Comments on: Languages in primary schools http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/ language-related musings - one language is never enough / dydy un iaith byth yn ddigon Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Ailsa http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-45316 Thu, 10 May 2007 13:36:36 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-45316 Sorry this is a late comment but since discovering this wonderful site, I'm hooked. It's weird, since in the UK, public schools (i.e. private schools) seem to think ancient languages make them seem more impressive. I've been taught French since I was 6, then we had an option of German or Spanish at 14, but Latin has been taught since we were 9 (at 15, we all change subjects anyway, but hey ho) I also was able to learn Ancient Greek for the last couple of years. But it all depends on what teachers were available. My cousin, by the presence of so many good teachers, was able to learn Russian and Polish. And here in the UK, we're now being highly encouraged to learn Mandarin. Sorry this is a late comment but since discovering this wonderful site, I’m hooked.

It’s weird, since in the UK, public schools (i.e. private schools) seem to think ancient languages make them seem more impressive.
I’ve been taught French since I was 6, then we had an option of German or Spanish at 14, but Latin has been taught since we were 9 (at 15, we all change subjects anyway, but hey ho) I also was able to learn Ancient Greek for the last couple of years. But it all depends on what teachers were available. My cousin, by the presence of so many good teachers, was able to learn Russian and Polish. And here in the UK, we’re now being highly encouraged to learn Mandarin.

]]> by: Questioneer??? http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-43471 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:45:16 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-43471 I went to a private school in the states and we began learning french at age 5/6. These classes didn't focus on grammar and such, but rather hearing the language and preparing our vocal chords for future speech in French. It also really helped that the teachers were native speakers. I went to a private school in the states and we began learning french at age 5/6. These classes didn’t focus on grammar and such, but rather hearing the language and preparing our vocal chords for future speech in French. It also really helped that the teachers were native speakers.

]]> by: harris englemann http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36838 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:11:54 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36838 nein, ich bin nicht- auch habe ich Deutsch in der Schule gelernt. nein, ich bin nicht- auch habe ich Deutsch in der Schule gelernt.

]]> by: BG http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36576 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:16:23 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36576 Harris Engelmann: Ich bin nicht Deutscher. Ich lerne Deutsch in der Schule. When I said that I understood most of it, I meant that I got the jist of it. There were quite a few words I didn't recognize. Sind Sie Deutscher? Harris Engelmann: Ich bin nicht Deutscher. Ich lerne Deutsch in der Schule. When I said that I understood most of it, I meant that I got the jist of it. There were quite a few words I didn’t recognize. Sind Sie Deutscher?

]]> by: harris englemann http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36459 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:06:20 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36459 Which names lol? Which names lol?

]]> by: Benjamin http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36451 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:54:16 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36451 @Harris Hehe, I think you mixed up some names. ;-) :-) @Ben L I only know the word 'schwätzen'* which probably is the one you meant - though in Baden-Württemberg, where I live, this word has a clear e/ä-sound that distinguishes it from 'schwitzen'. Anyway, there is also a really similar word: 'schwatzen' - right, the same without the umlaut :D The meaning of these two words is quite the same, though I feel a slight difference between them, which i can't really describe though. What you can say about them is, that 'schwätzen' is definitely South German, while 'schwatzen' is also used in High German. ;) *actually your spelling 'schwetzen' and the proper one 'schwätzen' would be pronounced the same way, anyway, since the short e (written with a small epsilon in IPA) sound is represented by e and ä in German. ^_^ @Harris
Hehe, I think you mixed up some names. ;-) :-)

@Ben L
I only know the word ’schwätzen’* which probably is the one you meant - though in Baden-Württemberg, where I live, this word has a clear e/ä-sound that distinguishes it from ’schwitzen’.
Anyway, there is also a really similar word: ’schwatzen’ - right, the same without the umlaut :D
The meaning of these two words is quite the same, though I feel a slight difference between them, which i can’t really describe though. What you can say about them is, that ’schwätzen’ is definitely South German, while ’schwatzen’ is also used in High German. ;)

*actually your spelling ’schwetzen’ and the proper one ’schwätzen’ would be pronounced the same way, anyway, since the short e (written with a small epsilon in IPA) sound is represented by e and ä in German. ^_^

]]> by: Harris Engelmann http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36376 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:15:24 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36376 Benjamin- haha it's not a crime. It just shows that German and Yiddish don't have everything in common, although i have to admit i've never heard of schwetzen in general, and certainly never for Yiddish. BG- Sind Sie Deutscher? Polly- more stuff about "oykh" not equaling "euch"- "euch" becomes "aykh" - it would probably be spelled "eich" using german spelling rules. Benjamin- haha it’s not a crime. It just shows that German and Yiddish don’t have everything in common, although i have to admit i’ve never heard of schwetzen in general, and certainly never for Yiddish.

BG- Sind Sie Deutscher?

Polly- more stuff about “oykh” not equaling “euch”- “euch” becomes “aykh” - it would probably be spelled “eich” using german spelling rules.

]]> by: SamD http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36301 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:20:45 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36301 In my local school district in Ohio, students don't have the opportunity to take a language until they are in the ninth grade (about 14 years old), and even then it's not a requirement. Only two years of French and Spanish are available, and the state and district don't require a foreign language. I know that some of the other districts in the area offer more languages and for more years, but I don't think any of them require a language. The local university doesn't require languages for admissions, but students need to fulfill a language requirement to get a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. Students can fulfill the requirement by taking a test, so there is some incentive to take foreign language classes for free in high school. In my local school district in Ohio, students don’t have the opportunity to take a language until they are in the ninth grade (about 14 years old), and even then it’s not a requirement. Only two years of French and Spanish are available, and the state and district don’t require a foreign language. I know that some of the other districts in the area offer more languages and for more years, but I don’t think any of them require a language.

The local university doesn’t require languages for admissions, but students need to fulfill a language requirement to get a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. Students can fulfill the requirement by taking a test, so there is some incentive to take foreign language classes for free in high school.

]]> by: Ben L. http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36164 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 05:23:13 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36164 "schwitzen" meaning "to speak" is something I picked up in Hesse. I couldn't find it in my German etymological dictionary, so I was beginning 'sweat' whether or not I was right about it. But, of course, Google soon found the reference I was looking for (http://www.germanytraveladvisor.com/parents_visit.html): 'The one word I know in Schwaibian is schwezen. It sounds like schwitzen (to sweat), but it means sprechen (to talk). For a long time I was really wondering why people were always talking about sweating.' But let me apologize anyway for my crimes against Yiddish. “schwitzen” meaning “to speak” is something I picked up in Hesse. I couldn’t find it in my German etymological dictionary, so I was beginning ’sweat’ whether or not I was right about it. But, of course, Google soon found the reference I was looking for (http://www.germanytraveladvisor.com/parents_visit.html):

‘The one word I know in Schwaibian is schwezen. It sounds like schwitzen (to sweat), but it means sprechen (to talk). For a long time I was really wondering why people were always talking about sweating.’

But let me apologize anyway for my crimes against Yiddish.

]]> by: BG http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36144 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 04:20:35 +0000 http://www.omniglot.com/blog/2007/03/12/primary-school-languages/#comment-36144 @Benjamin: I knew Jüdisch was German for Jewish and I think that is where the name Yiddish comes from so I just assumed it was the same. Thanks. @Harris Engelmann: I can understand most of it. @Benjamin: I knew Jüdisch was German for Jewish and I think that is where the name Yiddish comes from so I just assumed it was the same. Thanks.

@Harris Engelmann: I can understand most of it.

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