Which language would you learn?

[Johann]

On a semi-related topic (not trying to hijack your thread),

but Kentucky is working on legislation that would allow for computer programming languages to count as foreign language credits!

As I noted, I've taken a few written/spoken language courses over the years - and I've also been messing around with computer languages for around 25 years. I've taken courses in some (SAS, Basic, Cobol, C++) and played around with others on my own time, for fun.

Both fields of study are great - and important - but I don't see how there's any equivalency here. I firmly believe programming and written/spoken languages exercise different parts of the brain and largely draw on different resources, thereby resulting in completely different competencies. Possibly some Ph.D. now in the employ of the State of Kentucky did his dissertation on this and can now come forward, to refute my unresearched, entirely subjective opinion. Or not.

For instance - extensive vocabulary is not necessary when dealing with computer languages. A very basic need in a spoken/written language is maybe 1,000 words. I have seen perfectly functional computer languages with as few as 15 keywords, total. Lots have under 100. Logic and math ability have a much greater place in computer languages. I find countries that teach math well (e.g. Russia and some Asian countries) produce dynamite software developers in considerable numbers. There definitely appears to be a correlation.

With written /spoken languages, you're communicating with computers of a different (and much higher) order - the brains of other human beings. With computer programs, you're whispering instructions to a machine, that has a limited vocabulary and doesn't need actual intelligence to do what it's told. And you know it's a machine - with some languages - e.g. C++, and especially Assembler, you can feel the "beast" (machine) lurking under the keys, as you code!

It's one thing to say and understand Polymorphism, Inheritance and Encapsulation - or translate these terms. It requires a different ability to apply these concepts in code, so a machine can do what you tell it.

That said - both are necessary for an individual's development. I endorse the policy of all schools requiring courses in both written/spoken and programming languages. But I'm not comfortable with substitution of one for the other.

Johann

[nleamons]

The most important languages to learn in the US would be; Spanish(the local dialect), French, Japanese or Chinese. I would think that Arabic might be a good choice for some locations. I also would like to see Latin and Greek taught in high schools and colleges. I would learn Spanish, but I would much rather learn the local dialect that is not normally taught at colleges. The reason, I think that learning a language keeps your mind sharp is because you are learning something new However, I think that people choose to learn a new language as it is the most useful thing to learn at this point in time.

[nleamons]

Dutch, Afrikaans, and German are very similar to Old English.

[sanantone]

The most important languages to learn in the US would be; Spanish(the local dialect), French, Japanese or Chinese. I would think that Arabic might be a good choice for some locations. I also would like to see Latin and Greek taught in high schools and colleges. I would learn Spanish, but I would much rather learn the local dialect that is not normally taught at colleges. The reason, I think that learning a language keeps your mind sharp is because you are learning something new However, I think that people choose to learn a new language as it is the most useful thing to learn at this point in time.

A lot of high schools offer Latin. I was actually disappointed that my high school dropped Japanese, but still offered Latin. Some students took it to improve their vocabulary, but a lot took it because they heard it was easy and 2 years of a language was required for graduation. I'm not sure teaching the local dialect of Spanish would be helpful. Where I live, Tex-Mex is the local dialect, but the people who speak Tex-Mex also speak English. The people who speak Spanish only are usually from different parts of Mexico and South and Central America. The best that can be done is to learn general Latin American Spanish. They can all usually understand each other. Some Spanish speakers claim they can understand Portuguese and Italian to a certain extent.

[Johann]

Some Spanish speakers claim they can understand Portuguese and Italian to a certain extent.

I'm sure they can - related Romance Languages, all (very) largely derived from Latin. I've heard often, from language teachers, that a speaker of either Italian or Spanish can be fluent in the other language within about three or four months. I've also talked to Italians in Quebec who picked up French very quickly after they got here.

Other posters have mentioned that:

(1) "If you know German, Dutch should be relatively easy to learn."

I agree. I don't know much Dutch, but I can make head or tail of it on a page - and I can only do that because I know some German. Back in the day, I had a couple of Dutch-Canadian co-workers and I once observed that Dutch seemed to be halfway between German and English. My Dutch-speaking friend said he thought it was more like three-quarters of the way from English to German. He was completely right - I only had to think about it for a few seconds.

(2) "Afrikaans, Dutch and German are very similar to Old English."

Well, if you go back far enough, the Germanic sources involved are pretty much the same for English, Dutch and Afrikaans - Afrikaans being a more-or-less direct offshoot of Dutch. In fact, in the Middle Ages, there was an English proverb - "Good butter and good cheese is good English and good Fries." (Friesian Dutch) But that was the Middle Ages.

Just use your browser to find a page of Old English (Anglo Saxon). Yes, there are some root words that a modern speaker of English, Dutch or German might recognize. But that's it. There isn't a strong resemblance at all - to any of them. I can read a bit of Old English (pre-1066) and I can tell you - knowing any of those languages helps a bit - but by no means makes it easy. Try a page of "Beowulf." You'll see what I mean.

[Yanji]

Personally, I most want to learn Hebrew, followed by Levantine Arabic and Russian. I'll probably end up learning Spanish though... I've lived in the US a few years now and it's about time.

[Johann]

Personally, I most want to learn Hebrew...

Great free (Biblical) Hebrew textbook, generously made available for download here: http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/bookstore/e-books/lbh.pdf

I'll probably end up learning Spanish though... I've lived in the US a few years now and it's about time.

Claro que sí!

Johann

[burbuja0512]

I know this is a long thread and I'm coming in late, but as someone who has spent quite a bit of her life dedicated to learning languages, here is my 2 cents:

Spanish undoubtably is the best choice for many reasons already mentioned. You have to PRACTICE to learn and unless you get creative, it'll be hard to really practice other languages unless you're in a very large city.

Spanish can be the key to learning other languages. Once you master Spanish, I would HIGHLY recommend Brazilian Portuguese. It's similar enough to Spanish to where it only took me a few months to be conversant but the pronunciation has really helped my French.

As much as I love Italian and as (relatively) easy it would be for me to learn as I can already understand it, unless you want to spend a lot of time in Italy, it's not all that practical. Italy isn't exactly a driving economic force right now and if you speak Spanish, you can manage to understand some Italian.

Above all do what you love, even if you'll never get to use it, but be careful - it's SOOOOO difficult to learn a language and then never use it. And to be very painfully honest, if you don't ever speak it, no matter how awesome you are at reading or watching internet videos, I can pretty much guarantee that you would not be able to speak and be understood. That would be really upsetting if you spent years learning it only to find out that you couldn't use it.

[Leebo]

私は、日本語を勉強しています

[Johann]

私は、日本語を勉強しています

I believe that says - Watashi wa, nihongo o benkyō shite imasu - "I am studying Japanese."

(With help from Google Translate.) Arigato, Google. Arigato, Leebo-san!

Johann