How Many Languages Do We Speak?

[BlackArtemis]

Studied 4, but that semester of German was a weak attempt.

I can understand a read a bit of Spanish.

I can converse in Thai easily, but because I put off reading and writing for so long, I tend to mess up tones and have a child's level of reading, it is improving though.

Though as an American, I feel I should get a handicap!

Mandatory language learning beginning in the 9th grade is just another failure of our education system...

[onthemoon]

What about those knowing 20 plus languages?

Typical American teenager :

He is certainly gifted with learning languages. I wouldn't be surprised if he had been recruited by the US government since airing this video.

[lazygourmet]

Parent tongues: French + Bahasa Indonesia

Learned at Belgian boarding schools: Dutch + Ancient Greek & Latin

Learned at Swiss boarding schools: English + German + Italian

Acquired while working and/or residing for extended periods abroad (mid-level conversations only): Spanish +Turkish + Arabic + Thai

Quite impressive.

Parent tongues: French + Bahasa Indonesia

Learned at Belgian boarding schools: Dutch + Ancient Greek & Latin

Learned at Swiss boarding schools: English + German + Italian

Acquired while working and/or residing for extended periods abroad (mid-level conversations only): Spanish +Turkish + Arabic + Thai

Quite impressive.

Not really...

In Belgium, we have three national languages (french, dutch & german) which are mandatory with english to follow a diplomatic career ; that was my family heritage... and natural steps to an already planned work-life.

But being the black sheep of the family, I -hopefully- ended up in the hospitality industry...

[robblok]

@lazygourmet

I did know you guys had 2 national languages over there not three, but also learned that most French speakers don't learn Dutch even your king has a problem with it. Did not know about German.

[lazygourmet]

@lazygourmet

I did know you guys had 2 national languages over there not three, but also learned that most French speakers don't learn Dutch even your king has a problem with it. Did not know about German.

Here is a brief wiki summary regarding language legislation in Belgium

Don't worry if you understand zilch... I gave up decades ago !

[Naam]

So this poll is about how many languages people speak...

...more likely how many languages people claim they speak

[dominique355]

Does Latin count? I mean, I suffered 7 years of learning Latin and yet, I am not able to say one sentence! Just make some stupid quotes, LOL.

Being Swiss, we need to learn at least on other of our national languages. So I started with French (my mother tongue being German) and finished school in French speaking Geneva. Italy is close by and I love Italy, Italian food, Italian cars etc, so inevitably I picked up the language.

Of course we all had to learn English. I hated it at that time, now it's my daily language, we speak English in my family with wife and kids. Kids even go to a British school.

Not so proud about my proficiency in Thai language. OK, actually it's pretty poor, despite 2 lessons every week. I guess that's the early symptoms of Alzheimer. Ah well, look at the bright side: I meet new people every day.

[Jingthing]

What about those knowing 20 plus languages?

Typical American teenager :

He is certainly gifted with learning languages. I wouldn't be surprised if he had been recruited by the US government since airing this video.

I think that boychik is way too good for government work!

[Thakkar]

I speak, what could be termed the opposite of the language of love; I keep saying the wrong things to women.

T

[jbrain]

Not really...

In Belgium, we have three national languages (french, dutch & german) which are mandatory with english to follow a diplomatic career ; that was my family heritage... and natural steps to an already planned work-life.

But being the black sheep of the family, I -hopefully- ended up in the hospitality industry...

What's the hospitality industry? You work on beach road ?

[elektrified]

I come from a family of linguists (my Father speaks 12 fluently) and my late Grandfather on my Mother's side of the family spoke 15 fluently. He was a Swiss Diplomat. My Mother spoke 4 fluently. Sadly I struggle with languages, speaking some German, some Czech and some Thai; but none of them fluently.

[bkkfoxi]

I have a bable fish so all....

[Morakot]

So this poll is about how many languages people speak...

...more likely how many languages people claim they speak

Here a fact: 'most people speak two or more languages, a large proportion of the of world's population is bilingual.' (Grosjean 1982:1)

Francois Grosjean 1982 Life With Two Languages: An Introduction to Bilingualism Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press

[onthemoon]

So this poll is about how many languages people speak...

...more likely how many languages people claim they speak

Here a fact: 'most people speak two or more languages, a large proportion of the of world's population is bilingual.' (Grosjean 1982:1)

Francois Grosjean 1982 Life With Two Languages: An Introduction to Bilingualism Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press

I followed the link and thanks, very interesting.

[Jaybonnaza]

English - native

Thai - to a certain degree (middle class)

Spanish - native

Italian - to a certain degree