Language Poll

[bandgeek]

I need to collect some very loose, unscientific data about how others feel about their language abilities (or lack thereof) for a linguistics course I'm taking this semester. I'd really appreciate it if you'd take the time to fill out this short poll:

ETA: By "speak" a language, I mean to be able to hold a simple conversation with someone in that

Comments

[crispy47]

Re: "Do you feel that your language abilities enable you to or hinder you from connecting with or learning about other cultures?"

It's cool thing to compare against the number of people who "speak" a foreign language, but I think you define "speak" a little broadly. I speak both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese much better than I need to in order to meet your qualifications, but in both languages, I still feel like my language ability hinders me from understanding the cultures. Not that speaking pretty good Spanish and passable Mandarin are a detriment, but that, living in a Mandarin-speaking country, my life is a tissue of instances in which speaking less-than-perfect Mandarin prevents me from understanding what's going on - often literally, but also on a deeper level.

So yeah, I do think that my language ability lets me connect with others better - at least, better than I could if I didn't speak at all. But I also feel hindered by my language ability. And I think that most people who have a real need to speak a non-native second language would agree if you pinned them down.

I linked to this from grammargasm, just so you know. I'm not some weird poll-taking stalker.

[bandgeek]

Ah, so you mean that you feel hindered more by your lack of ability, or by your current level of ability? That makes sense.

I guess when I was asking the question, I meant for "ability" to mean positive ability, not necessarily a lack thereof.

Thanks!