View Full Version : New Language for Tubby
Tubby Rower
10-07-2006, 19:35
I have come to the conclusion that I want to be multilingual. Right now I can speak English and Redneck. I'm fluent in both but I normally speak English.
So I'm looking to move beyond these two languages as great and confusing as they are to learn to understand another language. I'm opposed to learning Spanish as that will shoved down my throat eventually and I'm rebelling. (See Dora the Explorer and Deigo the Animal Rescuer) I'm also opposed to learning French as my company is French owned and if my employeer ever knew that I spoke French I could be transported across the pond dislocating me from my family.
So with those two out of the window, what's the best language to learn? I was thinking Dutch or German. The Queen's English would be fun to learn but I don't want to have to think that fish and chips is a delicacy.
Darkness
10-07-2006, 20:02
German.
Dutch is very difficult to learn for a foreigner, due to, among other things, the incredibly high amount of exceptions in verb tenses.
Also, a lot more people speak German, so it might actually be more useful to learn German...
Kingreno
10-07-2006, 20:03
German.
- Dutch is spoken by few that don't speak at least English.
- Dutch people prefer talking English to English people as opposed to Germans who actually encourage others to try to speak German. It would be a waste to learn Ducth and come to Amsterdam to find out no-one wants to speak Dutch to you.
- German is SO much easier, and 10 times more logical!
- Dutch is spoken by 25 Million people or so. German by what? 200 Million? Excluding second languages.
- Swearing is better in German.
Mijn twee centen
(Mein zwei Grosschen(is it, Hilfe bitte!))
(My two cents)
Rik Meleet
10-07-2006, 20:04
Gareed.
What Darkness said + you need a lot more intelligence for Dutch than for German. ;)
Try pronouncing "schuurdeur" (Barn door) and "zeeeendeei" (sea duck egg).
Tubby Rower
10-07-2006, 20:09
Why in the world would I want to talk to someone about their sea duck eggs in their barn door? I remember Rik trying to teach me a little on MSN and I never got it. He kept telling me that I was pronouncing it wrong.
I guess it makes sense that German is very logical. The whole German engineering and all. Ok so German it is... now I have to go buy a book. I wonder if I could get a German for Dummies off of eBay. Then you guys can tell me all of the good German swearing. Should I take my beer out of the fridge to get in the mood?
Kingreno
10-07-2006, 20:38
Buy some Rammstein Music.
Shabbaman
10-07-2006, 21:03
Bück dich, befehl ich dir!
Hehe.
The best way to learn a language is probably to watch movies in that language. So, download some german movies. Any suggestions?
Why not Italian? Heck, they won the World's Cup.
Then you could say romantic things to your wife like "Ciao, Bella, sembrate meravigliosi" plus you get to use your hands a lot when you talk.
I think Tubby is done saying Romantic things to his wife for a while. 2 kids will do that.
Tubby Rower
10-07-2006, 22:03
ain't that the truth
Shabbaman
10-07-2006, 22:05
In that case, german is the language :D
quote:Originally posted by Tubby Rower
ain't that the truth
I got 2 little ankle biters of my own( 4 and 2). Believe me it doesnt get better. [aargh]
learn gaillic, the ladies love the irish.
socralynnek
11-07-2006, 01:40
quote:Originally posted by Shabbaman
The best way to learn a language is probably to watch movies in that language. So, download some german movies. Any suggestions?
The best German movies IMO from the last few years:
- Das Wunder von Bern ( a nice movie about Germany in the 50s, settled around Germany winning World Cup in 54 )
- Good bye, Lenin! (very funny, located in Berlin shortly after the Wiedervereinigung 1990)
But I don't know how easy to understand they are.
Or watch a movie you already know in German, maybe with subtitles if possible.
KR: There is no word to word translation for "My two cent" (Groschen was the word for the 10 Pfennig = 5 cent piece), in Germany we call it "seinen Senf dazugeben" ( to add one's mustard )
Tubby Rower
11-07-2006, 02:41
Adding one's mustard makes sense due to the sausage-eating stereotype.
And of course learning German will give you access to:
- heaps of Schlagermusic, best enjoyed on one of the television shows that are dedicated to this music. Will give you a chance to get acqainted with the dutch traditional dress as well.
- German pornmovies. Think big moustaches and girls in the Alps.
Shabbaman
11-07-2006, 07:36
And lederhosen.
Dutch or German... German or Dutch.. hmm
try Spanish :)
Pastorius
11-07-2006, 09:36
Chinese.
Reason: 1.3 billion people. Significant economic growth. Will probably become one of the leading economies in the world
Rik Meleet
11-07-2006, 11:16
1 word: Jantje Smit
Darkness
11-07-2006, 11:52
quote:Originally posted by Rik Meleet
1 word: Jantje Smit
That's two words... ;) And downright horrible ones at that too... :(
Socrates
11-07-2006, 12:50
I'd favour Koinê, the language of the Ancient Greeks after Alexander.
Shabbaman
11-07-2006, 13:05
quote:Originally posted by Paalikles
Chinese.
Reason: 1.3 billion people. Significant economic growth. Will probably become one of the leading economies in the world
With that argument you can just as well learn indian.
Tubby Rower
11-07-2006, 14:02
or English....
I'm looking into self-teach German lessons. RosettaStone.com costs ~ $195 for the 1st lesson. That's a bit expensive for my taste, but I might be able to get my boss to pay for it since we deal with Germans on occassion.
Shabbaman
11-07-2006, 14:24
That seems very expensive. I looked around, and at the most renowned "distant learning" (or whatever it's in english) you can do a basic course german for 40 euros a month, with an average duration of the course of 8 months. It's with an interactive computer program plus personal contact with a tutor. There's no reason why a course in the US has to be more expensive. The more obscure languages are a bit more expensive (46,50 a month), but since in the US the size of the country should make it cheaper. Well, the dollar is pretty weak obviously...
BTW, dutch for foreigners is 48 euros a month. Perhaps it's cheaper to learn german in Germany. Through the internet of course.
Tubby Rower
11-07-2006, 14:35
Rosetta Stone is a good program from what I've gathered in my research. I can probably get a basic book and audio CD's for ~ $50 and still get a good program. Rosetta Stone offers internet instruction for $50 per month. The $195 is for the stand-alone version and it has an unconditional 6-month money back gaurantee. So in theory I could learn German in less than 6 months and return it because I'm an idiot, but I wouldn't do that.
I'm still looking and the only way I would get Rosetta Stone is if the company pays for it. But it is the top of the line. I did an online demo and picked up a few words. I've forgotten them already so I prolly have the language retention of Darkness's fish [lol]
Socrates
11-07-2006, 15:22
Ich bin ein Berliner.
Well, Zidane could have said this, if it hadn't been for that stupid incident. [blush2]
admiral kutzov
09-08-2006, 05:28
quote:Originally posted by Tubby Rower
I have come to the conclusion that I want to be multilingual. Right now I can speak English and Redneck. I'm fluent in both but I normally speak Redneck.
So I'm looking to move beyond these two languages as great and confusing as they are to learn to understand another language. I'm opposed to learning Spanish as that will shoved down my throat eventually and I'm rebelling. (See Dora the Explorer and Deigo the Animal Rescuer) I'm also opposed to learning French as my company is French owned and if my employeer ever knew that I spoke French I could be transported across the pond dislocating me from my family.
So with those two out of the window, i've decided to return to college
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/admiral kutzov/2006895283_tubs.JPG
37.34KB
Tubby Rower
09-08-2006, 13:22
ahhh.. dorm life
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