I Speak French! Do I Want To?

After two weeks of learning French, I remembered many bad experiences I made with French language in the past. I create my own theory about the world languages.

First of all I want to thank Canadians for being very patient with my French. They try much more than French in France. I have read many times French complaints about world not willing to speak French. There is even special Toubon law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toubon_Law) in France that shall support and protect French language. No wonder. French is not an easy language, I have heard many times. I was afraid. So many hurdles.

My grammar is not strong in any of languages I speak. I am much more relaxed after two weeks of studying French. In many aspects is French grammar same or similar to Czech. I do understand the misery of ‘English is my mother language’ people. Understanding the concept of everything being HE or SHE must be very stressful. As a Czech person I miss IT. And I have to admit I have also an issue with two different WE. But I hope I will get it soon.

Next hurdle is the vocabulary. From learning previous languages I know it will come with the time.

French favourite hurdle - PRONUNCIATION! Here starts the fun. Whatever you say, French will not understand you. Do they do not want to? Do we all speak so bad? The answer is practice. I hope it helps.

After two weeks of French I do also understand much better why French was, and still is, main language of diplomats. Nobody understands precisely what you are talking about and if they do, they can pretend they do not. Is this a reason why we had so many wars in the past? Most probably not, but doubts remain. In contrast to complicated French is English winning the global language contest with its ‘easy to speak‘ approach. Shall we all in future only learn one language? NO!!!

I come from a small nation - Czech. There are only ca. twelve million people speaking Czech. We were always forced to learn other languages. I enjoy it a lot. I love many things about speaking other languages. You can simply enjoy talk with locals, but some expressions are, in particular language, more precise, funnier or just fit better to the situation. Here is summary of what I like about languages I speak:

German - I like its precise, structured and very technical format. I love the word GENIEßEN. In my ears the word says all about savour and/or enjoy.  

English - I love its ease. Google said English is the language with most words. Possible. I do not know. Maybe the scientists just multiplied all words with number if its users. My favourite word is BELIEVE. It is big and at the same time so close to life.

Russian - soft language, excellently suitable for discussions. Russian are experts in discussing anything. My beloved very emotional word in НЕПЕРЕЖИВАЙ.

Slovak - brother language. We know it best. Favourite word? I love all words used in songs of the Slovak group ELÁN and MAŠKRTNÝ.

... and the best Czech - mother language. What can I say? This quotation pop up in my mind when I was thinking about my favourite word.

Jan Werich, Czech actor and philosopher:

‘... take the word ass = PRDEL. It is in Czech swearing temple. We place where everything we could. We send uncomfortable people there. We even call it in desperation for help ...‘

Todays French word:

Yes, I love speaking French 

Oui, j'adore parler français.