Bismarck.Laurelli said:
»Also, if you don't speak at least 3 languages, chances are you don't even speak the 1 you know very well. This is not my opinion, it's fact.
Mmmm...no.
Going to disagree here.
It's good to know many languages, but that is not a fact. I speak one and a half, given my Spanish is enough to get me out of a country if I get stuck there and that's about it.
But while I'm not conceited enough to consider myself a "master" of any language -- or anything, for that matter -- I'd like to think I've got a very good handle on the English language. That could simply be the pride of having a degree in a field to which writing is intrinsic, but I stand by my assertion nevertheless.
Well, that's why I said "chances are." Some people do speak 1 language well. But can you really say that about the majority of the students who were in English class with you?
Come on. When I was in school, and the teacher would ask people to read a paragraph from a book, people who only spoke English, then he'd cut them off 2 lines in and say "Laurelli, please show them how it's done."
I've even had a French teacher say in class that people who don't speak English will never learn French properly.
Anyways, I have no issues with you and I'm not here to brag about how many languages I speak. Just bugs me when someone starts berating things they don't know.
My main points are: All languages are rich in their own way. Don't bash or make fun of other people's languages. Learn to appreciate the variety around you. You'll be happier for it.