Hindi or Madarin.

[Floppit]

I think I want to learn a new language but I don't want a Latin based one. I'm not really interested in being able to converse fluently, great if it happened :cheesy: but my primary interest is more in language/culture itself. I just have a fancy to juggle things up a little and look at stuff in a fresh way.

So, which should I put on my chrimbo list from Rossetta Stone?
Hindi or Mandarin?

Also if you know of any other good language tutors that provide portable lessons, for driving etc. I'd be grateful for tip offs.

[Trinoc]

Basque? Sami? Tuvan? Maori?

[polomint38]

100% of people agree with my answer of mandarin. (although at this point, it was only me who voted)

I only voted mandarin because it is a type of orange and very tasty O0.
I've never actually tried eating a Hindi. ;D

[DrS]

I've voted Hindi because I'd like to know how it relates to western languages with Indo-European roots. I myself would like to learn Sanskrit ... supposedly the language with the hardest grammar. :cheesy:

[Floppit]

I think I was erring towards Hindi too, we have a large Asian population locally so while Hindi speakers aren't as common as Urdu speakers I should still be able to find someone to practice with if I really wanted to. I know a Mandarin speaker who would help already but I've heard that the intonations are almost impossible for westerners to hear or reproduce so that puts me off a little.

I can't see me ever travelling again but if I did I think India would be a more likely destination than China. When I was travelling to Sri Lanka I had a stab at Sinhala but gave up when I realised I wasn't going back because there was no-one to speak to - or maybe more importantly to discuss differences between the languages with. A Sanskrit language does appeal but I'm not tackling Sanskrit itself - one word would sum that prospect up 'MEEEEP!'. I knew an Indian postgrad student who told me Sanskrit is almost impossible to learn - she spoke bloody good English too so I don't think it was due to lack of linguistic talent.

But still - Mandarin would be utterly fresh...

BTW, the reason there's only Mandarin and English up there is because it's the 2 I fancy most from Rossetta Stone's rather small list!

[Pebble]

BTW, the reason there's only Mandarin and English up there is because it's the 2 I fancy most from Rossetta Stone's rather small list!


I voted for Hindi, as it seems rather more exotic. However, from a purely skeptical position - is there any evidence that paying Rosetta Stone's fees is worthwhile?

[bindeweede]

Basque? Sami? Tuvan? Maori?

I'd like to try Finnish. I used to be able to do 1 to 10, but these days it's only 1 to 5.

Finns can't make the "ch" or "sh" sounds, apparently.. So it's a seese sarnie and a trip to do some sopping.:huh:

[bindeweede]

I'd like to try Finnish. I used to be able to do 1 to 10, but these days it's only 1 to 5.

Finns can't make the "ch" or "sh" sounds, apparently.. So it's a seese sarnie and a trip to do some sopping.:huh:

Too late to edit, but I must confess my ignorance. The only Rosetta Stone I've ever heard of is this one.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/t/the_rosetta_stone.aspx

[Tony Williams]

How about Welsh?

[chaggle]

I voted Mandarin because Michel Thomas (http://www.michelthomas.co.uk/default.htm) does a course. His methods promote fast learning of conversation - there is no written work, it's all audio which makes it perfect for the car.

[Floppit]

I voted for Hindi, as it seems rather more exotic. However, from a purely skeptical position - is there any evidence that paying Rosetta Stone's fees is worthwhile?

No - Hence my request for suggestions!

Welsh is a bit too close geographically and I lived there for almost 6 months when I was 16 - I want to try something completely fresh.

Chaggle - damn! I'd almost decided on Hindi!

[brianp]

I think I was erring towards Hindi too, we have a large Asian population locally so while Hindi speakers aren't as common as Urdu speakers ...

Well why not urdu? If urdu's the most common among the local Asian population, wouldn't it be the most useful?

[Trinoc]

Well why not urdu? If urdu's the most common among the local Asian population, wouldn't it be the most useful?
Isn't Urdu basically the same as Hindi, just written with a different alphabet (a bit like Serbian and Croatian)?

[Floppit]

I would learn Urdu but I can't find it on a good distance learning, (I mean the sort you can begin on car journeys) course. I struggle to get good chunks of time so I want to utilise some dead time.

[SimonC]

I would learn Urdu but I can't find it on a good distance learning, (I mean the sort you can begin on car journeys) course. I struggle to get good chunks of time so I want to utilise some dead time.

Yoo cud orlwers lern to tork Suffick, loik wot oi doo. :cheesy:

[seren]

Oops, missed this thread until now.
Well, I can't tell you which you'd find most interesting, but I have learned Hindi, so I can tell you about that.

Firstly, the writing is EASY, because it is phonetic. What you see is literally what you get. Once you know the alphabet you will be able to transliterate English words into Devanagari script, and take reasonable guesses at how to spell Hindi words.

There are some consonants that are totally alien to English speakers. There are for example several variations on the letters D and T, and most have a standard and aspirated version: k and kh, j and jh. I'll be honest, it is almost impossible for me to hear the difference. This is what will probably take up most of your time, and it differences in pronunciation can literally mean the difference between asking to be left alone and asking for a ****!

Yes, spoken Urdu is very very similar to Hindi, but the script is utterly different. Hindi will allow you to speak to most educated people anywhere in India (although educated people will also speak English, of course), but particularly in the north and eastern side, around Delhi/Haryana/Himachal etc. It is of very limited use otherwise, since India has so many languages and their scripts are so different. Punjabi, for instance, which is similar to Hindi in many ways, uses a different script I can't make head nor tail of.

Hindi grammar is actually fairly simple and if you have any flair for languages you will start to pick it up quite quickly, it's basically variations on "is", which is the word "hai" at the end of a sentence (structure would be "He eating is").

I hope this is some help.

[Graham Lappin]

Too late to edit, but I must confess my ignorance. The only Rosetta Stone I've ever heard of is this one ...

Every US airport has a stand selling Rosetta Stone language courses. They are becoming as ubiquitous in the US as Dunkin' Donuts and hot dog stands.

The slogan goes "He was a hard working farm boy. She was an Italian Supermodel. He knew he would have just one chance to impress her" I am afraid this was enough to put me off. I know this is more of a cynical than sceptical approach but I just could not bring myself to fork out $259 for the level-1 course.

[Floppit]

Every US airport has a stand selling Rosetta Stone language courses. They are becoming as ubiquitous in the US as Dunkin' Donuts and hot dog stands.

The slogan goes "He was a hard working farm boy. She was an Italian Supermodel. He knew he would have just one chance to impress her" I am afraid this was enough to put me off. I know this is more of a cynical than sceptical approach but I just could not bring myself to fork out $259 for the level-1 course.

I agree re the money, which is why I'm thinking now so that I can (hopefully) find a cheap way round. We usually spend £100 on each other at chrimbo but I want something back out of it, new things just don't do much for me a month later!

Seren - thanks for the heads up re Hindi, I have decided to go with Hindi for a multitude of reasons, most of all I really want to have a bash at a Sanskrit language.