Thread: Learning a new (non-programming) language

  1. #1
    Banned nickname_changed's Avatar
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    Learning a new (non-programming) language

    Howdy

    Im an english speaking aussie and I've wanted to learn a second language (not a programming one) for quite some time. I'd been thinking about spanish, but then I started thinking about maybe danish/german, because a lot of things I've seen on the internet are in those languages.

    So I'd like to know your opinions on what language would be best, and any links I could use to help me learn?

  2. #2
    pronounced 'fib' FillYourBrain's Avatar
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    swahili. Definitely.
    "You are stupid! You are stupid! Oh, and don't forget, you are STUPID!" - Dexter

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    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    Latin.

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    Banned nickname_changed's Avatar
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    Latin.
    I had origionally intended to learn a latin based language like spanish/portuguese/romanian (I think) but I was thinking about German/Danish because I see them a lot with computing. I don't want the language to that I can sweet talk some girl (ie Fresh/spanish) or to help me in my dracula play (romanian). I would rather a language that will help my computing.

  5. #5
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    You'll find a lot more generally available training aids with French, German and Spanish then with minority languages like Danish.

    Almost all Scandinavians speak perfectly good English, so you won't need to learn a language to communicate. The vast majority of web sites have already or are getting English versions.

    French and Spanish, (and Portugese), are spoken in many countries, (former colony's), with large non-English speaking populations, so they are more readily useful.

    Many youger Germans speak some English, so you will probably be able to get by in the cities at least. German isn't used much outside of Germany.

    It depends really on why you want to do this.

    *** EDIT ***

    So you were replying at the same time.

    >>> I would rather a language that will help my computing.

    I think English will suffice.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

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    Student drdroid's Avatar
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    ..

    I would rather a language that will help my computing.
    you have only two choices here: japanese... or binary.
    Last edited by drdroid; 08-01-2003 at 09:08 AM.

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    Banned nickname_changed's Avatar
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    lol, thats ok I know binary at least. But don't you think danish/german would be a good option? I've seen soooo much info on the net (especially where OS development is concerned) in either of those languages (although I can never tell which).

  8. #8
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    Well, if you've seen a resource in Danish or German that you want to read, then your choice is already made. I'll simply re-iterate what I said before. Learning German will be easier than Danish because there are a lot more resources available to help you.

    Danish is often said to be very difficult to learn, although I would suggest Finnish is worse.

    *** EDIT ***

    What Danish sites are you looking at?
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

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    Student drdroid's Avatar
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    mmmm... daaanishes... I'm taking french right now... what a worthless piece o $$$$... but the only option other than that is spanish, i don't need either of them. But actually, I've seen alot of programming sites in Korean as well.

  10. #10
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    droid is actually on to something there. Once you know english, the next best language in the computing industry is an Asian one. Ive seen many job ads looking for programmers that can speak english and Chinese/Japanese/Korean

  11. #11
    Its not rocket science vasanth's Avatar
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    how about Sanskrit or some dravidian language like Tamil , Telegu , Malayalam

  12. #12
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    >>> job ads looking for programmers that can speak english and Chinese/Japanese/Korean

    That's true.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

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    Taking into account what you've said about german, I think that might be the way to go. I'd like to learn an Asian language one day, but I think that for now (since I'm only 16) I'll find more use for german than I will for japanese/korean.

    So german it is. Does anyone have any good (free) links? I'll do a google search for it now but if anyones already used some good ones I'd appreciate a link or two. Thanks for all your help guys you've been great!

  14. #14
    Board Conservative UnregdRegd's Avatar
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    Since you're a native speaker of English, you already know the language for computers and technology (Japanese might be a little helpful in this regard too).

    Why not learn a language to expand your knowledge culturally? Any language will do, but you may have more trouble finding learning resources for some. I am studying French, and it has a high number of cognates with English so learning its vocabulary is a little easier than, for example, Russian or Arabic. Pick a foreign culture that interests you, and learn its language.

  15. #15
    Registered User codegirl's Avatar
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    I have heard that German is easier than Spanish or French for English-speaking people to learn, because a lot of the grammar rules are the same. But in languages like Spanish, you always put the adjectives after the nouns, and you've got the whole masculine/feminine thing going on, and who knows what else (I only took a little Spanish in high school). But supposedly German sentence structures are similar to English -- any German speakers out there are welcome to correct me
    My programs don't have bugs, they just develop random features.

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