tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009417175818512962.post6734867869146347386..comments2024-03-29T13:51:01.039+01:00Comments on Let's read: Guo, Xiaolu (郭小橹) "Language"Marianne http://www.blogger.com/profile/11810275740213848634noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009417175818512962.post-59280895054323042262017-11-09T11:22:51.250+01:002017-11-09T11:22:51.250+01:00There are several reasons why you might think you ...There are several reasons why you might think you don't have a gift. First of all, you really need a good teacher, preferably someone who comes from the country and/or who has lived there a couple of years. Second, and that is even more important, you need a possibility to use your language. In Europe, it only takes you a couple of hours and you're out of the area where they speak your national language. Over here, within half an hour, I can speak to people whose native language is German, Dutch or French. And I take up the opportunity as often as I can.<br /><br />Another reason you might think that is that both French and Latin are Roman languages which might not exactly be your forte. You might have done better with German or a Scandinavian language first.<br /><br />Anyway, if you don't need the languages, I can understand that you are not tempted to carry on.Marianne https://www.blogger.com/profile/11810275740213848634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009417175818512962.post-45173353620049759222017-11-09T11:19:25.481+01:002017-11-09T11:19:25.481+01:00Actually, I'm from Northern Germany and even I...Actually, I'm from Northern Germany and even I'm intimated by the formal people in the South, so I'm not surprised. LOL At least you tried to learn and, as you said yourself, learned enough of the language to feel more comfortable. I think not knowing anything of the language must be very daunting.<br /><br />As to the Turkish people, I totally agree, they are ever so wonderful, I have always met lovely people from there. It is a tough language to learn, so different from ours, the whole flow of the language, the composition, not easy. And I wouldn't have wanted to live in Turkey during that time. I wouldn't want to live there now, either, though there have been times when I think I would have liked it. As I said, lovely people.Marianne https://www.blogger.com/profile/11810275740213848634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009417175818512962.post-6197679431700026172017-11-08T18:17:51.759+01:002017-11-08T18:17:51.759+01:00I don't have a gift for languages. I took Fren...I don't have a gift for languages. I took French and Latin in high school but without the chance to actually speak French or read Latin after I was forced to in school, they did not stick with me. Great review!Judy Kruegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11632346091869688862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009417175818512962.post-32803698980256877432017-11-08T15:24:42.528+01:002017-11-08T15:24:42.528+01:00I've twice lived in a country where I didn'...I've twice lived in a country where I didn't know the language. The first time was when we lived in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. I was only 20, pregnant and very intimidated by the formal German people. Took awhile to learn enough German to feel comfortable.<br />The next time was when we lived in Izmir, Turkey. It was under martial law at the time and was quite an intimidating place to be. I took Turkish classes, but never became comfortable with the language. The Turkish people were wonderful and made us feel at home.Mac n' Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05732924562630675589noreply@blogger.com