Topic Index
Poll: Most beneficial language to learn...


Between these....
German
48.2% (41)
48.2% (41)
Portuguese
2.4% (2)
2.4% (2)
Hebrew
8.2% (7)
8.2% (7)
Italian
5.9% (5)
5.9% (5)
Dutch
1.2% (1)
1.2% (1)
French
27.1% (23)
27.1% (23)
Greek
7.1% (6)
7.1% (6)
Username:Password:
Log In
 (Pages: 1, 2, 3)
Arsen
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 876
Joined: 26 Nov 2008

From the list I have made. I have heard that if I learn German I can practically go ANYWHERE in Europe (western portion of Europe anyway...). We have many here from Europe so I'd like to hear your opinions and views. Thank you.

PS - The Hebrew one is random and under the condition it could benefit me well in the long run.

RedMenace
Infamous Scribbler
Posts: 640
Joined: 19 Oct 2008

German and French, since you already know English. Than you can go anywhere in the Europe. Although I would say: learn Chinese.

Chapper
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1110
Joined: 18 Jun 2008

Where's Spanish?

I'd choose that, because then you're understood in all of Central- and South-America (except Brazil) and Spain, of course, which is a popular tourist destination.

EDIT: Are we limited to Europe only? If then I'd say German too.

Arsen
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 876
Joined: 26 Nov 2008

Chapper:
Where's Spanish?

I'd choose that, because then you're understood in all of Central- and South-America (except Brazil) and Spain, of course, which is a popular tourist destination.

EDIT: Are we limited to Europe only? If then I'd say German too.

Primarily Europe, yes my good man.

The reason I didn't pick Spanish is because...well it'd be expected of me to use my skills in using that language OUTSIDE of Spain. And Brazil's (the one good place in South America) primary language is Portuguese.

a7r0p05
Muckraker
Posts: 253
Joined: 10 Dec 2008

Where's Latin? Latin is the basis of a huge amount of languages, hence them being grouped into "The Romance Languages." Once you have latin down, it doesn't let you just easily learn every language, but it builds a strong basis for understanding them and getting a grasp on word structure more quickly.

mokes310
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1355
Joined: 13 Oct 2008

Arsen:
From the list I have made. I have heard that if I learn German I can practically go ANYWHERE in Europe (western portion of Europe anyway...). We have many here from Europe so I'd like to hear your opinions and views. Thank you.

PS - The Hebrew one is random and under the condition it could benefit me well in the long run.

No Spanish? Pretty much all of South and Central America speak Spanish. Think of how much money is there?

bluemarsman
Muckraker
Posts: 267
Joined: 6 Apr 2008

English and Chinese.

Chapper
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1110
Joined: 18 Jun 2008

Arsen:

Chapper:
Where's Spanish?

I'd choose that, because then you're understood in all of Central- and South-America (except Brazil) and Spain, of course, which is a popular tourist destination.

EDIT: Are we limited to Europe only? If then I'd say German too.

Primarily Europe, yes my good man.

The reason I didn't pick Spanish is because...well it'd be expected of me to use my skills in using that language OUTSIDE of Spain. And Brazil's (the one good place in South America) primary language is Portuguese.

I'm aware of that, but did YOU know that Spanish is spoken by 320 to 400 million people? That makes it the second or third most spoken language by native speakers. :)

Where's my cookie?

Arsen
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 876
Joined: 26 Nov 2008

mokes310:

Arsen:
From the list I have made. I have heard that if I learn German I can practically go ANYWHERE in Europe (western portion of Europe anyway...). We have many here from Europe so I'd like to hear your opinions and views. Thank you.

PS - The Hebrew one is random and under the condition it could benefit me well in the long run.

No Spanish? Pretty much all of South and Central America speak Spanish. Think of how much money is there?

Cocaine + Guns + [Random Rant about Spanish/White Nation/etc Imperialism] = Not a place for me. Not trying to stereotype EVERY place in South America...but damnit, the worry is there.

kommando367
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1071
Joined: 9 Oct 2008

RedMenace:
German and French, since you already know English. Than you can go anywhere in the Europe. Although I would say: learn Chinese.

there is no actual language called chinese as different areas of that country speak different languages anyway back on topic: i'm taking a spanish class next year becuase there is a lot of people speaking variants of that language so i'm pretty sure it the most beneficial for me

Tattaglia
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1179
Joined: 12 Aug 2008

English, Spanish, the most used form of Chinese then German. Then Swahili for fun!

TaborMallory
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1672
Joined: 4 May 2008

I second Latin.

Dkozza
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1202
Joined: 13 Dec 2008

:o no Polish (only said that because i am of Polish descent)

The_root_of_all_evil
News Room Contributor
Posts: 7549
Joined: 13 Feb 2008

English. All air transport industries MUST know it as standard.

That and Esperanto. ;)

Greever
On the Record
Posts: 5804
Joined: 29 Jun 2004

Learn Latin. Portuguese and Spanish have their roots in Latin.

BigKingBob
Beat Writer
Posts: 126
Joined: 27 Aug 2008

German can get you round most of Europe? I've never heard that before, I don't know if the Germans have either.

But seriously, to get around Europe all you need is English, over 50% of the population of the EU speak English as a first or second language. Especially noticeable in Germany, even the shop assistants will be able to talk enough English to deal with you even if you don't speak a word of German. They learn it from the age of 5 up to 18.

For the rest of the world, I'd either learn Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin or Latin. The first three are just so I could talk to people in their respective areas and Latin just sounds awesome.

Tenmar
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1816
Joined: 20 Feb 2008

I guess it would be between french and german if you wish to travel around Europe. Hebrew would be really good if you plan to visit Isreal. For the USA knowing spanish is a huge plus now because the knowledge to speak 2 languages can really boost your paycheck even at the basic retail level. If you know multiple languages you will be wanted in the job market, I tried learning japanese but I didn't do well enough to memorize everything.

Fraught
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1358
Joined: 2 Aug 2008

English, obviously, and then German and French. I only know English of that bunch, but when I have gone to Finland, Sweden and Egypt, I have never had problem with someone not understanding me.
The whole freaking world can speak English, god damnit!

l33tabix
Copy Clerk
Posts: 75
Joined: 16 Mar 2008

you should have put english on the list. If you think of it from the worlds point of view. It's most beneficial to them.

sammyfreak
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1563
Joined: 5 Dec 2007

Greek, no question about it. Ofcourse I mean ancient Greek; reading Paul and Homer in original is quite a joy.

darkless
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 762
Joined: 26 Jan 2008

French and German then you can anywhere but poland and the netherlands...oh and more recently romania

darkless
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 762
Joined: 26 Jan 2008

l33tabix:
you should have put english on the list. If you think of it from the worlds point of view. It's most beneficial to them.

But also the hardest to learn so its not really worth the effort

DarkLordofDevon
Beat Writer
Posts: 143
Joined: 11 May 2008

None of the above.

Japanese is a great language to learn since they are building all the robots who will one day replace us. I want to go to Japan sometime.

Either that or Pre-Roman English Celtic. We have very few records about native English and I'd love to learn it purely for awesomeness value.

dukethepcdr
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 720
Joined: 9 May 2008

In the Western Hemisphere, Spanish would be the most beneficial. In the Eastern one, I'd say either Chinese or French. English is the most beneficial one to know world-wide.

hypothetical fact
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1299
Joined: 8 Oct 2008

Knowing English and Mandarin will let you talk to more people than any other combination.

seydaman
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1331
Joined: 21 Nov 2008

learn Chinese(mandarin) its the largest known language on earth, and English is the most wide spread meaning you can talk to lots of people

Michael_McCloud
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1552
Joined: 20 Mar 2008

You forgot three major ones: Chinese, Japanese, and Latin. The first two can help with oversees relations, not to mention they're just dead handy anyway. The third provides roots for a lot of words in almost every European language, French and Spanish in particular.

Out of your list, French and German is the best bet, followed by Italian.

Reaperman Wompa
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3584
Joined: 6 Aug 2008

The language of love...binary :P

Anyways, I would say mandarin could be more useful in the long run but from the list I'll say German. It's useful, practical and hot blondes. Need I say more?

Ubersawer
Paperboy
Posts: 18
Joined: 4 Dec 2008

German is the most useful language to learn if you are going to Europe. In my opinion it also sounds kinda cool.

Aumichan
Copy Clerk
Posts: 88
Joined: 25 Feb 2008

Italian so when I go to a nice restaurant I don't sound like a moron trying to pronounce the dishes.

Fronken
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1320
Joined: 10 May 2008

I voted for german, because its a useful language in eastern europe, though here in the north where im from germans dont really make much sense, atleast the droves of tourists who come here to buy moose feces.

Dechef
Press Junketeer
Posts: 393
Joined: 7 Feb 2008

To answer this you murst first ask yourself a question.
Do I smoke weed?
If yes, then Dutch.
On the other hand, everyone here knows English.

Syntax Error
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1313
Joined: 7 Sep 2008

English and Mandarin (cuz it's used in Mainland China). Those because of the sheer number of people who use them. Though it's good to know some key phrases whenever you enter a foreign land, even if usually, English is enough to get by.

Mr. Squirrel
Press Junketeer
Posts: 460
Joined: 28 Aug 2008

I think German is te most useful, Dutch in any case isn't, most of the Dutch people don't even speak it properly anymore imo.

Rajin Cajun
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1324
Joined: 12 Sep 2008

How is German the most useful? It is one of the least spoken languages in the EU. If I was going for versatility it would be French not only for its prevalence in Europe but its worldwide use in former French Colonies. Russian is useful in order to buy nuclear weapons and other black market weaponry.

 (Pages: 1, 2, 3)
Topic Index

Reply to Thread

You must be logged in to post.
Username:  
Password:  
  

Not registered? Sign up for a free account!

Forum Jump: