tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post4953349077564329774..comments2024-03-27T15:41:01.956-04:00Comments on rhymeswithplague<br>rhymeswithplague<br>rhymeswithplague<br>rhymeswithplague<br>rhymeswithplague: In which the author indulges his penchant for facts that others may find either extremely fascinating or boring beyond words.rhymeswithplaguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-77328470084460315392010-10-20T12:06:03.911-04:002010-10-20T12:06:03.911-04:00In my opinion, one of the most interesting studies...In my opinion, one of the most interesting studies in anthropology was a linguistic one. Years and years ago, scientists chose 13 words (such as moon, white, mother, weapon, etc.) and went around the world to try to translate these words into as many languages as possible. When they finished, they found that the similarity of these words in different languages and dialects was just amazing! Proving what? That all peoples are closer to each other that one might think...either by acculturation or by diffusion.Peace Thymehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361079101751470855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-43900997339632273692010-10-19T11:24:30.091-04:002010-10-19T11:24:30.091-04:00Apparently a language is only important if the spe...Apparently a language is only important if the speakers of the language were conquerors. Very interesting post.<br /><br /><a href="http://anarkiesmusings.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">An Arkies Musings<br /></a>Richard Lawryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03680320073463221740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-54541676967981094042010-10-18T15:11:17.742-04:002010-10-18T15:11:17.742-04:00I had every intention of gradually learning every ...I had every intention of gradually learning every language there is. So far, I haven't. My son is in missions and is far more familiar with all the variations than I am. So far all I can do besides English is some Spanish, some sign language and some shorthand! :)Rosezilla (Tracie Walker)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12265953530935691847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-35536784532424924592010-10-18T11:02:10.077-04:002010-10-18T11:02:10.077-04:00i speak a smattering of utarn>>>.just say...i speak a smattering of utarn>>>.just sayinPutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08480109111920196513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-85108095178720430572010-10-18T07:51:53.644-04:002010-10-18T07:51:53.644-04:00Extremely fascinating.
I speak a smattering of q...Extremely fascinating. <br /><br />I speak a smattering of quite rusty Spanish, and then only in the present tense (which is all I can remember from my studies of more than 50 years ago.) I envy Europeans who fluently speak multiple languages. <br /><br />It makes one wonder how all those thousands of languages and dialects developed.Pat - Arkansashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-44409229135340444492010-10-18T07:46:53.030-04:002010-10-18T07:46:53.030-04:00Fascinating post Robert. Like you I hadn't eve...Fascinating post Robert. Like you I hadn't even heard of some of those top languages. It seems to me that historically the suppression of minority languages has usually been to do with the assertion of economic power. In these British Isles we once had at least six distinct languages - Cornish, Manx, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic and of course English. Nowadays those "other" languages have declined enormously or disappeared entirely. When I was at school, I learnt French and Latin but not a single word of Welsh or Scots Gaelic. I think it is tragic because each different language has a vocabulary and attitude that puts a different slant on earthly existence. The suppression of minority languages makes the world more bland and samey.Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286321024842109960.post-7482328017812858042010-10-18T06:44:02.039-04:002010-10-18T06:44:02.039-04:00I'm exhausted just reading through the list! ...I'm exhausted just reading through the list! Frankly it is lucky for the majority of British that English is at No.3. as so many of my compatriots have zero ability in other languages and believe just shouting louder will get them understood - sooooooooo humiliating when so many foreigners speak English so fluently. I learnt French and German at school which accordingly to your list will not get me as far as I hoped. Having the property in Spain has meant that I am now struggling to learn Spanish, it gets harder when you are older - maybe I have lost too many brain cells.Masia Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com