't get any practical use out of it in my day-to-day life. This makes it harder to practice and stay motivated.
I am fluent in Luxembourgish, German, French and English. I have limited language skills in Spanish, Italian and Japanese.
The three foreign languages I speak were all subjects in school. I did 13 years of German, 11 of French, and 6 of English. Of those, I'm definitely most confident in German (because it's very similar to my native language (I've been speaking German since I was 3-4 years old)) and English (because I watch / listen / play most things in English, and because I study in the UK). What other rudimentary language skills I have I've been collecting in bits whenever I've had the time to do a bit of studying (I use text books supplemented with actual literature).
The three foreign languages I speak were all subjects in school. I did 13 years of German, 11 of French, and 6 of English. Of those, I'm definitely most confident in German (because it's very similar to my native language (I've been speaking German since I was 3-4 years old)) and English (because I watch / listen / play most things in English, and because I study in the UK). What other rudimentary language skills I have I've been collecting in bits whenever I've had the time to do a bit of studying (I use text books supplemented with actual literature).
eloquentish
Neo Member
I'm fluent in English and Portuguese, both being native tongues - the first because I was brought up in Australia, the second because my background is Brazilian. I also speak Spanish very well, and speak French conversationally.
One thing I have always done with other languages, and taught my students to do when I was teaching ESL, is to listen to music (following the lyrics) and watch tv shows in the language you want to learn. With the latter, it's great to watch each episode once with subtitles in your mother tongue, a second time with subtitles in the language you're learning, and then a third time without subtitles.
One thing I have always done with other languages, and taught my students to do when I was teaching ESL, is to listen to music (following the lyrics) and watch tv shows in the language you want to learn. With the latter, it's great to watch each episode once with subtitles in your mother tongue, a second time with subtitles in the language you're learning, and then a third time without subtitles.
Patrick Bateman
Member
I speak a bit of English, German, Spanish and Russian.
Ya you guys are weird. Austrian forums might be one of the weirdest things on the internet. Written dialect just looks so, so wrong.
OT: Fluent in German, pretty good written English, probably not so good spoken English since I never get to speak it.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
Upper Intermediate/Advanced Japanese - Can speak, read, write.
Think I'm going to have to live there for a bit if I ever hope to be fluent though. It's a lot harder fitting in study time around full time work.
Think I'm going to have to live there for a bit if I ever hope to be fluent though. It's a lot harder fitting in study time around full time work.
I took three years of Spanish in high school and am now minoring in Spanish at the university. I hope to study abroad somewhere in South America next academic year.
Also, I'm really jealous of anybody who was brought up speaking more than one language. You guys are lucky. Most people in the US only speak English, and I wish we had more second language education.
Also, I'm really jealous of anybody who was brought up speaking more than one language. You guys are lucky. Most people in the US only speak English, and I wish we had more second language education.
Well, I grew up in Germany and learned english in school and the internet. I also had a few years russian, but at this point I have a greater japanese vocabularly from hentais than russian from school. However I can still read and write kyrillian letters, which is nifty sometimes.
Mother tongue: Norwegian (speak dialect (we all do) and write BokmĂĄl), and as a bonus I understand Swedish and Danish.
Practically fluent: English, we start at around six years old and keep at it for thirteen years in school.
Practicing fluency: Italian, I can understand almost everything I read unless it is a specialized and technical topic. Listening comprehension is a bit behind that and I still need to work on talking on a more regular basis. Grammer knowledge is quite solid, but I do make mistakes both in speaking and writing if I'm not careful.
Some comprehension of varying degrees:
Thanks to Italian I can probably pick up on what a text in Spanish or French is about in a general sense.
Maybe 20ish single words in Japanese and a most 4 phrases from watching to much anime.
Some words in German and Icelandic are recognizable, but I wouldn't really know if they mean what I think they mean.
Practically fluent: English, we start at around six years old and keep at it for thirteen years in school.
Practicing fluency: Italian, I can understand almost everything I read unless it is a specialized and technical topic. Listening comprehension is a bit behind that and I still need to work on talking on a more regular basis. Grammer knowledge is quite solid, but I do make mistakes both in speaking and writing if I'm not careful.
Some comprehension of varying degrees:
Thanks to Italian I can probably pick up on what a text in Spanish or French is about in a general sense.
Maybe 20ish single words in Japanese and a most 4 phrases from watching to much anime.
Some words in German and Icelandic are recognizable, but I wouldn't really know if they mean what I think they mean.
But you all speak the same dialect? Does it have a semi official spelling?
I hate it when people write in dialect in Norwegain, we all have a different one depending on where you are from and even people who have the same dialect will choose different spellings for the same word. It's a nightmare. Luckily most people don't write dialect and keep to BokmĂĄl or Nynorsk which are the two official ways to write Norwegian.
Atraveller
Banned
English. Also, I was watching a German game stream some time ago and understood almost all of it (German is mandatory in schools here in this part of Poland, but that's probably because my city is like 10 km from the Polish-German border), but I couldn't remember how to write/speak it myself so I talked to the people on the stream/in chat in English. Felt kinda ashamed, considering I was pretty good at it back in school, but I haven't had an opportunity to use it for years.
By the way the Swedish/Danish/Norwegian -language trinity is fun sometimes.
I visit Germany quite often due to an international project I work with, and there's a Danish guy working with the same project. I have lost count of how many times we've had to explain that when we talk I speak Swedish and he speaks Danish. The reactions can be quite priceless, usually confused.
I visit Germany quite often due to an international project I work with, and there's a Danish guy working with the same project. I have lost count of how many times we've had to explain that when we talk I speak Swedish and he speaks Danish. The reactions can be quite priceless, usually confused.
- Status