How much English first language speakers can speak another language?

[mad respecc]

Lots of people from not UK, US and other English speaker countries can talk English as well as their language, can first language English people speak a second language? How many?

[crgzero]

Messaggio originale di MADHEM:

Messaggio originale di crgzero:

My step-daughters were from Japan, they had a joke about this subject.

What do you call someone who can speak 3 languages?
Trilingual

What do you call someone who can speak 2 languages?
Bilingual

What do you call someone who can speak 1 language?
An American.

But aren’t the Japanese notorious for basically only speaking Japanese, or is that just the older generations?
I’ve heard that joke in Sweden too.

They tolde it was mandatory to learn a second language. Most learned English just because, but one twin chose French and the other chose Chinese.
I've been to Japan 12 times over the years, and I've run across few that couldn't speak English. Most just refused to but gave it away when they understood what I said and pointed or did whatever I needed. Usually directions.

[mad respecc]

Messaggio originale di Synth3D ☯:

I am from England and English is the only language I know.

We ruled half the world once.

It was third not half.

[ハイイロギツネ]

Messaggio originale di Миш 💗:

Messaggio originale di Synth3D ☯:

I am from England and English is the only language I know.

We ruled half the world once.

It was third not half.

You are correct, I was just kidding. :)

At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913, the British Empire held sway over 412 million people,23% of the world population at the time, and by 1920, it covered 35,500,000 km2 (13,700,000 sq mi),24% of the Earth's total land area.

[Vectif]

My first language is Spanish but I'm way better at English. So that's sort of my main.

[Hayter]

Messaggio originale di Synth3D ☯:

You are correct, I was just kidding. :)

At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913, the British Empire held sway over 412 million people,23% of the world population at the time, and by 1920, it covered 35,500,000 km2 (13,700,000 sq mi),24% of the Earth's total land area.

And they also have the highest kill count surpassing even the mongols

[Samwise]

If i was native English speaker, why would i bother to learn other languages? Many European countries understands it so well you can almost live there without learning their language.

The thing is that many, if not all countries have a reason to learn English. Why learn 10 different languages, when you could just learn one, the English. It makes communicating possible when we all have our main/mother language + English to talk to people from other countries.

Native Eng speakers already know that unifying language, which makes possible to have friends from all over the world.

Most people won't care to learn another language, unless there's real need. UK/US doesn't, but European for example does. So, its unfair to mock UK/US for knowing only one language.

[Perquisitore]

^^^^^^ *rolls eyes*

[karmazyn1]

Messaggio originale di Samwise:

If i was native English speaker, why would i bother to learn other languages? Many European countries understands it so well you can almost live there without learning their language.

The thing is that many, if not all countries have a reason to learn English. Why learn 10 different languages, when you could just learn one, the English. It makes communicating possible when we all have our main/mother language + English to talk to people from other countries.

Native Eng speakers already know that unifying language, which makes possible to have friends from all over the world.

Most people won't care to learn another language, unless there's real need. UK/US doesn't, but European for example does. So, its unfair to mock UK/US for knowing only one language.

savage

[ハイイロギツネ]

Messaggio originale di Perquisitore:

^^^^^^ *rolls eyes*

Well, he is right.

English men like me and him are kings and why should we learn the language when we were your rulers?

[karmazyn1]

Messaggio originale di Synth3D ☯:

Messaggio originale di Perquisitore:

^^^^^^ *rolls eyes*

Well, he is right.

English men like me and him are kings and why should we learn the language when we were your rulers?

England rule ended in early XX century and its declining international relevance will be confirmed on Brexit day.

[Samwise]

Messaggio originale di Synth3D ☯:

Messaggio originale di Perquisitore:

^^^^^^ *rolls eyes*

Well, he is right.

English men like me and him are kings and why should we learn the language when we were your rulers?

lol, I'm European, Finnish actually. I rule and ruled nothing.

[O5]

Messaggio originale di Samwise:

Messaggio originale di Synth3D ☯:

Well, he is right.

English men like me and him are kings and why should we learn the language when we were your rulers?

lol, I'm European, Finnish actually. I rule and ruled nothing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7wtNOkuHo

[Dominic]

I can speak some Japanese and a little bit of spanish.

Thought of trying to master Japanese, and Chinese.

[O5]

Messaggio originale di Ekkusubokkusu konturrora:

Chinese is fun to try to say some words
bou yong shei
shi shei
dao shao how

Swedish is also fun, at least to listen to people trying to pronounce it.

[O5]

Messaggio originale di Ekkusubokkusu konturrora:

teach me a swedish fun word

Sjuksköterska.