If you could learn one language ...

[Andy in Sig]

... what would it be?

I would be torn between Friesian (English's closest relative and it sounds honest), Norwegian (poss the most sensible language on earth), Danish (it lilts) or Dutch (sounds good natured and has a lot of humour). Maybe also Italian as it sounds good for use while cooking.

What would yours be?

 

[darkstar]

Manderin, Ive begun the learning process. But it's a long one. The time I spent in China helped alot. Very useful for business.

 

[Alan Whicker]

German. I used to live there and thought I'd picked it up quite well until a lady in the bakers told me I sounded like Tarzan.

"You. Bread of pumpkin seed. Give me please."

 

[philipbh]

French for me - pipe dream is to move there one day

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I'm doing Sign Language at the moment (class today, in fact) which is something which fascinates me rather than it being overly useful (well, I don't have much contact with deaf/hearing impaired people at present). I'd have to say Spanish would be my language of choice as we have been a few times to Spain/Dominican Republic etc. where being able to communicate more effectively would have been a bonus.

 

[Greedo]

French.

Would love to live there at one point in my life.

 

[ianrauk]

Japanese.
I do a lot of work with Japan and would love to speak their tongue. I can get by with the usual hello how are you? type that and can say 'Idiot Octopus Sh*t' in Japanese.. I was going to go to adult learning in the summer but a revised summer holiday got in the way. So will look at doing next year.

Greek and Turkish are 2 other languages I would like to learn.

 

[Globalti]

Some people who post on here haven't finished learning English yet.

 

[numbnuts]

Some people who post on here haven't finished learning English yet.

 

[swee'pea99]

German. I used to live there and thought I'd picked it up quite well until a lady in the bakers told me I sounded like Tarzan.

"You. Bread of pumpkin seed. Give me please."

That's Arnie Schwarzeneger isn't it?

 

[Hover Fly]

French.

 

[Spinney]

Klingon...

(or just learning to swear or do insults in Klingon would do!)

Hab SoSlI' Quch!

 

[Globalti]

French is indeed a lovely language, it's the language of diplomacy - most English expressions of diplomacy are borrowed from French because that language is so much more subtle in this respect. One of my favourites, much used in France, is "savoir-faire", literally "to know how to do". It means knowing the right way things should be done - a common French complaint is "Quelle manque de savoir-faire!" meaning: "What a muppet!"

 

[Auntie Helen]

I think Icelandic would be great!

I learned Hebrew and Greek at Uni and found both very interesting (although fearsomely difficult). There was a lot about Hebrew that I liked, and it looks cool, but it doesn't sound that nice.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

American