by Primus Aurelius Timavus on Mon Jul 12, 2004 4:27 am
Marius is right about the trap. I've already been corralled into providing the Spanish translation.
Spanish ability comes from a six month intensive course, living in Venezuela and Colombia for five years, and having a Colombian wife. As a result, I can also dance salsa and merengue. As my wife says, I'm "Latino por friccion".
Italian comes second, from some use at home with my mother, self study, and Berlitz classes from time to time.
Spanish and Italian are close enough that speaking one is a detriment to learning the other. There are too many false friends (words and phrases that look alike but mean completely different things), and the use of prepositons makes the two look like they are from different language groups.
I also studied Japanese for a year a night school, purely for enjoyment. But I can do no more than ask directions and order in a restaurant now.
I'd like to learn Turkish and Indonesian as well....
Oh, four years of Latin in high school and university seem to have left little impression, as this Societas is constantly reminding me.
Tergestus
Primus Aurelius Timavus
Curator, Rogator, Praetor et Patricius
Civis Romanus Sum