Thread: What to do, what to do....

For the last two years, I've wanted to be either a webmaster or a computer programmer. I've gone from Javascript to advanced C++ and game programming in an extremely short amount of time, and I think I've gotten relatively good at it. Lately, however, I've gotten into a new hobby: languages. I'm learning Russian, planning to learn German next, and I just saw The Last Samurai so now I want to learn Japanese . This seems like a strange question to me, but I'll throw it out here anyway: is there any good field where computer sciences and linguistics meet, or am I stuck at a fork in the road with no third path? Thanks for any ideas !

Actually you are not alone. A large chunk of computer programmers (including myself) are very highly interested in learning foreign languages because it is very similar to learning a new computer language like C++, Java, BASIC, Pascal, or Cobol.

Also, if you really want to do a mix of linguistics and programming, you could work on some phonetics program or something that recognizes or recreates some phonetic sounds.

Or you could write online dictionaries

Thanks all - so far, really good ideas!

Originally Posted by DavidP

learning foreign languages because it is very similar to learning a new computer language like C++, Java, BASIC, Pascal, or Cobol.

The only similar thing between learning something like C and learning something like Japanese is the fact that they are both languages. Other than that, there are absolutely no similarites.

Obviously there is a field involving programming and languages and it's a fairly obvious one..

Interpritation. Write a program that interprits words from one language to another. My try it with words are first, but definatly move onto voice analysis and doing it phonetically as already mentioned.

Originally Posted by Perspective

btw: if you need any help with your japanese just PM me watashi wa nihongo o hanasemasuyo.

Wanting to learn Japanese and starting it are two different things, but when I do start, I will consider that, thanks .

Originally Posted by ober

I'm sure there is a need for bilingual programmers... although, for the most part, code is written in english...

the code is written in english, but the output should be in the native language of the country the program will be running in

any real programmer would use l337 sp34k d00d3rz