Modern languages in decline
Aug 16th 2012, 8:59 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 178
Re: Modern languages in decline
[QUOTE=Domino;10230722]
English is probably the longest stayer in all languages.
It is actually quite a new language. Even in the UK or "England" as people call it it is not as old as the original language spoken.
It is a general statement, I know, but most people agree that the "English" are poor at languages. I do not necessarily agree with that. Some say it is due to the fact that they believe everyone should speak English. I think that the ability to speak another language is truly a gift, and a life skill.
I was lucky to be bilingual at the age of 6. I can get by as at "tourist" level in 5 languages, my daughter speaks 5 languages. Sorry, this, now that I am reading it back sounds boastful, but it is just a fact.
Please try to learn at least the basics of another language, it really does broaden your horizon. Maybe Spanish would be a start?
Regards,
LMJ
English is probably the longest stayer in all languages.
It is actually quite a new language. Even in the UK or "England" as people call it it is not as old as the original language spoken.
It is a general statement, I know, but most people agree that the "English" are poor at languages. I do not necessarily agree with that. Some say it is due to the fact that they believe everyone should speak English. I think that the ability to speak another language is truly a gift, and a life skill.
I was lucky to be bilingual at the age of 6. I can get by as at "tourist" level in 5 languages, my daughter speaks 5 languages. Sorry, this, now that I am reading it back sounds boastful, but it is just a fact.
Please try to learn at least the basics of another language, it really does broaden your horizon. Maybe Spanish would be a start?
Regards,
LMJ
Aug 16th 2012, 9:16 pm
#33
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
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Aug 16th 2012, 9:22 pm
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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Aug 16th 2012, 9:24 pm
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
Posts: 61,698
Re: Modern languages in decline
[QUOTE=lmj50;10231157]
English is probably the longest stayer in all languages.
It is actually quite a new language. Even in the UK or "England" as people call it it is not as old as the original language spoken.
It is a general statement, I know, but most people agree that the "English" are poor at languages. I do not necessarily agree with that. Some say it is due to the fact that they believe everyone should speak English. I think that the ability to speak another language is truly a gift, and a life skill.
I was lucky to be bilingual at the age of 6. I can get by as at "tourist" level in 5 languages, my daughter speaks 5 languages. Sorry, this, now that I am reading it back sounds boastful, but it is just a fact.
Please try to learn at least the basics of another language, it really does broaden your horizon. Maybe Spanish would be a start?
Regards,
LMJ
...did mattie screw up the quotes yet again.....
English is probably the longest stayer in all languages.
It is actually quite a new language. Even in the UK or "England" as people call it it is not as old as the original language spoken.
It is a general statement, I know, but most people agree that the "English" are poor at languages. I do not necessarily agree with that. Some say it is due to the fact that they believe everyone should speak English. I think that the ability to speak another language is truly a gift, and a life skill.
I was lucky to be bilingual at the age of 6. I can get by as at "tourist" level in 5 languages, my daughter speaks 5 languages. Sorry, this, now that I am reading it back sounds boastful, but it is just a fact.
Please try to learn at least the basics of another language, it really does broaden your horizon. Maybe Spanish would be a start?
Regards,
LMJ
Aug 16th 2012, 9:33 pm
#37
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Aug 16th 2012, 9:33 pm
#38
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
Posts: 61,698
Re: Modern languages in decline
Where'd everybody go?
Aug 16th 2012, 9:34 pm
#39
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Aug 16th 2012, 9:35 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Aug 17th 2012, 7:10 am
#42
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Modern languages in decline
an apostrophe is used to show possession, as in Fred's DVD - the apostrophe shows that the DVD belongs to Fred
or, an apostrophe is used in a contraction (putting two words together) to replace the missing letter, as in it's his DVD, so the apostrophe replaces the i from it is
an apostrophe is never needed to make something plural
so......... two DVD's for 5€ is wrong - there is neither possession nor a contraction, it is simply more than one DVD (plural) so the apostrophe isn't required - it should be two DVDs 5€
Aug 17th 2012, 7:19 am
#43
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Re: Modern languages in decline
Its good to know a number of languages but the trend seems quite consistent with English, Spanish and French to b ethe most commonly used languages around the world.
Aug 17th 2012, 7:52 am
#44
FreeThinker
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: the moors and levels
Posts: 9,702
Re: Modern languages in decline
OK to answer your question
an apostrophe is used to show possession, as in Fred's DVD - the apostrophe shows that the DVD belongs to Fred
or, an apostrophe is used in a contraction (putting two words together) to replace the missing letter, as in it's his DVD, so the apostrophe replaces the i from it is
an apostrophe is never needed to make something plural
so......... two DVD's for 5€ is wrong - there is neither possession nor a contraction, it is simply more than one DVD (plural) so the apostrophe isn't required - it should be two DVDs 5€
an apostrophe is used to show possession, as in Fred's DVD - the apostrophe shows that the DVD belongs to Fred
or, an apostrophe is used in a contraction (putting two words together) to replace the missing letter, as in it's his DVD, so the apostrophe replaces the i from it is
an apostrophe is never needed to make something plural
so......... two DVD's for 5€ is wrong - there is neither possession nor a contraction, it is simply more than one DVD (plural) so the apostrophe isn't required - it should be two DVDs 5€
Aug 17th 2012, 7:58 am
#45
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Modern languages in decline
OK - it's controversial. Many people use the apostrophe in acronyms to indicate the missing letters. Working in IT (acronym hell!)we always used the apostrophe in this way. I was pulled up by our style chiefs for not using it. Long discussion here
I don't think it's controversial at all - they are the grammar rules