Speaking of Languages
Writing that last post reminded me of how much I wish I had a talent for learning languages. I've always had a dismal track record in that respect. I have been somewhat successful with Koine Greek, although I have a long way to go before I can comfortably read any Greek thrown at me — inflections continue to cause me trouble (it is the curse of thinking in English, I guess).
At any rate, I got to thinking about the languages I really wished I knew. Going from my present base, I'd love to eventually extend my reach into Homeric Greek as well. With those two down, I'm fairly certain I could read anything written between the Illyad and the Book of Revelation without too much trouble. I might actually accomplish this one of these days.
I also wish I knew Latin. Yes, it isn't terribly practical, but it has a certain mesmerizing elegance that surpasses other languages and I wish I could truly enjoy it. Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur. 1 And, let us not forget carpe carpeum. 2 I also wish I knew Italian. Dante's Divine Comedy is quite possibly my favorite piece of literature of all time (outside of the Bible) — I'd love to be able to read it in its original magnificence. That's not terribly practical either, I know… I can probably justify Latin far more easily… but, hey, its not like I'm actually running out to learn it right now.
On a more practical front, I recognize, as I noted in my last post, the coming importance of Spanish. It is said that Spanish is easy to learn, although I'm not jumping in just yet to do so. However, it would probably wise in the future to do so. It would be pure icing on the cake that I could read stuff like Pablo Neruda's poetry and Jorge Borge's short stories in their original tongue.
Given, as I noted above, my poor track record on this, I'll be lucky just to expand my Greek vocabulary, but I do hope someday I have the time and determination to become multi-lingual. It would be nice.
1: Anything said in Latin sounds profound.
2: Seizing the carp.
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RE: Speaking of Languages
The Italian Dante used is of course quite far from the Italian of today, not only wordwise. The grammar has shifted tremendously as well
If you knew Swedish (another language to put on your list, perhaps?
) I’d recommend a really good introductory (no idea if that word exists) book to Latin and the languages that stems from Latin.
RE: Speaking of Languages
I would want to learn Latin. Latin, just sounds cool to me. Like you said, not very practical.
And of course I would like to learn Swedish.
RE: Speaking of Languages
I would take exception to the perception that Spanish is easy to learn. Perhaps it might be easy to ‘get into’ Spanish; but the syntax and grammar of Spanish are complex indeed…
On a slightly different note: Neruda is awful. I prefer Borges as a poet, too. Or Gabriela Mistral (another Nobel-Prize winner). For a taste, check this.
RE: Speaking of Languages
If your first foreign language includes solid grammar explanation, every other language to follow is much easier. A foreign grammar gives you a marvelous mental framework for organizing your new learning. I took German in college from an excellent grammarian. Spanish was much easier after that, as was Dutch and Greek. I’m by no means a Greek scholar, but every tidbit makes much more sense now. I get more Latin than I want from my history studies.
RE: Speaking of Languages
Christopher: Maybe we should start a cyber Latin class.
Eduardo: I think that might be relatively speaking — from what I hear, although I do not have experience, French and German are much more of a bear to learn.
I actually like a few of Neruda’s poems… or perhaps, I should say, the English translations… it may be that the poetry has been improved in translation. I’m not familar with Borges’ poetry… I shall have to look into it (and take a look at your link) after I get done posting this.
Ed: Part of the problem, I think, is that I’m self taught on what little foreign language I know. However, I am determined to rise above that — I’ve signed up for a Greek class from a local seminary professor.
How can you get more Latin than you want?
RE: Speaking of Languages
Tim: Good Swedish literature? There are loads - the most famous perhaps being by Astrid Lindgren, Selma Lagerlöf, August Strindberg, Gustaf Fröding and other dead people, but modern writers like Fredrik Lindström, Torgny Lindgren, Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Liza Marklund and Alexander Skantze are good too. And that’s just the secular authors. In the Christian genre you’ll find Peter Halldorf, Wilfrid Stinissen, Ylva Eggerhorn and many more. Learn Swedish, and I’ll personally send you a Swedish book a month for a year
RE: Speaking of Languages
Hmm… sounds like motivation, Flip!
Now, just to find time…