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Yes to Lingua Franca, so what else do you utter?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by ElNopal, Jun 20, 2020.

  1. Jun 20, 2020 at 8:05 PM
    #1
    ElNopal

    ElNopal [OP] Stay classy and be well

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    ¡Hola!, hello and Greetings, Tundra brothers and sisters,

    A little bit of “ElNopal” back story should not have to hurt so here we go!

    Throughout early life, it was STRONGLY encouraged that I learn to speak the Lingua Franca... so I did. It was NOT easy, far from it. As with anything worthwhile, nothing ever really is...

    What the heck is Lingua Franca and why do I give a rip anyway? Well... according to the oxford dictionaries: Lingua Franca means the following:

    “ a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different.”

    So in other words, it IS the be all language of languages in the world right now and probably to be for quite the while. English is the bold language that rules the world’s current everything right now! Just as the best of the best, -insert category here- get up early everyday to “train/master” their respective crafts, there are people ALL over the world that wake up early and go to bed late to learn the Lingua Franca! Think about that... something that many, including myself, easily take for granted.

    English IS número uno. Depending on what group of speakers produces more offspring (Chinese or Spanish speaking Latinos), in the given statistical year, determines which places Chinese or Spanish take in the top three spoken languages of the world... Currently the top three languages are English, Chinese, and Spanish(Castellano). I am proud to relay that I am rather fluent in two of them!

    In the event you may be wondering, (or not- but you still read this far...) when I am not tinkering on the Tundra, I am parsing out languages. Yes, linguistics can be called my “background” nowadays. When at work, I am imparting Lingua Franca and Castellano skills in our youth from the ages of 6-13 (2nd-8th graders). I gave up on high school because they already know everything and can not be bothered, “I already know how to talk in English”... okay?.

    While I regret to say that I have almost lost all of my novice level 1 skills in Gaelic Irish ( yes I was becoming somewhat fluent), I continue to dabble in Náhuatl. This is my family’s native tribal tongue.

    So the long short is this! It is evident there is quite the talent pool here in our site. I am always curious to know what other languages others might be talented or fluent in.

    What is/are you second/or more languages?!
     
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  2. Jun 20, 2020 at 8:48 PM
    #2
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    I took French immersion until grade 10. Used to be fluent. I still know a bit but my grammar and accent are even worse than they used to be.
     
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  3. Jun 20, 2020 at 9:38 PM
    #3
    ElNopal

    ElNopal [OP] Stay classy and be well

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    Thanks for sharing. Awesome to hear!

    C’est très super!

    I asked my daughter for that one. She is taking French currently.
     
  4. Jun 21, 2020 at 5:43 AM
    #4
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    [​IMG]
     
  5. Jun 21, 2020 at 8:06 AM
    #5
    Outbound

    Outbound SSEM #2.5, Token AmeriCanadian

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    I was forced to take French classes from something like grade 6 to 9. I dropped it as soon as I could. Never liked the language. Never liked what french means in Canada (let's not get political now...). Never felt it would be useful in my life (I've been right so far).

    I did take 2 years of Spanish in high school. I like the language and it would be useful to me. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts I don't have an ear for language and barely passed the class. I never could become conversational outside of a few phrases. If it's spoken slow enough I can often piece together what was said. It's a rapidly spoken language though. I still try now and then with Duolingo, or when I hang out with some Spanish speaking friends we'll try to work on it but it just doesn't click. I watched Narcos and turned the subtitles off to challenge myself. That was comical. LOL!

    I had similar results with German. My grandparents are German and as a kid grandma would teach me a bit. I know a few phrases, can often figure out what somone is saying if it's spoken slowly, but I can't hold a conversation.
     
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  6. Jun 21, 2020 at 8:28 AM
    #6
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    It was important to our parents that my brothers and I learn a second language and they thought French would be the most likely to be useful, say in our careers. So far it hasn't affected our employment prospects but I was able to order baguette sandwiches in Paris for my friends so I'd say it was worth it.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2020
  7. Jun 21, 2020 at 8:42 AM
    #7
    Kung

    Kung Dead sexy

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    I took 4 years of Spanish, and it definitely helped me in Spain getting around. Instead of sounding like a complete idiot, I simply sounded like an idiot. :p
     
  8. Jun 21, 2020 at 9:29 AM
    #8
    Outbound

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    That's fair. My parents never really put priority on a second language. They saw value in it, but not enough to push us into it. Neither my brother nor I ever showed signs of being the type to go for employment where a second language would make or break our career. Our family aren't really world travellers either. My parents have been across Canada and to sout east Asia a couple times. I've only be to the US and the only other places I have interest in going generally speak English. Growing up on the West coast, Mandarin or Punjabi would have been more useful than French anyways. LOL
     
  9. Jun 21, 2020 at 9:54 AM
    #9
    Marty McFly

    Marty McFly Nobody calls me chicken!! Except when off roading

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    I think Klingon should be the universal language :eek:

     
  10. Jun 21, 2020 at 10:01 AM
    #10
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    You just like the giant scrotum on their foreheads. :p


    To the OP: I think it's awesome that people take the time and effort to learn multiple languages. I had spanish in middle school (hated it) and forgot it all by the time I was out of high school. I would love to learn Japanese and go to Japan some day.
     
  11. Jun 21, 2020 at 10:53 AM
    #11
    bleach

    bleach MEME Fiend

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    Could be worse...

    upload_2020-6-21_10-53-19.jpg
     
  12. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:03 AM
    #12
    TheBeast

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    I'm bilingual English/French, also speak some German and Spanish and studied Latin for 3 years. I feel German is the most difficult of all.
     
  13. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:03 AM
    #13
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

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    I spoke some Yiddish and Spanish when I was young, but my hard drive crashed and those files were corrupted.
     
  14. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:07 AM
    #14
    ElNopal

    ElNopal [OP] Stay classy and be well

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    Hai, dōi shimashita!

    Yes, agreed!

    I am a fan of anime (as are the kiddos) and enjoy the Japanese culture. I know the above phrase from my favorite shows.

    My oldest son was studying Japanese until it got pulled from the school curriculum... He took French instead and actually kept it. He is tri-lingual and it has catapulted his career in IT... He still regrets not learning Japanese though.
     
  15. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:09 AM
    #15
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    I only know a few karate terms in Japanese. Can probably still count to 10, which means I can probably count to 99.
     
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  16. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:09 AM
    #16
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    i used to be fluent in german. lived there as a kid for almost 5 years. i've lost most of it but i can still order a beer/dinner/gelato and ask about the weather. that gets me through most conversations.

    i've tried to wrap my head around russian but, my brain is old now and russian is more complicated than german. like german, i can order food, pay a bill, and do pleasantries. roxy is completely fluent. she picked up a new tutor since being home and the woman thought she was native russian. she was totally surprised that roxy's first language is english.

    i think it's the effort that counts not the fluency. most people i've spoken with in moscow are just surprised i'm even trying and that goes a long way.
     
  17. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:12 AM
    #17
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    That was definitely my experience in France. Not so much in Quebec...
     
  18. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:13 AM
    #18
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    :rofl:

    yea, let's not open that can of worms....
     
  19. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:18 AM
    #19
    Bob_Wiley

    Bob_Wiley I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful...

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    Took French in high school, but I’ve pretty much forgotten everything. Second language is Portuguese but it’s been a few years since I’ve really spoken it, can still read / understand a good amount though.
     
  20. Jun 21, 2020 at 11:36 AM
    #20
    TheBeast

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    yes French from Quebec is interesting. I do like it though. Similar to a French speaking guy from Belgium or Switzerland. Each accent makes you work for it :)
     
  21. Jun 21, 2020 at 12:17 PM
    #21
    Outbound

    Outbound SSEM #2.5, Token AmeriCanadian

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    I used to work with a guy from France, the Nice region iirc, who immigrated to 'Berta after marrying a Canuckistani woman. We had another guy from Quebec. The French guy HATED the Quebecer. LOL. He said, and I quote this verbatim "What the hell do you fools in Quebec think you are? You're not French! You don't speak French! You speak some bastardized version that is an insult to France, French people and French culture! Don't get me started on poutine. You imbeciles think that it's some form of haute de cuisine! Merde!"

    It was fucking hysterical. His moral outrage, his accent and the expression on the Quebecers face had me damn near pissing myself laughing.
     
  22. Jun 21, 2020 at 12:28 PM
    #22
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    always cracks me up that backstage, pre-show, dancers say this to each other. the history of it is pretty funny.
     
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  23. Jun 21, 2020 at 1:12 PM
    #23
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    I would have thought the Quebecer would be outraged at the French guy's accent or something like that. :rofl:

    I like poutine but then I don't go in for fine dining all that much. Give me a burger and a craft beer any night.
     
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  24. Jun 21, 2020 at 1:46 PM
    #24
    ElNopal

    ElNopal [OP] Stay classy and be well

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    I am not aware of the ‘French situation in Quebec’ but it sounds like my in-laws down in Mexico City/CDMX. My wife still has proud smooth family members that are “French-Mexicans”. They always make it a point to tell others that they are decedents from the prestigious French “installed monarchs“ that occupied Mexico in the 1860’s. Yes, they speak French but I wonder how it/they would be perceived by French from France. :monocle:
     
  25. Jun 21, 2020 at 1:51 PM
    #25
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    If anybody French gets too uppity you can just be a dick with this one:

    Tell them you collect guns, but you are specifically very interested in French war weapons. Inevitably this will be an ego stroke and they will ask why you are interested in their amazing weapons. The appropriate response is "well, they've never been fired, and were only dropped once."

    Only say this if the person is a douche. Not all French are.
     
  26. Jun 21, 2020 at 3:35 PM
    #26
    Kung

    Kung Dead sexy

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    This. In Spain, I made it a point to speak Spanish as well as possible anywhere I went. 99% of the time, if I simply asked them what the time was, or how much this cost, they'd get excited as hell, and I'd have to darn near shout "mas despacio" and "solo entiendo un poco" to get them to realize I was a n00b at it; but they were just happy I tried.

    Meanwhile in France (well, in Paris)....well, as my buddy once said, "If you've ever ordered a bottle of wine and been insulted by a headwaiter, you've experienced France." LOL Though Cannes was a lot more laid back than Paris was.
     
  27. Jun 21, 2020 at 3:45 PM
    #27
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    :hattip: So, now you know what a gold mine French weapons are. :fistbump:

    Was a story from a former coworker. He was retired army, and told me about how he said it to a guy while he was over there. I thought it was funny.
     
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  28. Jun 21, 2020 at 3:49 PM
    #28
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    I saw Ron mentioned Pig Latin, and I guess I can add my own altered English to the list. It's called Alf-alfa (just like the cow food or little rascal) and my Mother taught all of her kids. She learned it from one of her childhood friends when she was in a girls home as a kid. It is simple, but I've never met anyone outside my family that speaks it unless one of us taught them. Very handy thing to have when you want to essentially speak in code around kids or idiots, but you can't curse in it. Those words stand out like a sore thumb. lol

    Side note, when I talk to my Pug in Alf-alfa she tips her head like mad. She recognizes that I am talking to her, but she doesn't understand and gets all excited about it. She's a doll.
     
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  29. Jun 21, 2020 at 3:54 PM
    #29
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Not sure I can give away family secrets. :rofl:
     
  30. Jun 21, 2020 at 3:58 PM
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    TheBeast

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    don't worry even French natives get insulted by rude waiters too. It's the Parisian way, some are just dicks..think NY..haha
     
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