learning a new language.

[Guest]

Ive always fancied Italian too, they are quite similar arent they,

the beat place to start is, for European languages, Latin. but who speaks that these days!

I had Latin as a compulsary subject at school, my grandmother (nonny) was Italian so i speaka da lingo , knowing Italian didn't help much with the Latin to be honest, the roots of the words are there as they are in most European languages (i.e. ambulat = to walk or amble) but the dialect will throw you.

Spanish has a lot of simularities but it's not as easy as you'd think to learn even if you speak Italian, i know as i've tried and only have a "tourist" comprehension of the tounge.

Rosetta Stone and similar "learning tapes" are ok for the basics but if you go to the country when you're thinking you've learnt enough you will end up a little lost because of dialects throughout the country (just think of the different dialects here in the UK and then multiply it) I can always tell if someone has lived in italy or learnt italian through a course just in a few sentences.

For instance i speak French but couldnt fully understand a Parisienne local at a show a few years back due to his accent, if i come across someone from southern Italy it's harder to converse than if he/she were from "oop norf"

My advice is get the basics and then go and visit the country for as long as you can to top up the dialect.

[Ian M]

Hey I been mis-quoted, T'was not me that said that I was just saying "wot i erd."

lol I think they where referring to the grammar being a good foundation.

Language has always fascinated me but I have never really learnt any for fun. A rarely heard one such as Danish was a pain in the bum. But having learnt it, it's surprising how much German I can read!!! Swedish is a sub-division as is Norwegian. Hey they were all the same land once with the same people, so if you like the the Scandinavian languages are the same but the dialect has gone to the extreme and become each their own. A bit like England and Yorkshire...... Yep I'm running for cover already !!! But all you in England should also be thankful for the Vikings. A lot of town names in England are in fact Danish in origin....

Getting way off topic here sorry Funky.

Ian M