Community Messageboard: Here's what I tell various people by Larry

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Here's what I tell various people Larry Send a noteboard - 24/06/2011 03:09:45 AM

I am from time to time confronted with the question, "How many languages do you speak?" and the answer is usually difficult because I'm not sure what level of proficiency people are asking about. I suspect that a lot of people around here speak more than one language and that many people have some knowledge of a language but would pause and say "er..." or some variant of that if someone asked if they knew or spoke it.

The thing is that I think the answer to the question varies, depending on why you're being asked. For business purposes, I list several languages in my bio because I want to get as much business as possible. Even there, though, I don't list all the languages that I've studied (and that's not restricted to the dead languages). On Facebook, I haven't listed any languages because the people who do are usually (but not always - I add that because I haven't looked at what all my friends listed

) also the same people who are bragging about this, that and the other and so it seems a bit pretentious.

Of course, I also remember when I started working at my first law firm. They had a "face book" (physical thing, not social media) for all the new attorneys, and a very nice young woman listed as her languages "French, Ancient Greek, Latin" when I am fairly certain that only living languages were requested (for purposes of staffing attorneys to particular transactions - perhaps she was angling for a nice deal with the Vatican).

I suppose there are actually several questions here, although they're variations on the same one:

1. How much of a language should you know to tell someone you know it?

Enough to be able to at least read it at near-native fluency.

2. How much of a language should you know to list on a resume or work bio?

At the very least, reading fluency. I translate, I never interpret and I make that point very clear when agreeing to do translations of documents. I never accept, if I can help it, conversational interactions, because my Spanish and Portuguese is not strong enough to maintain a fluent, varied conversation that touches upon a multitude of topics.

3. How much of a language should you know to list on social media?

Reading fluency level would be fine. Not that I list it on my Facebook page or blog

4. How many languages do you know and what are they?

I am reading fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, approaching intermediate level in French and Italian, and can understand some written and spoken Haitian, German, and Serbian. For conversational purposes, I can relate conversations said on TV in Spanish into English without losing much information, but I'm too out of practice in speaking it to feel comfortable carrying on a conversation - it would take me probably 1-2 months immersion to get to that level. Spoken Portuguese I understand about 50-75% of the time and the other languages are in the 20-50% range it seems, although I do pick out the gist of most of the conversations.

Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie

Je suis méchant.

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/Simple Question: at what point do you tell people you "know" a language or "speak" it? Tom - 24/06/2011 02:49:51 AM 749 Views

Here's what I tell various people Larry - 24/06/2011 03:09:45 AM 543 Views

It's interesting that you focus on the literary side Tom - 24/06/2011 03:29:36 AM 510 Views

I do that because I make some money from translations, so I have to "know" at least one other, no? Larry - 24/06/2011 03:41:24 AM 514 Views

Interesting Praziquantel - 24/06/2011 10:23:04 PM 503 Views

I thought the same ironclad - 24/06/2011 10:29:03 PM 956 Views

Not sure but I am almost there with English *NM* random thoughts - 24/06/2011 03:52:30 AM 222 Views

neat question. temeraire - 24/06/2011 06:36:09 AM 506 Views

I'd say it depends on the purpose... jh - 24/06/2011 10:04:48 AM 660 Views

I agree that it varies on why you're being asked ironclad - 24/06/2011 10:45:02 AM 597 Views

temeraire - 24/06/2011 09:01:42 PM 458 Views

I tend to give a long speech Camilla - 24/06/2011 11:02:22 AM 516 Views

Re: /Simple Question: at what point do you tell people you "know" a language or "speak" it? Stephen - 24/06/2011 01:21:52 PM 535 Views

Agree with jh nossy - 24/06/2011 02:19:21 PM 531 Views

I think if you would be able to make not just basic needs known... globug0822 - 24/06/2011 04:58:05 PM 512 Views

check noteboard *NM* Deadsy - 25/06/2011 04:38:48 PM 292 Views

Very good question.

Legolas - 24/06/2011 08:22:47 PM 572 Views

I had a feeling you might enjoy the survey. Tom - 24/06/2011 10:50:47 PM 430 Views

What can I say, I'm predictable?

Legolas - 25/06/2011 01:00:49 AM 508 Views

Two words: constant practice Tom - 25/06/2011 02:34:52 AM 565 Views

True. Legolas - 25/06/2011 04:13:06 PM 517 Views

"Sank beneath the the waves of the Lethe" is an incredible phrase. *NM* Ghavrel - 26/06/2011 06:01:00 AM 230 Views

Glad you enjoyed it! *NM* Tom - 26/06/2011 05:08:49 PM 211 Views

If you have at least an elementary school understanding of the language Praziquantel - 24/06/2011 10:19:45 PM 504 Views

My own survey answers Tom - 24/06/2011 11:07:12 PM 533 Views

Funny how your taste in languages still to learn parallels mine to a great extent. Legolas - 25/06/2011 01:04:36 AM 478 Views

Yeah, and I realized that last list should include Farsi and Arabic. Tom - 25/06/2011 02:24:06 AM 471 Views

Oh, and Hawaiian. I have about seven books on Hawaiian. All bought in Hawaii, of course. *NM* Tom - 25/06/2011 02:35:43 AM 215 Views

I suppose Farsi must be easier than Arabic. Legolas - 26/06/2011 11:18:23 AM 523 Views

Yes and no. Tom - 26/06/2011 05:08:29 PM 1578 Views

Interesting. Makes sense, I guess. Legolas - 26/06/2011 05:49:25 PM 518 Views

The timing of your question makes me giggle. Jedi Wolf Sister - 26/06/2011 04:05:07 AM 585 Views

Re: /Simple Question: at what point do you tell people you "know" a language or "speak" it? Vivien - 29/06/2011 11:25:42 PM 632 Views

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<quote id="213790">
<quote id="213788">I am from time to time confronted with the question, "How many languages do you speak?" and the answer is usually difficult because I'm not sure what level of proficiency people are asking about.  I suspect that a lot of people around here speak more than one language and that many people have some knowledge of a language but would pause and say "er..." or some variant of that if someone asked if they knew or spoke it.</quote>
<quote id="213788">The thing is that I think the answer to the question varies, depending on why you're being asked.  For business purposes, I list several languages in my bio because I want to get as much business as possible.  Even there, though, I don't list all the languages that I've studied (and that's not restricted to the dead languages).  On Facebook, I haven't listed any languages because the people who do are usually (but not always - I add that because I haven't looked at what all my friends listed ;) ) also the same people who are bragging about this, that and the other and so it seems a bit pretentious.</quote>
<quote id="213788">Of course, I also remember when I started working at my first law firm.  They had a "face book" (physical thing, not social media) for all the new attorneys, and a very nice young woman listed as her languages "French, Ancient Greek, Latin" when I am fairly certain that only living languages were requested (for purposes of staffing attorneys to particular transactions - perhaps she was angling for a nice deal with the Vatican).</quote>
<quote id="213788">I suppose there are actually several questions here, although they're variations on the same one:</quote>
<quote id="213788">1. How much of a language should you know to tell someone you know it?</quote>

Enough to be able to at least read it at near-native fluency.

<quote id="213788">2. How much of a language should you know to list on a resume or work bio?</quote>

At the very least, reading fluency.  I translate, I never interpret and I make that point very clear when agreeing to do translations of documents.  I never accept, if I can help it, conversational interactions, because my Spanish and Portuguese is not strong enough to maintain a fluent, varied conversation that touches upon a multitude of topics.

<quote id="213788">3. How much of a language should you know to list on social media?</quote>

Reading fluency level would be fine.  Not that I list it on my Facebook page or blog :P

<quote id="213788">4. How many languages do you know and what are they? </quote>

I am reading fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, approaching intermediate level in French and Italian, and can understand some written and spoken Haitian, German, and Serbian.  For conversational purposes, I can relate conversations said on TV in Spanish into English without losing much information, but I'm too out of practice in speaking it to feel comfortable carrying on a conversation - it would take me probably 1-2 months immersion to get to that level.  Spoken Portuguese I understand about 50-75% of the time and the other languages are in the 20-50% range it seems, although I do pick out the gist of most of the conversations.
</quote>

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