Where are the people who speak the most languages? In Scandinavia they mostly speak English and German fluently as well as their onw languages. In the Czech republic, they are surrounded by about eight countries and their own language is not a major language spoken by others. A distant relative by marriage or mine spoke more than half a dozen languages.
In Asia, on one island in Indonesia most people speak three languages. These are likely to be England, Malay and Chinese.
In Canada speaking English and French is a requirement in government psoitions. But although primary schools are bilingual at secondary stage a second language is an option.
I was at a meeting in Singapore which has four official languages. English, Chinese (Mandarin - not Cantonese which is spoken in Hong Kong), Malay (remember Singapore was part of Malaysia) and Tamil, spoken by people who originally came from the South of India and Sri Lanka.
We were discussing how easy it is to learn certain words and signs in other languages. Which are the easiest languages? Which languages help you to learn other languages?
If you live in the USA, then Spanish is handy to speak to people from South America and understand signs. So many signs are in both Spanish and English in public places such as hospitals that it is easy to pick up words and accents. After Spanish, Portuguese is similar. When I visited Madeira, which is an island out in the sea where ships from Portugal would have had a stopover, I found the Portugues signs very easy to read.
Take the word garden. In German it is garten as in our familiar word kindergarten which literally means child garden. (The word kinder appears in the brand name of the chocolate containing a toy, Kinder Surprise, child surprise). K for ch as in child, pronounced as a c as in kick.
The French for garden is jardin. You can see the letters ard or art in garden, garten, jardin.
Spanish flag
Spanish
The Spanish for garden is
jardín
It looks the same as the French so recognising it is easy.
Speaking is another matter. The J is pronounced like the ch in the Scottish word loch, as if you are trying to clear something from your throat. Google translate has a little megaphone for the sound and its handy to click on the word even if you think that you know it or recognize it to be sure of getting the pronunciation correct.
Portuguese
The Portuguese for garden is easy to recognize on signposts.
jardim
However, the pronunciation to me sounds more like a soft g as in george
ge-ard-jim
The d sounds to me more like J. The m sounds more like n.
Practise it when you are alone.
Even if you are hesitant about saying it, you should now be able to read signs and understand the guide pointing to the Garden as your coach tour passes it or approaches it ready to stop.
English - Mandarin (Simplified Chinese writing)
garden - 花园
Huāyuán (pronounced hwa yen) (the accent means your voice goes up as if you are asking a question)
Useful websites
Google Translate
translate.google.com
Wikipedia on languages
https://duolingo.fandom.com/wiki/Finnish
About The Author
Angela Lansbury is an author and travel writer and photographer, teaching English and other languages to colleges and businesses.
In Asia, on one island in Indonesia most people speak three languages. These are likely to be England, Malay and Chinese.
In Canada speaking English and French is a requirement in government psoitions. But although primary schools are bilingual at secondary stage a second language is an option.
Flag of Singapore
I was at a meeting in Singapore which has four official languages. English, Chinese (Mandarin - not Cantonese which is spoken in Hong Kong), Malay (remember Singapore was part of Malaysia) and Tamil, spoken by people who originally came from the South of India and Sri Lanka.
We were discussing how easy it is to learn certain words and signs in other languages. Which are the easiest languages? Which languages help you to learn other languages?
If you live in the USA, then Spanish is handy to speak to people from South America and understand signs. So many signs are in both Spanish and English in public places such as hospitals that it is easy to pick up words and accents. After Spanish, Portuguese is similar. When I visited Madeira, which is an island out in the sea where ships from Portugal would have had a stopover, I found the Portugues signs very easy to read.
Flag of Germany
Take the word garden. In German it is garten as in our familiar word kindergarten which literally means child garden. (The word kinder appears in the brand name of the chocolate containing a toy, Kinder Surprise, child surprise). K for ch as in child, pronounced as a c as in kick.
Flag of France
The French for garden is jardin. You can see the letters ard or art in garden, garten, jardin.
Spanish flag
Spanish
The Spanish for garden is
jardín
It looks the same as the French so recognising it is easy.
Speaking is another matter. The J is pronounced like the ch in the Scottish word loch, as if you are trying to clear something from your throat. Google translate has a little megaphone for the sound and its handy to click on the word even if you think that you know it or recognize it to be sure of getting the pronunciation correct.
Portuguese
The Portuguese for garden is easy to recognize on signposts.
jardim
However, the pronunciation to me sounds more like a soft g as in george
ge-ard-jim
The d sounds to me more like J. The m sounds more like n.
Practise it when you are alone.
Even if you are hesitant about saying it, you should now be able to read signs and understand the guide pointing to the Garden as your coach tour passes it or approaches it ready to stop.
English - Mandarin (Simplified Chinese writing)
garden - 花园
Huāyuán (pronounced hwa yen) (the accent means your voice goes up as if you are asking a question)
Useful websites
Google Translate
translate.google.com
Wikipedia on languages
https://duolingo.fandom.com/wiki/Finnish
About The Author
Angela Lansbury is an author and travel writer and photographer, teaching English and other languages to colleges and businesses.
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