Comments on: The 10 Most Useful Languages to Learn http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/ Beyond Words explores our experiences with language, culture, and the world through our day-to-day interactions. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:49:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Xerxes http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 Xerxes Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:12:42 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-1014 Not so sure abut Arabic being that high on the list... correct me if I am wrong but there are loads of dialects and to conversate on the streets you will need some knowledge of these too. But it still is for sure a very important language! Italian is useless unless you are in awe of Italy's culture or some kind of businessman... The same for Portuguese imo... Although Brazil is a great coutry. I'd also rate Japanese higher considering Japan has worlds second economy. Maybe I am too economy-minded ;), but languages such as Mandarin which are spoken by 800 million people... please do not forget that the VAST majority of these people are people who are mainly peasants or laborers, you will rarely meet in praxis. Also there are dialects throughout China too... Also felt like pointing out two largely underestimated languages, very important for businessmen : Dutch and Swedish Dutch because of it's 8th economy, open minded society, and lots of important coorporations (Rotterdam is the largest port on this planet!). Swedish because first of all the laguage is beautiful. Also because of it's economy and because it opens a door to Scandinavia with countries such as Denmark (Danes and Swedes understand eachother). Denmark for instance is one of the leading countries when it comes to green technologies, such as windmills (Vestas and Dong) or containershiment (Maersk). And you can understand any Dutchman or Swede since even ''dialects'' are easy to comprehend. Please reply to my opinions :) Not so sure abut Arabic being that high on the list… correct me if I am wrong but there are loads of dialects and to conversate on the streets you will need some knowledge of these too. But it still is for sure a very important language!

Italian is useless unless you are in awe of Italy’s culture or some kind of businessman…
The same for Portuguese imo… Although Brazil is a great coutry.

I’d also rate Japanese higher considering Japan has worlds second economy.

Maybe I am too economy-minded ;) , but languages such as Mandarin which are spoken by 800 million people… please do not forget that the VAST majority of these people are people who are mainly peasants or laborers, you will rarely meet in praxis. Also there are dialects throughout China too…

Also felt like pointing out two largely underestimated languages, very important for businessmen :

Dutch and Swedish

Dutch because of it’s 8th economy, open minded society, and lots of important coorporations (Rotterdam is the largest port on this planet!).

Swedish because first of all the laguage is beautiful. Also because of it’s economy and because it opens a door to Scandinavia with countries such as Denmark (Danes and Swedes understand eachother). Denmark for instance is one of the leading countries when it comes to green technologies, such as windmills (Vestas and Dong) or containershiment (Maersk).

And you can understand any Dutchman or Swede since even ”dialects” are easy to comprehend.

Please reply to my opinions :)

]]> By: some dude http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-932 some dude Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:30:30 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-932 I'm sorry, I don't agree with Joe. Muslims are very very very highly recommended to learn Arabic. According to most Muslim scholars, it is not a must, but almost a must for Muslims to learn Arabic. And I'm not trying to be in any way derogatory, but most Muslims have a better idea about their faith than Christians about theirs (generally). And so, I'm sure a higher percentage of Muslims speak Arabic than Catholics. But I agree-not all Muslims speak Arabic. But a lot do. And a lot are Arabs too, so don't go adding a billion to the Arabs. I know Arabic, and I'm not pursuing so called "religious studies". I learnt Arabic in a so-called Sunday school, which almost all of the Muslims in the US attend. I'm sure Yusaf is a Pakistani/Indian muslim. They think differently. If you think you know a bit about the bible and Christianity... www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcKZnmBnQVE and watch the rest. please. dont just ignore it. educate urself-all knowledge is wealth and sometimes power. I’m sorry, I don’t agree with Joe. Muslims are very very very highly recommended to learn Arabic. According to most Muslim scholars, it is not a must, but almost a must for Muslims to learn Arabic. And I’m not trying to be in any way derogatory, but most Muslims have a better idea about their faith than Christians about theirs (generally). And so, I’m sure a higher percentage of Muslims speak Arabic than Catholics. But I agree-not all Muslims speak Arabic. But a lot do. And a lot are Arabs too, so don’t go adding a billion to the Arabs.

I know Arabic, and I’m not pursuing so called “religious studies”. I learnt Arabic in a so-called Sunday school, which almost all of the Muslims in the US attend.

I’m sure Yusaf is a Pakistani/Indian muslim. They think differently.

If you think you know a bit about the bible and Christianity…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcKZnmBnQVE

and watch the rest. please. dont just ignore it. educate urself-all knowledge is wealth and sometimes power.

]]> By: Yusaf http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-901 Yusaf Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:58:12 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-901 Agree with Joe. As it is the language of the Qur'an, most non-Arab Muslims can read vowelled Arabic (from a young age) but not necessarily understand it save those who go into religious studies. Agree with Joe. As it is the language of the Qur’an, most non-Arab Muslims can read vowelled Arabic (from a young age) but not necessarily understand it save those who go into religious studies.

]]> By: Joe http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-900 Joe Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:19:46 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-900 Stating that all Muslims are fluent in Arabic is akin to stating that all Catholics are fluent in Latin. Stating that all Muslims are fluent in Arabic is akin to stating that all Catholics are fluent in Latin.

]]> By: Craig http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-896 Craig Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:31:28 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-896 Hindi First language: ~ 490 million Second language: 120%u2013225 million The economy of India is the twelfth largest economy in the world by market exchange rates and the fourth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.[Wikipedia] Hindi

First language: ~ 490 million
Second language: 120%u2013225 million

The economy of India is the twelfth largest economy in the world by market exchange rates and the fourth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.[Wikipedia]

]]> By: Aeron http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-710 Aeron Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:42:11 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-710 French! Italian is the second! But having English knowledge is above. French! Italian is the second! But having English knowledge is above.

]]> By: fussy http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-460 fussy Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:35:22 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-460 Where does american sign language fall? Also, what is the recommendation for a general second language choices (say top three behind english) for the high school student to best prepare themselves? Where does american sign language fall? Also, what is the recommendation for a general second language choices (say top three behind english) for the high school student to best prepare themselves?

]]> By: lol http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-237 lol Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:04:47 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-237 Arabic is the official language of 26 countries not just 20. And shouldn't Korean or Hindustani be ahead of Italian? Arabic is the official language of 26 countries not just 20. And shouldn’t Korean or Hindustani be ahead of Italian?

]]> By: zooz http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/27/the-10-most-useful-languages-to-learn/comment-page-1/#comment-184 zooz Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:56:34 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=542#comment-184 i agree but arabic should be equal with chinese and ahead of french since it is not only spoken in the arab world but also a lingua franca of the muslim world (the language of the quran) so over 1 billion people can understand and speak arabic across at least 50 countries. i agree but arabic should be equal with chinese and ahead of french since it is not only spoken in the arab world but also a lingua franca of the muslim world (the language of the quran) so over 1 billion people can understand and speak arabic across at least 50 countries.

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