Why would I want to learn another language?

[Iris]

I often ask my students why they are learning English. Many of them do it because they need it to study or to get a better job.But for many more it's just a hobby. What makes learning a foreign language so challenging and at the same time so motivating and rewarding?

[Iris]

Alfonso, eat your heart out. I'm not a lounger any more but a student. The title you miss so much is mine to cherish now...

[Alfonso]

I agree with you, Iris. Since most of us learn a language as a hobby, why not learn Esperanto?

[Iris]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

I agree with you, Iris. Since most of us learn a language as a hobby, why not learn Esperanto?

It would lack the rewarding quality of English or Spanish. Where would you find attractive Esperanto native speakers to talk to?

[Alfonso]

Thanks a lot, Iris!
Well, I'm thinking as a politician, for the common wealth (¿bien común?).
I should go shopping. I've got no food at home... and I'm hungry.

[Alfonso]

Hi, Iris,
Excuse my previous answer. Your question is profound. I think curiosity moves people, not to say human being. Learning is a goal in itself, so, maybe, we don't need a why for it. Anyway, I would say it's a way to satisfy a need. Apart from this, I don't know why I do most of the things I mysteriously do.

(Will you please tell me if the last adverb I wrote is rightly placed? Thanks!)

[Tomisimo]

Supposedly there are approximately 1,000 native speakers of Esperanto in the world (all the them bilingual in another natural language). These are children whose parents taught them Esperanto from childhood.

[Iris]

Thanks for your very philosophical answer, Alfonso. And yes, your adverb is in the right place and gives a very interesting meaning to the whole sentence.

[sosia]

I learn another language to understand other culture.
I will never learn espaeranto, because it has not a culture.
Altough my aunt learn it (in 1950!!) because it was easier to speak with other people of ther word. Now with internet it's more esay to learn/heard/read other languages
greetings

[poli]

Estoy de acuerdo contigo, Sosia. Aprender un nuevo idioma es una ventana a una otra cultura. Puede ofrecer un otro modo de pensamiento.
Hay cosas que no puede decir en inglés que se puede decir en español y
vice versa. Es un buen ejercicio para el cerebro tambien(encontrando una nueva ruta para llegar al mismo destino). Aprender otro idioma no es nada fácil. ¿Cual idioma escogería tú si tuviera que aprender otro idioma mas? Yo escogería algo parecido al español como italiano o portugués porque no quiero enfrentar la dificilidad de aprender mandarino
o ruso. Alemán que parece inglés no me atrae tampoco porque a mi me
parece feo.
Poli

[sosia]

Hola Poli
Yo se inglés y alemán para entenderme con cualquiera, pero no como experto.
Conocimientos básicos de francés y japonés.
Pero no tengo tiempo de profundizarlos......

[Iris]

Good for you! I just speak English and French, and Spanish of course.I've tried with German several times but it's too difficult for me.

[Alfonso]

Mmmm... I've never studied Esperanto, but I studied Latin and ancient Greek for several years... And I thought English was a very modern language to be worthwhile studying it... So, who knows? Anyway, things are mysteriously done...

[sosia]

I have a friend who speaks in a Latin chat.... with other Law students/teachers
saludos

[poli]

I speak Pig Latin. That is quite a dicipline. Don't you agree Iris?

Poli

[Iris]

What is Pig Latin? It's the first time I hear this expression. One learns a lot talking to you guys. I was also surprised by Alfonso's explanation of the ethimological meaning of "ojalá"

[poli]

Pig Latin or Igpay Atinlay is an ancient idiom easily learned
Here's a lesson: You take the first consonant of a given work and put it
at the end of the word. Then add ay. Try it. You'll like it.
Incidentally, some Pig Latin is part of everday speech here in the US.
Ixnay for nix for example.

Eerschay,

Olipay

[Iris]

Wow! My Mum did something similar when she was little and she wanted to communicate with her sister in secret. They put pa after every syllable. They still do it sometimes... real fast!

[poli]

Iris
I just checked Wikipedia. In Britain it may be called backslang. I was
used by thieves. Was your mother a thief?

[Iris]

Not that I know. But we all have our secrets...