The odd thing for me is that, despite all the languages, the only one I consistently feel confident in listing no matter what context it is presented in is Russian, because Russians tend to think that I am myself Russian and I have no problems drafting complex legal documents in Russian (so long as American law is being used - I took classes on the Russian legal system but it really is God's own little mystery when actually implemented).
On the level that most people here are discussing, though, my Chinese and Spanish are perfectly fine to list, and my French and German are okay as long as the conversation i-s c-o-n-d-u-c-t-e-d s-l-o-w-l-y. By Larry's standard, though, they're quite good (since he looks at the reading comprehension side of things as opposed to conversational side).
I would think German would be VERY easy for you if your native language is Dutch. And just why is Arabic complicated (for you) ?
On the level that most people here are discussing, though, my Chinese and Spanish are perfectly fine to list, and my French and German are okay as long as the conversation i-s c-o-n-d-u-c-t-e-d s-l-o-w-l-y. By Larry's standard, though, they're quite good (since he looks at the reading comprehension side of things as opposed to conversational side).
I would think German would be VERY easy for you if your native language is Dutch. And just why is Arabic complicated (for you) ?
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
/Simple Question: at what point do you tell people you "know" a language or "speak" it?
24/06/2011 02:49:51 AM
- 857 Views
Here's what I tell various people
24/06/2011 03:09:45 AM
- 652 Views
It's interesting that you focus on the literary side
24/06/2011 03:29:36 AM
- 621 Views
I do that because I make some money from translations, so I have to "know" at least one other, no?
24/06/2011 03:41:24 AM
- 639 Views
Re: /Simple Question: at what point do you tell people you "know" a language or "speak" it?
24/06/2011 01:21:52 PM
- 648 Views
I think if you would be able to make not just basic needs known...
24/06/2011 04:58:05 PM
- 631 Views
Very good question.
24/06/2011 08:22:47 PM
- 687 Views

I had a feeling you might enjoy the survey.
24/06/2011 10:50:47 PM
- 539 Views
What can I say, I'm predictable?
25/06/2011 01:00:49 AM
- 619 Views

Two words: constant practice
25/06/2011 02:34:52 AM
- 684 Views
"Sank beneath the the waves of the Lethe" is an incredible phrase. *NM*
26/06/2011 06:01:00 AM
- 264 Views
If you have at least an elementary school understanding of the language
24/06/2011 10:19:45 PM
- 607 Views
My own survey answers
24/06/2011 11:07:12 PM
- 644 Views
Funny how your taste in languages still to learn parallels mine to a great extent.
25/06/2011 01:04:36 AM
- 594 Views
Yeah, and I realized that last list should include Farsi and Arabic.
25/06/2011 02:24:06 AM
- 589 Views
Oh, and Hawaiian. I have about seven books on Hawaiian. All bought in Hawaii, of course. *NM*
25/06/2011 02:35:43 AM
- 251 Views
I suppose Farsi must be easier than Arabic.
26/06/2011 11:18:23 AM
- 634 Views
Re: /Simple Question: at what point do you tell people you "know" a language or "speak" it?
29/06/2011 11:25:42 PM
- 744 Views