Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello everybody!
What's up? Well, it's me again.
It's been a while since I don't make a video.
Almost a month and a half or inclusively
two months
After that interview
with the
other Mexican polyglot, Sebastián, whom I say hi :-D
Hi Sebastián!! ;-)
Ok, so, as I mentioned in this same interview
I'm going to talk about
"Useless languages".
If they really exist or not.
Well,.....
He and I were commenting
About the language importance
in our country, Mexico, or my country Mexico. (Also his')
and also in
other parts of the world, where there are not so polyglots like
countries in Europe.
for example, that this phenomenon is so common,
to speak languages.
so suddenly because
they are very close
countries, right?
Well, first of all
What do we understand as "useless"?
useless is something that I don't use.
something that
I don't see so usefull (redundant to say)
something not usefull, not necessary.
and something that I don't find any sense.
Well, you are totally right
if you think so
I didn't get the definition from the dictionary
but logically it's understood that
that's the
definition of
useless
So,
what is a language usefull for?
first of all
A language is usefull for
for...
communication with other people
to have
another scene, a wider scene of the world.
and not to have the simple classic stereotypes of the world.
right?
or simple facts taught in Geography class
like the World's Capitals.
hmmm...
countries
very small details
about it, right?
But fine
besides all this mentioned.
first of all
it's an internal satisfaction.
why?
because you feel attracted to the culture.
and obviously you're inmerse into it.
so
it's obvious that you feel happy because you already know, what's that about
the culture
hmmmm
you know
what happens
you understand better the country's traditions, etc...
Besides, a language
a language
brings you
a satisfaction.
besides internal,
as well
with natives because you feel confortable.
They see it as a praise or (better said)
rewarding because
they'll say, "wow! What an
attentive person, who likes our country, our culture.
and who wants to know more of
how people live here, etc..
and the truth is, that's a language.
Off course! I don't encourage anybody to study languages
that much.
So
hmmmm
As far as comments are concerned, where they tell you that
"Why do you study a language?"
It'll be useless in your life. You're never going to.....
Let's put as an example, Basque.
hmmm....
You'll never go to the Basque Country (*Northern Spain) or you might go
but
in the Basque country they speak Spanish or French (depending the case)
Mainly, they speak Spanish but ok.
So
many people discourage and inclusively
they convince themselves, thanks to these comments.
"Well, he's right"
If they speak my native language.
Or English, the universal language.
"Why am I going to struggle?"
That's not all about
Well, if you don't want to struggle, so...
It's your view, it's your problem.
You can just
stay with two languages or three.
but if you like the culture, just at least to know some basic phrases.
....
You go to Bilbao, in the Basque Country
You can say "thanks" in Basque or some other
small phrase and so on.
That's an example.
there are more examples, like Basque, which are languages
that
is spoken by less than 1 millon people as natives.
I don't want to be wrong on it but
that's what I heard of this language.
As well
to take it seriously in case you like
the culture
And Luca made a video in Dutch
where he talks about
if it's necessary to live in the country or not
if you want to live in the country
Well, if you want to understand more about traditions, culture, customs, etc...
I think it is necessary.
to live in the country because you'll understand
Much better.
but if you just want to communicate with it, it's not necessary. You can study from
your confortable home, can't you?
whatever language you want.
But that's not today's topic.
So, what I mean is that many people discourage because
people make these comments and
no! I mean....
let's just ignore these people because
they are very envious or some of them
.....
are not that capable. No offense to anybody!! :-)
So, they feel kind of ....
anger because you can and they don't.
but ok.
So....
Simply, a language is for....
many things.
Although some people don't
see it this way.
the truth is, is that it's kind of a help.
Or even if it's not a help in life or a tool.
just to make you feel happy, to make you feel.
peace or
a lot of joyness.
Let's see Tim Doner's example, who speaks
20 languages.
or 23. Well, he speaks
approximately that number.
Many people might tell him that why does he speaks so many.
"In your life"
you are not going to those countries or
or who are you going to practice with, etc..
He studied them because he likes it, he's interested in
because
he likes World's Cultures, to discover more about
what's beyond the world and not to stuck in the same
country
Simply, it's just.....
well, many people don't have opportunities to travel
due to
economic reasons
or it's not that easy, even if
you have the enough resources because of some reasons
like work, or family, that don't allow you to travel.
But fine
.....
You can just discover cultures
throughout books or through
internet nowadays or documentaries on TV, etc...
So, yes, I mean....
He (Tim Doner) didn't realize about "useless" languages.
well, relatively "useless" because he doesn't use them for work.
but as an internal satisfaction
because he loves to interact with
people, doesn't he?
but not just him, other polyglots who study
languages for pleasure
or for whatever reason.
And obviously people learn languages like that
who learn them
quickly
because when it's about
a language for work
you don't learn them the same way
than those who learn them for fun or because they like it.
Maybe not for fun, but if you like it
Many learn a language
now because of
a real need or to survive or for a job.
Mostly, it's English.
but it can be another one, like
Japanese or
German.
for example.
Especially people who work on companies of these countries.
and now
a language will never be useless
In my opinion
I love to study foreign languages because I like to discover about
other cultures
other countries
to meet new people, friendship
and it opens you many doors everywhere
For example, in my case of
German
I can work in a German company, to say so
or in my case with Swedish
I can work in a Swedish company and so on.
It gives you many possibilities
Ok, I don't encourage people to study
thousands of languages.
which means, to learn
20, 15, whatever.
You can learn them, yes.
You're free to do so.
but I think that
on top of everything
don't focus on quantity, but on QUALITY! :-)
of how you speak the language.
and also if you really feel
happy.
Well
you can just study onlye ONE language
besides the ones we already have
as "de facto".
Whoever's native language
and English, that is relatively universal.
and you want to add one language because you like it
and you say: "I just want to study this language and that's it"
Enjoy it!
that's what I can say, to enjoy it
as best as possible
don't care about anything!
and NEVER discourage!
especially when you receive a comment like: "What is that usefull for?"
this and that, etc....
The truth is
in this way, nobody won't learn a language and if he discourages
he'll never learn it.
So...
on the other hand, it's so important to study languages.
and if you like many cultures, many countries, study the ones
you want
and/or you can
because many people say that: "Oh, until here I can..."
with five I can"
or maybe
he can with more
but he says: "No, up to here"
or "I have enough with these"
with five or six, whatever.
Well, don't see this negative side of languages.
and to conclude
Simply
.....
.....
study whatever language you want, from the
most popular one to
most strangest language or
unknown that can ever exist.
from a tribe or
a country of one millon people.
whatever.
But NEVER give up!
and don't discourage!
especially
focus on your
happiness with the language.
If it will really
make you happy and can communicate with
many people and that you can make new friends.
So....
That's it for today!
well
let's see what video to do.
What else do I still have to tell you?
I thank you for your attention.
and thank you very much! :-D
and any comment, question, whatever.
you know where to write, on the comments here below.
I look forward for your opinions.
If you liked the video
If you did not, fine!
Any suggestion or alike
I'll see if
the video stays or
I make a new one, explaining it better
IF
some part was not clear.
Now, with your permission, thank you so much.
Good-bye!