Send to a Friend

Yellowdog's avatar

What are some reasons for learning a foreign language if you have no foreseeable reason you might use the language, and most users of said language speak your own language fluently, anyway?

Asked by Yellowdog (12216points) August 21st, 2020

In college I couldn’t learn a language—not German, not Latin, not even Spanish which would have been useful since its all around us and comes in handy when someone needs help or assistance. I opted on writing dissertations on West Norden—the culture and geography.

But now, there are better techniques for learning languages. I picked up some Spanish through Missionary activity. And Apps are available to learn almost any language.

I am still wanting to learn the languages of West Norden including Icelandc, Faeroese, Norwegian— and have also liked Yiddish due to my involvement with Jewish studies. I still like Esperanto, for even though English is supplanting the role of a universal language, Esperanto encompasses a global dream that is still around, albeit modified, but kind of as it existed in the 1962–1987 era.

I cannot learn all of this anymore at my age but what should I take up, and what should be the reasons?

I am also not sure if learning things just because you like them is not a kind of vanity. It seems all this “spare time” it takes to learn should instead be consigned to some way of making the world a better place.

Using Fluther

or

Using Email

Separate multiple emails with commas.
We’ll only use these emails for this message.