How many languages do you know ?

I know approximately zero... I think the notion that we can know an infinite moral form like language is crazy... It is not the language we know, but the language that we know life through...

English, which I somewhat understand, is changing as we speak, write... Though I own many dictionaries of English, and other languages such as German, French, Spanish, Latin, and Ancient Greek, I would consider it impossible to know even my own native tongue since it is beyond extensive, contains all knowledge, all experience, and is so growing and changing as we watch...
Talking about language is the second intention... Use what you know for the first intention, of living your life to the fullest...

Hello Mik. Since you speak three, if you don't mind which would you rather speak? You can be your own interpreter and hopefully from doing that you will help more clarify one of them to bring a better meaning from all three.

It seems the most popular now is that language that is considered "English" and there is a lot of AmeriSpeak in that too. We Americans to have our way with words, ha! Finding a good language from all of them will be a task indeed. Let's all hope we do that sooner rather than later so there will not be any confusion as to what anyone is saying. Don't you think that is the way it was meant to be.

william

I'm fluent to some extent in my first language, english.

I was schooled in latin for 4 years, but don't remember all the particulars of it. I do tend to enjoy reading George's latin posts as a small way to get reacquainted.

I studied italian at length (seven quarters) and could write complicated essays, could read italian literature, but never became fluent conversationally - though I can get by when I am in that country for a bit. I online read some italian newspapers once in a while, with partial success.

I'm slightly self taught in spanish, and can read parts of a newspaper front page while probably missing whole bunches of words that give an article context/meaning.

I studied german for a semester decades ago (enjoyed it), and am virtually useless in speaking or reading it. When I see german used on a2k, I sometimes make an effort to check the meaning.

As to whether I know any of these languages, I'll just say my learning is in progress.

I speak three languages: French,, Italian, and Thousand Islands... Its a joke...

you didn't have to explain it

I pigeon speak French, Italian, Rat and Crow.
I write and think in English.

If I were to study any it would be sign or possibly body.

(Great to see you Fido)

English is my first language. I'm fairly fluent.

I studied Spanish for six years. I used to be able to read and understand Spanish fairly well. I was never a fluent speaker.

I studied French for two years and Italian for one.

Snort, she has been a big time publisher's editor, lo, many years. When she is here, she is relaxing.

Check out some Roberta threads - (I didn't go through all her topics)

http://able2know.org/topic/107684-1 "Peons of Praise" -- the author said that
http://able2know.org/topic/10418-1 Hebonics
http://able2know.org/topic/97261-1 Spanish but Don't Think
http://able2know.org/topic/96470-1 Revealed Through Our Words
http://able2know.org/topic/9147-1 Fine-Tuning 15, British English/American English
http://able2know.org/topic/19113-1 A Shoe-in??!!
http://able2know.org/topic/17610-1 Euphemisms--I've Had 'Em Up to Here!!!!
http://able2know.org/topic/17474-1 Fine-Tuning 26, Plurals and Possessives of Proper Nouns
http://able2know.org/topic/17175-1 Fine-Tuning 25, A Somewhat Unique Post
http://able2know.org/topic/16684-1 Fine-Tuning 24, Abbreviations/Acronyms and Redundancy

Well, these are a sample.

Not to embarrass Roberta, but she ain't just fairly fluent.

Osso

I speak and understand English, as is spoken in England (well, parts, anyway). I don't speak American.

I have a smattering of French and Italian, but I'm bloody good at Strine!

I don't know about that... My dumb jokes have earned me a lot of warnings when down rught rude insults slid on by...

crap... I better get some clothes on...

Thank you Fido that is very funny, (first sun laugh)

Is fashion or even style a language?

What do our garments say/speak about us?

How about Russian, and the ancient languages of Greek and Ranch?

I read, write, and mumble fluent English. I've spent 4 years in high school and several semesters in college in fruitlessly studying French.

I wouldn't bother, Fido.

Clothes are not essential on this site....yet!

One thing is to speak, read, write and be able to communicate fairly well, another thing is to know a language.

What's knowing a language? In my point of view, it means having a cultural cosmovision, a Weltanschauung (which marks your cultural boundaries in time and space).

I think I know Mexican Spanish (actually, part of my work is trying to set canons about its usage), and almost know American English and Italian (at least their urban versions).

In English, people play the piano; in Spanish, they touch it; in Italian, they sound it. Behind those tiny differences, there lies a whole concept of life.

In English or Spanish, a person can paint a fence or paint a masterpiece. In Italian, a fence is pitturata, a masterpiece is dipinta.
So, if you listen to the popular song "Volare", when it says "nel blu dipinto di blu", it is not referring to just a blue colored sky, but -indirectly- to a painter who painted (dipinse) the sky in blue. Probably God.
In English, there is a difference between sky and heaven. In both Spanish and Italian there is none (well, there actually is a word for sky, but it's only used by writers, and not often).

So people may be able to speak, read, write, listen, understand other languages, but only if they have been culturally inserted in the societies that use them, can they really know them.
In that sense, I may understand British or Indian English, and make myself understood by their speakers, but I don't think I know their language.

Just to be polite... Dis inee win much mind if I scratches my nads...