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Cool languages. Uncool cultures. | ||
Tags: "Louche" Languages | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion | ( Topic Closed) |  |
| AlexL Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7086 days ago 197 posts - 277 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Italian | Message 17 of 49 25 May 2009 at 3:19pm | IP Logged | ||
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I've always been very interested in Korean and Chinese culture, and I really like the Chinese language. However, I
find the Japanese language more approachable than Korean. I wish the Japanese culture were more appealing to me so I would have the motivation to learn Japanese. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Lindsay19 Diglot Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5823 days ago 183 posts - 214 votes Speaks: English*, GermanC1 Studies: Swedish, Faroese, Icelandic | Message 18 of 49 25 May 2009 at 9:19pm | IP Logged | ||
^^ Same here *besides that it'd be easy for me to learn; it wouldn't. I'd also like to add Chinese. After coming across the Tao Te Ching, my interest in China has somewhat sparked, when maybe a month ago I had no interest in the place whatsoever. The only problem is that I can never imagine learning the language; it would be far too hard to learn all those characters, not counting the fact that there's already 5 others languages I'm planning to spend time with. I also find the sound of spoken Chinese quite annoying actually :/ Tis a shame. Edited by Lindsay19 on 25 May 2009 at 10:29pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Ham Newbie United Kingdom Joined 5991 days ago 21 posts - 21 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 19 of 49 25 May 2009 at 9:37pm | IP Logged | ||
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Mmm... for me I would say China, for whilst the country seems greatly interesting, and the writing awsome, I dislike the sound quite a lot. I think most cultures have their merits, but whilst I would like to further my German, and whilst Germany is very nice, it seems just a bit too much like a slightly better UK to make it as exciting as say Iran or China, which does no good for my motivation.
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| Sennin Senior Member Bulgaria Joined 6036 days ago 1457 posts - 1759 votes 5 sounds | Message 20 of 49 25 May 2009 at 10:33pm | IP Logged | ||
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I don't really like Chines culture (except perhaps martial arts) but I think the written language is great. On the other hand I absolutely adore Japanese culture but I don't like the combination of kanji and kana so much. I guess Chinese has a more 'classical' feel to it.
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| minus273 Triglot Senior Member France Joined 5767 days ago 288 posts - 346 votes Speaks: Mandarin*, EnglishC2, French Studies: Ancient Greek, Tibetan | Message 21 of 49 26 May 2009 at 2:55am | IP Logged | ||
Just my 0.02 euro.. Personally speaking, usually mixes are more "classical" than "pures". As genetic descendants are forced to be so, while mixes are somewhat based on the cultural merits of the original language. Seeing a Classical Chinese word in Japanese syntax looks more classical to me than in the vernacular Chinese syntax. So to me, in terms of "classicalness": Hittite > Akkadian > Sumerian Japanese > Chinese Ottoman Turkish > Urdu > Persian > Arabic 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| palestine Newbie United States Joined 5693 days ago 2 posts - 2 votes Studies: English | Message 22 of 49 26 May 2009 at 6:50am | IP Logged | ||
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I love russian language but not the culture as much.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| cordelia0507 Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5840 days ago 1473 posts - 2176 votes Speaks: Swedish* Studies: German, Russian | Message 23 of 49 26 May 2009 at 10:14am | IP Logged | ||
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To those who make sweeping statements that the culture of certain countries is "UNCOOL" :
----What particular element of this culture is it that is uncool? ----On what basis are you making this statement? ----What personal experience do you actually have of this "uncool" country and its culture? Unless you have plenty of interraction with citizens of this society from all walks of life, speak the language and are you well familiar with the culture, then frankly you don't know what you are talking about! In addition, people on this very forum, from the culture in question would be discouraged to keep hearing others condemn their culture as "uncool" or worse! If you base your judgement on snippets from the evenening news or portrayals of a country in Hollywood films --- or you your opinion is based on your impression a few individual people from this country, then you are acting dumb! Sorry to be the "PC police" but reading some of the responses I just can't help myself. Edited by cordelia0507 on 26 May 2009 at 11:20am 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Haksaeng Senior Member Korea, South Joined 6200 days ago 166 posts - 250 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Korean, Arabic (Levantine) | Message 24 of 49 26 May 2009 at 11:23am | IP Logged | ||
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I agree with cordelia0507 and I think this is a terrible idea for a discussion topic. There are one or two countries I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole because I find them politically or philosophically repugnant, but why open that topic here? I guarantee there will be some supporters of those countries and those systems, but that type of debate is best pursued in a different type of forum, not a language forum.
I might dislike a country for many reasons, but if I were to visit, I would necessarily find aspects of the culture in opposition to the elements I dislike. In any culture, there are strands within the society, sometimes vocal, sometimes underground or subtle, which oppose the official culture. In fact, if there's a culture you dislike, the best place to find the enemy or opposition to that cuture is right there, within it. As for people whose "uncool" cultures span entire continents, obviously these people are dealing more in stereotypes and have been brainwashed by their own media or by elements within their own culture which have painted certain other cultures with a broad, tarry brush. I find it unfathomable that any thinking person would write off ALL the cultures that speak Arabic or French or Chinese (just as examples). None of us can learn all languages, so we have our reasons for choosing some over others, and sure, we all have our own private stereotypes and irrational preferences, but a discussion about why we don't choose a certain language is only going to lead to loud, non-productive conflict. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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