A language learners’ forum

Brun Ugle wrote:

zenmonkey wrote:

rdearman wrote:I've seriously not done any work with languages for a long time now, and I really don't see myself doing any more work in the immediate future. I'm going to the gathering but not really holding out much hope of showing any improvement in any language that I've listed myself as studying. In fact, I'm positive that both vonPeterhof and Zenmonkey have surpassed me in Setswana. But hey, I'm the "typhoid Mary" of languages, I'm just a carrier and don't seem to get infected myself.

I seem to have caught another part of the disease, I have done zero Setswana for weeks. We can sit in the corner while Brun Ugle and vonPeterhof chat in the language.

I keep telling you I’ve given up on Setswana and you keep trying to drag me back in. How am I going to find time for French and Hebrew if I have to learn Setswana?

Rings on her fingers, rings on her toes. I don't have the answer but it might be counter productive to drop one, just to restart something else.

But if you really are starting French or Hebrew, yes, drop Setswana.

zenmonkey wrote:if you really are starting French or Hebrew,

She didn't say OR she said AND. We have it in writing.

rdearman wrote:

zenmonkey wrote:if you really are starting French or Hebrew,

She didn't say OR she said AND. We have it in writing.

Are there still an appreciable amount of Yiddish speakers in France? You could learn their dialect then and say you're learning both at the same time.

In Copenhagen for Easter. I just left breakfast at the hotel where the table behind me were speaking Italian. The table to the right speaking French, my wife talking to me in English and my brain screaming at me " WTF are you doing to me!"

Well back to work today, and because it is a short week I've decided to try to commute. It takes me awhile, about 2 hours in each direction driving. So we'll see how it goes for a week. On the drive up this morning I put on an episode of Carabineri and listened to the dialogue with the screen blanked out. On the way home I'd downloaded some podcasts and listened to one of those. I still don't understand enough. I don't believe the extensive listening or watching is helping me much. On the plane trip back I was watching some Netflix shows in French with subtitles. I understand this mainly because I'm reading it. Otherwise don't understand sweet FA. Once again I'm discouraged and really don't think languages are my thing and I'm just flogging a dead horse.

I have decided against helping my local indegnous language since it seems to be doing very well for itself. Even all the people I spoke with in Denmark knew it! (My local indigenous language is English in case you're wondering)

rdearman wrote:I have decided against helping my local indegnous language since it seems to be doing very well for itself.

Ummm..I don't quite understand the meaning of this sentence, especially the against part. Could you please explain a little bit? Thanks.

learningchayse wrote:Ummm..I don't quite understand the meaning of this sentence, especially the against part. Could you please explain a little bit? Thanks.

"To decide against" is a phrasal verb. English is full of them. If you see a verb + a preposition, it's likely a phrasal verb.

@rdearman is just saying that the indigenous language of England, where he lives, is English. And seeing as it's a global language, there's no need to foster a revitalization movement like with many languages of the type. Many are dying.

eido wrote:

learningchayse wrote:Ummm..I don't quite understand the meaning of this sentence, especially the against part. Could you please explain a little bit? Thanks.

"To decide against" is a phrasal verb. English is full of them. If you see a verb + a preposition, it's likely a phrasal verb.

@rdearman is just saying that the indigenous language of England, where he lives, is English. And seeing as it's a global language, there's no need to foster a revitalization movement like with many languages of the type. Many are dying.

Thanks. I understand now. He was saying he has decided not to help English thrive as it is doing by itself pretty well.

Well after only a few days of not watching shows in Italian, I find Italian completely incomprehensable. I don't know why I bother.

rdearman wrote:Well after only a few days of not watching shows in Italian, I find Italian completely incomprehensable. I don't know why I bother.

I feel you! I lost 4 days this month in the 365 challenge and when I went back to where I was in Pimsleur it was like I'd never studied Italian!