Reading in different languages.

Germany
May 4, 2010 1:22am CST
In the present, more and more people know at least two languages because of different reasons: - maybe they emigrated to a foreign country where they have to learn another language as they are used to, so they still speak their first language at home and the second language at school, with new friends, and so on; or - already as an adult, many people emigrate to another country for a better life or to find a job, so they also have to learn another language, - apart of this, we start to study another language early at school. But, even if you are able to speak in different languages, do you also read books in all languages you know? In my case, I usually read books in German and Spanish. I still havn't read one in English, but I hopefully will start soon to do so. What about you?
4 people like this
14 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
4 May 10
I can understand a little Spanish, Italian, and French. Cannot speak those languages well, but can get understand a bit of the conversation. I have to learn a bit more, but I am bad at translating. Here in Canada, they want us to learn French. I am not good at that. I think in Europe they learn two or three languages automatically, but in Canada, if one does not have contact with other languages that much, it is hard.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 May 10
I found that there were so many words that were so similar that the main problem I had was spelling it correctly in each language. I also found that I could understand a little Latin even though I never even took it.
• Germany
4 May 10
Those three languages are quite similar between each. Once you learn one of them, the other two will be easier to study because you will be able to compare already and vocabular is quite similar.
1 person likes this
@cheongyc (5072)
• Malaysia
4 May 10
Most Malaysian need to learn at least 2 languages. For most Chinese in Malaysia, they need to learn 3 languages, including the Mandarin. Therefore, we are able to converse, read and write in these 3 languages. However, I usually read books in Mandarin and English. I very seldom read Malay books because the books in Malay which match my interest is very little.
1 person likes this
@cheongyc (5072)
• Malaysia
5 May 10
Ya, it's really fun to learn more than 1 languages. However, it required much effort in order to master 3 languages well. Although it's tedious and we need to work hard during the class, but we are grateful that we did the learning and are now able to communicate in multiple languages. In term of culture, yes, Malaysian is very different from Chinese. However, the chinese ethnic in Malaysia is speaking the same language as the Chinese in China. You are most welcome and have a nice day!
• Germany
4 May 10
Oh, that's very interesting and really good to learn two or more languages. Is Malaysian very different to chinese? Thank's for posting your comment.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 May 10
Most of the time I read Danish or English books, but I have read books in German and Italian as well. Some of the books that I am interested in haven't been translated to Danish so I usually buy the English version instead. It is quite easy for me to read German books, it is a lot harder for me to speak or write German, because I haven't studied German for years. It is not easy to find books in Italian in my country, and there are few books to choose from compared to books in Danish and English, but I still like to read Italian sometimes so that I don't forget everything.
• Germany
6 May 10
Yes, that's right. I suppose that most of the written books are written in English or, said on another way, English is a very rich language containing published books. As you like reading books in Italian, do you have seen the posibility to get books in that language buying them in Internet?
@umit_umit (1984)
• India
4 May 10
well i know only three languages!but i am thinking to learn german and french
• Germany
4 May 10
Three languages are already very well and since then it's easier to learn more. I wish you good luck!
@bloggeroo (2167)
• Philippines
4 May 10
I'm currently studying Japanese. I know how to speak a little Japanese having learned from the Pimsleur audio lessons. But now, I'd like to be able to read Japanese characters and understand the grammar proficiently because the proficiency exam involves a lot of reading. I will know that I'm getting good when I'm able to read the news on the Japanese cable channel. Anyway, it's an on-going project.
• Germany
4 May 10
It's very important to have projects in life and everybody should put some interest in learning more in life. So I wish you good luck in your examinations and projects. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
@Lewejsam (63)
• Philippines
4 May 10
I've been reading English books ever since I learned to read even though I'm not a native English speaker. It's probably because English books are more popular here than those that were written in our own language. Lol.
• Israel
4 May 10
Reading in another language is the best way to improve your skills. Your writing skills are on par with native speakers.
• Germany
4 May 10
Reading books written in their original language might be more interesting than once translated, as some ideas or information might get lost once they are translated into another language. Several ideas or thought might not be well translated and loose their sense. So I suppose it should be interesting reading books in the original language in which one they have been written in and English is a very rich language. And thousands of books have been written in that language.
• Philippines
5 May 10
@CatLady: Thank you, that's quite flattering. =) I did learn a lot by reading. It wasn't just the language that I learned about. Reading English books also gave me insights to Western/American cultures.
@rudyro (110)
• Romania
7 May 10
I personally read books in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Romanian (the latter being my native language). I've read some kid's books in German too (which, to be honest I'm not mastering at a decent level, despite being the mother tongue of my father and grandfather). Actually I think that reading a book in a foreign language makes sense if that particular book was written in that language. Because there are subtle aspects and issues which the translators aren't always able to properly transmit into another language. There is also the local slang, the cultural limitations and symbols, etc which cannot be conceptually exported into another culture.
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
9 May 10
in my country there are writers that write in a combination of tagalog our national language and english. i find it sometimes hard to read with this kinds of combinations. i am more fluent in reading english than our national language so english is it for me
• Philippines
14 Jun 10
I normally read English books, but since last year, I started immersing myself to German books as well (latest I am reading is The Lost Symbol in German edition). At first it seems hard, I hardly leave the first page, but as I go on, I am already improving, I can already flip 3-5 pages a day of that book, though, you should not ask me to translate it, I just understand the story in a way my mind only knows. It helps a lot in improving my language proficiency of German language. Funny though, I have only read 1 book written in my native language (Filipino).
@pumared (514)
• Bulgaria
4 May 10
it is very hard
• Germany
4 May 10
Why do you think that it's very hard?
@amelly (1554)
• Malaysia
4 May 10
i read books in english and malay.i knew some words in japanese and mandarin but i'm still not very good.i hope to master japanese soon..but it's fun to know many languages as it make you easier in communication with others
• Germany
4 May 10
Yes, of course, and it is very important to practice them. Practice helps to an easier communication and it avoids that you might forget words and sense.
@amelly (1554)
• Malaysia
4 May 10
i read books in english and malay..i know japanese and a little bit mandarin but i'm not that good to the extent that i can read the books.but my twin brothers are learning japanese now and i think they can read the book in japanese sooner but it's fun to know many languages..arasso?
• Germany
4 May 10
It's really interesting and funny to know several languages, it helps to know more people, it's usefull when you travel and it opens minds. In my case, it also helped me to find a job everytime I needed so it's really interesting. Hopefully you could read in japanese too. I suppose it is quite difficult language.
@bamamo (40)
3 Jun 10
I am a native English speaker and I am learning German. I love to read books in German as a fun way to pick up new vocabulary and comprehension. Soon I will move to Germany where I expect to read half and half English and German - German to take advantage of the better availability and improve my skills, English to escape and give my brain a rest sometimes, and simply enjoy reading. I do prefer to read books in the language they have been written, however. I've read some German books which have been translated from English and find it a little awkward-sounding. I also know one lady who is an author and a German native speaker, who now writes in English because she feels you can simply express yourself much better in English than German.
• Hungary
23 Jun 10
Nowadays most people learn languages for practical reasons, indeed. They need to communicate, make friendship, perform their jobs in their new homelands and reading books for learning or fun comes only later on. I grew up in Central Europe, behind the "iron curtain" having very little chance to travel to Western countries. Learning other languages than German and Russian was just an interest in the arts,literature or philosophy. Few people earned their living from their language abilities. At secondary school Russian was compulsory and one could select another language, like German (the usual option at that time), Italian, French, Latin and sometimes English. My selected language was French then I started learning English for hobby at the age of 17. Some years later I took up Swedish and Norwegian, again only for fun. And I am planning to learn a bit of Chinese when I'll be retired. You see, as I did not learn languages for practical reasons, reading in French and Italian was a great fun. It took me to different lands, people, eras and cultures. I already could read fluently when I first traveled to France and Italy and uttered the first words in French and Italian when I was on tourist trips to these countries. In the 80s I frequented the French & Italian Cultural Institutes as well as the British Council's Library in Budapest and I cherish very nice memories of those occasions. Today English is prevailing, so I mostly read in English. One of my New Year's resolutions was to restart reading in French and Italian. So far I have failed do so. Perhaps tonight I will not switch on my PC or TV, but it's not a promise.