Hi everyone,
What language would you like to be able to speak?
Let’s see how many different ones we get.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
23 thoughts on “What language would you like to be able to speak?”
Comments are closed.
Hi everyone,
What language would you like to be able to speak?
Let’s see how many different ones we get.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Comments are closed.
Well, I have a couple of thoughts about that. First of all, I’ll tell you that I DID take a foreign language in high school–Latin!! I was planning to be a nurse, and had heard that Latin would be useful as so many medical terms, at least back then, were in Latin. My mom was delighted, as she had loved taking Latin in HS, and I’m sure got an A in it (she was a member of the National Honor Society). About all I remember are how to decline a noun and conjugate a verb, and that “agricola” means farmer and “amo” means “I love”!! (I did not become a nurse….)
I’ve often thought I’d like to have learned French, as so many sewing/dress-making terms and cooking terms are in French, plus then I would always know what Hercule Poirot was saying in Agatha Christie’s books! 😂
But I do wish I had learned Swedish. That was my dad’s first language, even though he was 2nd-generation American-born, of pure Swedish descent. His one set of grandparents lived with them when he was growing up, and they, especially his grandmother, spoke little to no English. He learned English, his first “foreign” language, when he went to kindergarten!
He continued to speak Swedish on occasion, as long as he lived. For about 39 years (I think) he conducted the Swedish Julotta (Christmas morning) service at Gethsemane Luth. Church in Seattle, either singing the liturgy or preaching the sermon in Swedish, and often both, if there was no one else available. I know he would have loved for me to learn Swedish, but at the time, I really wasn’t interested. He wanted me to go with them on a trip to Sweden, too, but I still had a kid at home…. Wish I could go back in time sometimes!!
I do know a few Swedish words, and a bedtime prayer that daddy taught us, but that’s about it.
While I think of it, I did reply to a couple of comments in Friday’s blog post.
You both continue to be in my prayers, Jeanne.
Charlotte, I love this history of your family. Maybe you can find some simple Swedish language books at the library or on line to read. It is a great way to remember words.
I would LOVE to go to Sweden.
Charlotte I left a reply to your reply to me yesterday. Also we loved “Are You Being Served” and have all the VHS tapes of the show and also “Keeping Up Appearances” which we also started buying in DVD. With streaming TV we can now get BritBox.
As far a speaking a foreign language, I think it would be German and Latin. My grandparents on both sides of my family spoke German as their first language, and I heard a lot of it while growing up, but never knew what they were saying! About all I really know of German is the Schnitzel bank song! 🤣
Because of my hearing, taking a foreign language in school, was not to be, as I would not be able to hear all the nuances of a word, for one thing. However in college, I knew of a girl who majored in French and was completely deaf! I have no idea how she did that and what she did after graduating.
As for as Latin goes, well, if you were Catholic back in the 60’s and before, you heard Latin every Sunday! However speaking it, is not my forte! Charlotte, my mother too, had Latin in high school, and made straight A’s in it. I really don’t see very many high schoolers taking Latin anymore, but it was popular in the 30’s.
Thinking about it, French would be nice to be able to speak too. Maybe then I would not have to translate what our sofa sister, Georgina, writes on the blog!
Still in our prayers🙏I took French in school but this old Yankee does not Qui to well! I am Swedish also and would have always loved to travel to the Scandinavian countries! We did go to Spain when my granddaughter spent a school year there studying! We got along really well not knowing the language! There were pictures of the food and you just pointed to your selection! Food is the most important thing
Have a good day!
Good morning dear ones.
I hope You and George are doing okay. I know these days are exhausting for both of you.
Both of you remain in my daily prayers.
My parents were from Holland/The Netherlands. I grew up in Europe and we moved to the US a few times.
My parents got married in 1947 in Rotterdam. Then shortly after, my father took a job in New York with his accounting firm he worked for in Rotterdam. My father was already a US citizen because his father came to the US in 1920 and … long story. Mom became a US citizen when they came to the US in 1949. Then at some point dad took a job at the General Accounting Office in Washington DC and later the State Department.
Anyway, my parents spoke dutch. We spoke Dutch, and German and French, I went to German schools, and French schools too. Lots of memories of those days.
I still have a lot of family in Europe. I was fluent in all of those languages. I did not think anything about that skill. It just was what we were surrounded by.
We lived in Paris until I was in 2nd grade. Then we moved to Maryland in the US. I did not know a lot of American words or pronunciations. Kids made fun of me because I could not speak properly. I hated school because every one “spoke so quickly”
We moved to Brussels when I was a teen ager. There we spoke a lot of Flemish (kind of a funny Dutch or silly French dialect depending on where you were living, which I found very entertaining)
I lived in Switzerland with my aunt and uncle for about a year and spoke a lot of German and Swiss German, all very easy for me.
I still dream in various languages. As I age, I am losing a lot of memory of some words. My cousin Roland (now in Austria) and my other cousin Lex, in Holland, tease me.
Aspiring to learn a language? Yes, Danish or Swedish would be very cool. Korean would be kind of interesting. They have those Korean tv shows…. “K-Pop” Hubbs and I watch mystery shows on tv that are in German or Dutch or French. I can understand completely and he has subtitles.
Yesterday morning I got an email about a group I joined, making Lemoyne Stars (or “Lone Stars” what I call them) I forgot. So I spent yesterday morning, first cleaning up KittyPrincess’ overnight paradise room a little bit more than usual (some litterbox accidents) and then she barfed on an inexpensive oriental rug in front of the tv and I had to clean that up, not realizing I stepped in it and tracked kitty barf various places around the house.
Whew, then I just needed to do some sewing. I do not really know how the day just flew by, all of a sudden I had to dream up something for dinner.
I completed that first star sewing assignment, I made it a bit smaller to fit a space in a quilt.
https://plainsandpine.mykajabi.com/library
This morning we are given a different technique to make the star, foundation paper piecing.
I will work on this assignment. I will see if I can size it down to my desired 9-ish inches
I have plenty of other tasks to do. I will try to fit some of those in.
Jeanne, like all of the other Sofa Sisters here, we wish we could be there with you and be supportive and useful. I wish I could hug both of you
Wow, Rosemary, you could teach languages and make a killing! Wouldn’t it be fun if we could all be on the sofa and take lessons from you!
It will be fun to see your new quilt as it grows.
“make a killing” YOU are so cute adorable and funny Sissy.
My mother was of Irish descent, so I would like to learn the Irish language. I think it would be a difficult language to learn, though, because the words aren’t pronounced anything at all like they look! I visited Ireland in 2007 – such a beautiful country!
I think Hebrew would also be fun to learn, but would also be difficult.
two very good languages to learn more about.
I went to two Jewish funerals (Levaya) and there is a lot of German in Hebrew.
Growing up I was really good at Pig Latin, and my best friend and I made up a language of our own, that really was fun. My brother could speak backward language, every word was backward.
In High School it was Latin and I did well in that, then in collage it was French, but I was NOT good at that. My mom had a friend who could speak French and I had to have lessons from her one summer. I could read it pretty well, and when I was asked to repeat French words from a record I could repeat it perfectly but had no idea what I was saying. I did finally pass, but wasn’t good at it.
I do wish I had learned it better, it is a lovely language.
Our weather has been so hot I have stayed in the house when we are home. Goodwill might be tired of all the stuff I have been getting up for them. We have two walk in attics upstairs and I managed to fill them both up over the years, mostly with sewing stuff but also Christmas stuff, old dishes, boxes that dolls came in…on and on. The attics are hot too but I don’t have to stay there long to grab stuff to give away.
Jeanne dear, thank you for thinking things for us to talk about. You know there are so many prayers going up for you and George that the sky is full of them.
Sending much love.
I’m so hoping that George is showing some improvement. Thinking about Jeanne and George a lot while I’m out working in the yard. Makes me wonder if someone is eating the tomatoes in their absence and gathering eggs at their place?
Wow, as to languages, I took French, for two years in junior high and high school. I still retain a little and found that it is a very helpful and lovely language. You know, reading sewing terns sometimes and how to pronounce things too. I have picked up a lot of Spanish, as a second generation Californian, but I would love to know how to speak Danish. My grandfather’s parents were both born in Denmark, but then, I have so many other long deceased relatives from Germany, England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and even Finland. According to my DNA, I’m 100% European, so choosing one language would be a hard decision. However, I would be interested in learning the Pomo language of those first here in our area of CA, although, learning languages is very difficult for me. Maybe I’d better stick to gardening. 🙂
My wayward package with RRed Hazel inside arrived here successfully yesterday. Yay! I’d sent other person to Safeway thinking that maybe I’d cut a break and be able to get the delivery inside while he was absent. But, no. He arrived home and the delivery had not appeared. I tried to kill time as I had my ears active listening for any arrival sounds, but nothing. So, I peeked out the bedroom window and there was a box laying flat on the mat right next to Charlotte the cat from next door. Oh no! So, I ran through the house expecting that other person would be on the couch near the door, but it was empty. He was in the office. So, I popped open the door, swollen from the heat, and held on to the squeaking hinge to avoid detection. Without any specific idea of sneakiness in mind, I simply grabbed the box, told Charlotte, that I would soon reappear with food, and brought the latest inside. I was so excited to receive her, that I didn’t even secure the front door, but simply took the box to the secret location. On the way back, I heard a loud “bang!” It was that darned door slamming shut from the wind. But, that didn’t faze me as I had secured the prize already. And other person did not stir from the office. Sometimes, I’m lucky! 🙂 Then, I brought out some treats to Charlotte, for being such a helpful kitty and probably making the delivery a quiet one.
It’s a lovely cool morning, but will get into the 80’s later. But, it does not look good for days after today as we will be in the high eighties and nineties for some time. Where oh where has that lovely fog gone?
You’re on a roll, Joy. Glad Hazel made it in safely.
I actually couldn’t believe it! Now, some alone time to open her box and get her dressed. 🙂
Joy, this is excellent that you retrieved Hazel.
You need some time to have all of the girls have a meet up and play time!
Oh what fun! I wish I could join in.
That would be fun, but with all of things that need attention around here, the play time is slim.
Fun question. I took Spanish in high school and college. The choices were Spanish, French, and Latin. As far as a language I would like to speak, there are many. My maternal grandparents were German and while my mom can speak and read it quite well I didn’t have enough opportunity to learn a great deal as a child. I do know the alphabet, numbers, some songs, and a prayer.
On my paternal side I have Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and English. Since I know English LOL 🙂 I would love to learn Scottish Gaelic, Irish (Gaeilge), and Welsh. I have turned on those subtitle while watching a show set there just to see the language written.
I’m glad I took Spanish because I’ve have far more opportunities to use it than I would have had for French. Spanish was helpful when we were in Texas and Florida to quickly get what I needed. I’ve used it here when we have the house reroofed twice.
I do wish I had known French on our train trip to Nova Scotia, New Beunswick, and PEI. We sat next to a lovely lady and her daughter both nights at lunch and dinner. They were from Quebec and all we could do is smile, point to the scenery, and nod. We did show her The Anne of Green Gables pamphlet I had and she had obviously been there from her gestures.
I remember going to Quebec as a child.
I forgot, my great grandmother on my mother’s side was born in Wales, so I’m Welsh too. 🙂
Joy, Sam was born in Wales but she only lived there for a few weeks, then my husband was posted to Singapore and from there, 2 and half years later we came to NZ.
I learned French in High School for 4 years, which I hated because I knew I would never need it. Then, when I was 18, I was posted to France with the Army!! Unfortunately, I have forgotten most of it.
My paternal grandparents were German and my birth father was a US serviceman during the war, he spoke fluent German so was very useful when the allies invaded France. Since I grew up in England, I never met any of them and never learned German.
Now I would love to learn Māori. I do know quite a few words and TVNZ uses a lot of Māori in the news, so it is a way of picking up some phrases, I also took it at 1st year level at university but dropped it after I found out I didn’t need the points to graduate. My friend is learning and I thought I would join her but keep putting it off. Languages don’t come naturally to me I find them very difficult so I probably will never learn but you never know.
Got up early today to watch NZ in the netball at the Commonwealth Games. We beat Uganda but it wasn’t as easy as it should have been. NZ are ranked second in the world behind Australia. Do people play netball in USA? It is a much faster and harder game than basketball, you only have 3 seconds to pass the ball and not allowed more than one step and no dribbling. There are also strict rules on where on the court the different positions can play and only two players in ech team are allowed in the scoring circle (can’t score outside it) and only two in each team can score. Each goal is only one point and in the same amount of time as in basketball the scores are very similar. It was always a women’s game but here there are men’s leagues as well these days. You have to be really fit to play at the top level. Sam and I have been watching the lawn bowls as well. Last night we watched a fantastic match between S.Africa and NZ. It was a must win match for both of them. The loser would be out of medal contention. They play two sets of 7 ends and after the first set the S.A won 8-5 and after the second set the Kiwi won 8-5! they played a tie break of one more end and that went down to the last bowl! The Kiwi won by 1 bowl. Amazing game.
I went to the physio on Monday, I don’t think I told you but the pain in my leg is bursitis. The injection didn’t help much so the Dr has sent me for physio. I have exercises to do twice a day and go back in 2 weeks. I have 3 free sessions so hopefully it will fix the problem.
Jeanne, I hope George is improving, such a worrying time for you. I will keep praying.
Started joining my quilt blocks, done one row so hope I get some more done today.
Joy the formula for converting Celcius to Fahrenheit is double it and add thirty. It isn’t perfectly accurate especially at below freezing and above 30C but it is a pretty good guide. -2C is 28.4 F so very cold. -4.75C which we had the other night is 23.45F.
Have a good day everyone
I’ve never heard of net ball. Now, that would make my head spin. Sounds like a very active game rather than running back and forth from one end to the other. I get soccer but neither basketball nor American football grab me. Football kinda sorta. I think that I was gamed out in high school and junior college when I was a songleader.
So Sam was born in Wales. I have so many different European countries in my ancestor bag, I forgot the English too. Lots of that as well.
And tks on the Celcius conversion help. Now, if I can remember it. 🙂 Numbers have never been my favorite. 🙂
It just hit 87 and it is still climbing. Going to take a long time to cool down tonight.
Good luck with the physio. Hope you see lots of improvement. And looking forward to seeing this new quilt when it is completed.
I love, love, love learning languages and took French for two years in high school as an elective since it was not needed for the course I was taking. For several years I was learning and taught Scots Gaelic, which I love. When we did the Pentecost readings in church those of us who knew a foreign language got to read a portion in our chosen language. It was quite enlightening to realize what it must have been like not understanding a foreign tongue being spoken around you. Made the concept of “speaking in tongues” more real. I would have loved to have become more proficient in the language but that would have taken several trips to the Western Isles of Scotland which not only could we not afford but I was raising children at the time so even my going alone was not an option. I have a dear friend in the Western Isles (Harris) who I started writing while I was learning. The problem was she could speak it but not read or write the language since it was forbidden when she was growing up so only spoke it at home. I could only read and write it but not speak it because Scots Gaelic is pretty much an idiomatic language, so telephone calls were out. So we converse in English except for things like Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadna mhath ur dhut.)
I’m like Anne — languages don’t come naturally to me. I took Latin and French, and was hopeless in both. However, one day I walked into a class I was teaching and found I had a sign language interpreter, which meant I had a deaf student. I realized something or someone had to change, and he couldn’t. I never got good, but I learned the alphabet and began picking up enough signs that I could communicate on a basic level. The lead interpreter began routinely giving me deaf students, which worked out well because the students integrated into the class better with a teacher and an interpreter who had practice working together.
I got to know her story. When a student gave a paper on death with dignity, which indicated that making a quick exit might be the best path, I said to the interpreter, “Equal time?” She then took 10 minutes to describe her experience with thyroid cancer when she was 18 — her choices were death or serious disfigurement. She told her doctors, “You find me a 3rd option.” It took several days, but they did, and she currently was the middle aged mother of a 16 year old daughter. Her advice to the class, “DON’T GIVE UP EASILY.”
Knowing a little sign language has paid off in small ways several times, not to mention being able to provide a better experience for students.
Bonjour. Alors,moi ,je parle assez bien italien.Pas parfaitement,parce-que,dans la famille de mon mari,on parle sicilien. Le sicilien est une vraie langue,avec une grammaire. Les premières années,j’avais du mal,avec les deux langues ;puis je me suis concentrée sur l’italien. Maintenant,nous n’allons plus en Sicile;il reste peu de famille . Je crois toujours avoir tout oublié,mais quand nous retournons en Italie,tout revient ,naturellement. Rassurez vous :On n’oublie pas… Ma fille ainée a étudié l’espagnol à l’école elle n’aimait pas cela…puis elle a épousé un espagnol … J’epère que Georges se remet bien ,avec vos bon soins ; je pense beaucoup à vous. Belle journée à vous toutes .