Objectives of Languages
Today I had a big lunch at Sevi’s with her flatmates and their friends, and had a lot of fun over good food. It was great to go beyond the stagiaires’ boundary and to be in a multicultural environment - well, it is true, though, going to somewhere in Brussels is almost always being surrounded by multi cultures. There were four Spanish/ Catalan, one Bulgarian, one Norwegian and one Korean. However, the best explanation about where I am from I think was the one’s from Madrid. He said, “after growing up in Madrid, but living in the US for two years, and now living in Brussels for five years, I no longer know where I really am from. I have been thinking about posting on identity some day and, in addition to a friend of mine’s case, who has mixed more various places and periods into forming his identity, this guy gave me a good insight on this subject.
Back to the title of this post, while we were talking about French language with which most of us are struggling, one of the Spaniards said as following:
English for business
French for diplomacy
Spanish for love
I think Italians will argue about the last one but I’m quite sure no one would tackle on the first two. Some might replace French with Chinese but it’s not really likely yet.
After all, the objective of (learning foreign) languages can be best achieved when it’s based on one’s own interest and amusement. When the needs come from external-forced- factors, however, it’s hard to maintain one’s motivation. Well, maybe I’m saying this as an excuse of my slow progress in French.
Owen:
^^Interesting…
Spanish and French are classified as “Romance Languages” derived from the now ‘dead’ Latin; while English in turn derives more than 60% of it’s words from French and Latin. After all business? diplomacy? love? Are they not linked in some strange way? kk
10 November 2008, 6:56 amDalicia:
Regarding your friend…2 yrs in USA is too short!!! I mean, where you’re from is where you spent most of your time growing up.
English is an universal language. The only HUGE disappointment that not all Europeans can speak English well or at all. They always criticize that the Asians
can’t speak English well. But, I find that they’re equally just as bad. Possibly national pride? Or that the Europeans get away for not speaking English.
Now, Chinese is for business. Spanish for love? I’m not sure about that!!! I find that it’s so easy to learn Spanish. That I don’t even want to try!
13 November 2008, 9:40 amDick:
As for the last one it will not be Dutch. lol.
13 November 2008, 5:18 pmSunkyoung:
Owen - Your analysis is interesting too.
Dalicia - The period of two years cannot be really long but, with regard to how much it influenced his life, it might have been long enough to form a part of his identity. Of course, everyone has a place where they can call home no matter how blurred their identities are. But I rather understood he’s in the middle of being identified by not only where he spent most of his time but also how he’s been leading his life in every different place where has been his temporary home.
Dick - I’m sorry but I have to agree with you.
16 November 2008, 10:03 pmHanChul:
Sometimes I speak Korean when no other languages are working. kk
17 November 2008, 1:51 amSunkyoung:
I truly sympathise with you, Hanchul.
17 November 2008, 9:41 pmOwen:
In my experience Asians ARE wrongly criticised for not speaking English well but this is mainly through ingnorance of the person who criticises them. Most other immigrants have trouble with the language aswell but because there may be more asians, they get singled out.
But what most people do not realise is that in countries like the USA, Canada and NZ (and I am sure many others) there is no official language for everyday use. There is an official language sometimes for the courts or government but not for everyday use. There is therefore no requirement for the immigrant to speak English to you at all. Indeed there are always pockets of language minorities where people speak little or no English on a daily basis.
If you cannot speak the language of another person or group of people it is up to you or them to find a way to communicate by learning the others’ language. Many people in Korea speak English so they can work with foreigners in business and many also learn Japanese or Chinese in order to do business in these countries. Still others simply wanna make friends with foreign people from these countries which is also a valid goal. Personally I learn Korea, Japanese and Chinese for personal reasons because I with to understand and talk to people from there and make friends.
1 December 2008, 1:25 amKML:
The epigram you listed reminds me of an old T-shirt I have:
Macintosh for Productivity
Linux for Development
Palm for Mobility
Windows for Solitaire
I guess this can be updated now to:
Mac for Productivity
19 December 2008, 5:17 amLinux for Development
iPhone for Mobility
Windows for Minesweeper
Sunkyoung:
Owen - An (absence of) official language for everyday use is pretty much subject to the language setting where one is situated. For me, it’s a mixture of English, French and Korean. Good luck with your learning different East Asian languages.
KML - The epigram you suggested reminds me of the fact that you are a geek as well as historian.
According to your twitter feed last night, you may add ‘Thief: The Dark Project’ to Windows’ utilities. I remember my parents bought my brother one of ‘Monkey Island’ series when we had a PC with MS DOS in early 90’s. At that time, I helped him translating the manuals and conversations on the monitor. ‘MS DOS’!!! - I already feel myself a bit old saying this and can’t imagine how old I will actually sound when I say ‘MS DOS’ to a generation of Loki’s.
20 December 2008, 2:38 pm