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African languages? | ||
Tags: African languages | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages |  | |
| lynxrunner Bilingual Triglot Senior Member United States crittercryptics.com Joined 5732 days ago 361 posts - 461 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish*, French Studies: Russian, Swedish, Haitian Creole | Message 9 of 33 02 July 2010 at 8:58pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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I think that since the majority of this forum is of European descent, it makes sense
that they'd be interested in Europe and its cultures. I haven't seen much interest in the many different cultures of Africa here; in part I guess because we get relatively little from Africa. We hear about Asia and know a little about Japan and China, but what do we know about Africa? Nothing. So yes, I think that a lack of interest in the cultures of Africa is one thing. Secondly, there is a lack of materials! It's difficult to find materials in or about the target language. Finding native speakers can be difficult. African literature doesn't really reach "The West" so when we start looking for books or whatever, we don't know where to look. :P I attribute it mainly to those two things: lack of interest and lack of materials. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| SallImSayin Diglot Newbie United States Joined 5576 days ago 19 posts - 20 votes Speaks: English*, Esperanto Studies: Swahili, Lingala, Igbo | Message 10 of 33 03 July 2010 at 2:42am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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I've studied several Bantu languages, along with Wolof, Dyula/Bambara, Twi and Yoruba, to varying degrees.
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| Ubik Senior Member United States ubykh.wordpress.com/ Joined 5126 days ago 147 posts - 176 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Latin, Arabic (Egyptian), German, Spanish | Message 11 of 33 03 July 2010 at 10:05am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sound of Xhosa so I definitely want to learn that. I would love to
master the clicks. And Swahili because it covers pretty much all of Africa. Wolof on the other hands scares the crap out of me...I cant remember why, but when I first read up on it I just remembered going "Uh, never gonna learn that:". 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Dixon Groupie Canada Joined 5861 days ago 54 posts - 74 votes Speaks: English* | Message 12 of 33 03 July 2010 at 5:41pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
I disagree. The African languages are probably represented well enough here in comparison to the contributions to science, technology, literature, business, and international politics made through those languages. However, weighing that splinter above zero seems like a fruitless activity. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||||||||
| rasputin Triglot Newbie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5777 days ago 21 posts - 24 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: German, Italian, Zulu | Message 13 of 33 03 July 2010 at 9:21pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Zulu is one of the most beautiful-sounding languages there is. In terms of sensuous, mellifluous beauty it rates right up there with French or Brazilian Portuguese.
I disagree with the earlier post-er who said that if one went to South Africa, one would just end up using one of the broader languages there (English, Afrikaans). No, if you do learn Zulu and go to South Africa, you'll use it every single day of your life down there. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| johntm93 Senior Member United States Joined 5137 days ago 587 posts - 746 votes 2 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 14 of 33 03 July 2010 at 11:05pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
Edit: That's from the Wikipedia page on Swahili, by the wasy. Edited by johntm93 on 03 July 2010 at 11:06pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Ubik Senior Member United States ubykh.wordpress.com/ Joined 5126 days ago 147 posts - 176 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Latin, Arabic (Egyptian), German, Spanish | Message 15 of 33 04 July 2010 at 12:59am | IP Logged | ||||||||
Thats where it is considered the official language, but Swahili is understood in most African countries. It is the language of trade and a lingua franca for most of Africa from what Ive read from other sources. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Calro2 Triglot Newbie Canada Joined 6550 days ago 26 posts - 32 votes Speaks: English*, Portuguese, French | Message 16 of 33 04 July 2010 at 4:13am | IP Logged | ||||||||
Again, not true. I'd say that swahili is NOT understood in most African countries. Quite the opposite. It is largely limited to a section of East Africa. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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