Polyglot Pentaxians

lesmore49 · 03-16-2020, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by bdery

I'm French-speaking, I can understand and be mostly understood in Spanish, and consider myself fully fluent in English.

I can understand that being a Canadian you are fluent in both French and English.

Regarding your abilities in Spanish though , would you say that it is because both French and Spanish are from the same language group.... the Romance group and due to some similarities of these languages...Spanish was something you could understand and able to speak at a certain level due to your mastery of French ?

I ask because my base language is English, however I found I was able to pick up enough German to get by....through going out with a girl for awhile, who was of German background and spoke fluent German . This was some 45 years ago and she taught me a number of German phrases. After awhile I was able to form some simple sentences and understand ..a bit...when she spoke in German.

normhead · 03-16-2020, 03:05 PM

I once used my high school french (to impress a date) to order at MacDonalds in Montreal. I didn't get what I thought i ordered, but, she didn't need to know that.

timb64 · 03-16-2020, 05:02 PM

Originally posted by normhead

I once used my high school french (to impress a date) to order at MacDonalds in Montreal. I didn't get what I thought i ordered, but, she didn't need to know that.

"Impress a date" and "order at McDonalds" aren't phrases you often see together

bdery · 03-17-2020, 05:08 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lesmore49

I can understand that being a Canadian you are fluent in both French and English.

Mostly correct. I believe that, since there are about 25% French-speaking canadians, it's more likely that a Frenchie will speak English than the reverse. Though from my understanding many English-canadians place value in making sure their kids learn French in school.

Originally posted by lesmore49

Regarding your abilities in Spanish though , would you say that it is because both French and Spanish are from the same language group.... the Romance group and due to some similarities of these languages...Spanish was something you could understand and able to speak at a certain level due to your mastery of French ?

I learned Spanish by going to an "international" school in high school. Two years of Spanish, plus one year of practise at lunchtime, and trying to use it when travelling. I can manage but I'm not fluent.

French and Spanish are a bit similar, but not as much as I'd wish for. There's still a lot to learn.

normhead · 03-17-2020, 06:43 AM

Originally posted by timb64

"Impress a date" and "order at McDonalds" aren't phrases you often see together

It was lunch and we were travelling from Toronto to Sherbrooke Quebec, so one of those roadside pull offs linked to the highway, there wasn't a lot of choice. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

IN my whole life I've been forced to eat at a MacDonalds probably less than 20 times.

Jonathan Mac · 03-17-2020, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by timb64

"Impress a date" and "order at McDonalds" aren't phrases you often see together

Exactly what I thought!

Originally posted by bdery

I learned Spanish by going to an "international" school in high school. Two years of Spanish, plus one year of practise at lunchtime, and trying to use it when travelling. I can manage but I'm not fluent.

French and Spanish are a bit similar, but not as much as I'd wish for. There's still a lot to learn.

They say that when two languages are very similar it's more difficult to learn the second as it's easy to confuse one with the other. There's a technical term for this, it might be interference, but I don't remember.

bdery · 03-17-2020, 10:20 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

They say that when two languages are very similar it's more difficult to learn the second as it's easy to confuse one with the other. There's a technical term for this, it might be interference, but I don't remember.

My main challenge was actually between English (2nd language) and Spanish. Some words have similarities but different meanings, like travel vs trabajar (work).

**robgski** · 03-17-2020, 10:50 AM

MY high-school French was good enough to get me into the Moulin Rouge for free, along with a complimentary bottle of champagne. The doorman and maître d' thought I was a tour guide and showed me appreciation for bringing my group there. To think my French language instructor assessed my skills as weak, and my fluency as poor at best. If only we'd had smart phones back then, I'd have sent her a selfie , of me living large and drinking for free.

**robgski** · 03-31-2020, 04:56 PM

I found this presentation to be very interesting

Youtu.be

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03-16-2020, 03:01 PM	#31
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,350	Originally posted by bdery I'm French-speaking, I can understand and be mostly understood in Spanish, and consider myself fully fluent in English. I can understand that being a Canadian you are fluent in both French and English. Regarding your abilities in Spanish though , would you say that it is because both French and Spanish are from the same language group.... the Romance group and due to some similarities of these languages...Spanish was something you could understand and able to speak at a certain level due to your mastery of French ? I ask because my base language is English, however I found I was able to pick up enough German to get by....through going out with a girl for awhile, who was of German background and spoke fluent German . This was some 45 years ago and she taught me a number of German phrases. After awhile I was able to form some simple sentences and understand ..a bit...when she spoke in German.

03-16-2020, 03:05 PM	#32
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I once used my high school french (to impress a date) to order at MacDonalds in Montreal. I didn't get what I thought i ordered, but, she didn't need to know that.

03-16-2020, 05:02 PM	#33
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,514	Originally posted by normhead I once used my high school french (to impress a date) to order at MacDonalds in Montreal. I didn't get what I thought i ordered, but, she didn't need to know that. "Impress a date" and "order at McDonalds" aren't phrases you often see together

03-17-2020, 05:08 AM - 1 Like	#34
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Originally posted by lesmore49 I can understand that being a Canadian you are fluent in both French and English. Mostly correct. I believe that, since there are about 25% French-speaking canadians, it's more likely that a Frenchie will speak English than the reverse. Though from my understanding many English-canadians place value in making sure their kids learn French in school. Originally posted by lesmore49 Regarding your abilities in Spanish though , would you say that it is because both French and Spanish are from the same language group.... the Romance group and due to some similarities of these languages...Spanish was something you could understand and able to speak at a certain level due to your mastery of French ? I learned Spanish by going to an "international" school in high school. Two years of Spanish, plus one year of practise at lunchtime, and trying to use it when travelling. I can manage but I'm not fluent. French and Spanish are a bit similar, but not as much as I'd wish for. There's still a lot to learn.

03-17-2020, 06:43 AM	#35
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by timb64 "Impress a date" and "order at McDonalds" aren't phrases you often see together It was lunch and we were travelling from Toronto to Sherbrooke Quebec, so one of those roadside pull offs linked to the highway, there wasn't a lot of choice. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. IN my whole life I've been forced to eat at a MacDonalds probably less than 20 times.

03-17-2020, 09:05 AM	#36
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911	Originally posted by timb64 "Impress a date" and "order at McDonalds" aren't phrases you often see together Exactly what I thought! Originally posted by bdery I learned Spanish by going to an "international" school in high school. Two years of Spanish, plus one year of practise at lunchtime, and trying to use it when travelling. I can manage but I'm not fluent. French and Spanish are a bit similar, but not as much as I'd wish for. There's still a lot to learn. They say that when two languages are very similar it's more difficult to learn the second as it's easy to confuse one with the other. There's a technical term for this, it might be interference, but I don't remember.

03-17-2020, 10:20 AM - 1 Like	#37
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac They say that when two languages are very similar it's more difficult to learn the second as it's easy to confuse one with the other. There's a technical term for this, it might be interference, but I don't remember. My main challenge was actually between English (2nd language) and Spanish. Some words have similarities but different meanings, like travel vs trabajar (work).

03-17-2020, 10:50 AM	#38
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,817 Original Poster	MY high-school French was good enough to get me into the Moulin Rouge for free, along with a complimentary bottle of champagne. The doorman and maître d' thought I was a tour guide and showed me appreciation for bringing my group there. To think my French language instructor assessed my skills as weak, and my fluency as poor at best. If only we'd had smart phones back then, I'd have sent her a selfie , of me living large and drinking for free.