I plan to strive to acquire possibly only one but probably two languages in addition to my native language, English. I plan to choose which language or languages to strive to acquire as a function of the amount of 'scholarly'/'academic' material/activity which exists within the language. So, although it is probably clear at this point, this is my question: Which languages contain the most 'scholarly'/'academic' material/activity?
If I wrote it more than a few weeks ago, I probably hate it by now.
I. Ryan: I plan to strive to acquire possibly only one but probably two languages in addition to my native language, English. I plan to choose which language or languages to strive to acquire as a function of the amount of 'scholarly'/'academic' material/activity which exists within the language. So, although it is probably clear at this point, this is my question: Which languages contain the most 'scholarly'/'academic' material/activity?
Depends on what you want to study. Perhaps French for the scholastics like Turgot, or maybe German to understand the Historical school. Russian to read primary sources from the Bolsheviki, maybe Italian to learn the Merchant law. Perhaps Spanish for the Franciscan scholars. This question reminds me of the lecture by Murray Rothbard called Ideology and Theory in History where he stated that Mises once told him that European historians should know seven languages to which people began to grumble about, but like Mises said 'No one is forcing you to be a historian'
'Men do not change, they unmask themselves' - Germaine de Stael
If I learn another language, it will be Mandarin.
Perhaps not exactly what you're looking for, but as a second language, Mandarin is second to none, in terms of potential applications in life.
However, if you're coming from an English background, it will quite literally take you 3-5x as long to learn Mandarin as it would a language like Spanish, German or French.
I certainly do not regret choosing to study it.
liberty student: If I learn another language, it will be Mandarin.
"Look at me, I'm quoting another user to show how wrong I think they are, out of arrogance of my own position. Wait, this is my own quote, oh shi-" ~ Nitroadict
I would go with Mandarin. Perhaps there were libertarian Chinese 1000 years ago.
To paraphrase Marc Faber: We're all doomed, but that doesn't mean that we can't make money in the process. Rabbi Lapin: "Let's make bricks!" Stephan Kinsella: "Say you and I both want to make a German chocolate cake."
I know Spanish and English fluently (both as native languages). I'm a bit older (22), so my real chance to learn a third language was really wasted, but if I had an opportunity to learn another language it would be French.
Bevin Chu has an interesting commentary on laissez faire and/or libertarian thinkers from China: http://thechinadesk.blogspot.com/2007/09/chinese-liberalism-vs-western.html
For libertarian and classical liberal works, I would go for French and Spanish. French, for the writings of the great thinkers and revolutionaries of the time who played a major role in both the Enlightmenment and the development of classical liberal philosophy, and Spanish, for deciphering the Scholastics and others who helped contribute to early classical liberal conceptions of economy, political and otherwise.
Praetyre: Bevin Chu has an interesting commentary on laissez faire and/or libertarian thinkers from China: http://thechinadesk.blogspot.com/2007/09/chinese-liberalism-vs-western.html For libertarian and classical liberal works, I would go for French and Spanish. French, for the writings of the great thinkers and revolutionaries of the time who played a major role in both the Enlightmenment and the development of classical liberal philosophy, and Spanish, for deciphering the Scholastics and others who helped contribute to early classical liberal conceptions of economy, political and otherwise.
I think most of the work done by the Spanish Scholastics was in Latin and not Spanish.
"I cannot prove, but am prepared to affirm, that if you take care of clarity in reasoning, most good causes will take care of themselves, while some bad ones are taken care of as a matter of course." -Anthony de Jasay
Solid_Choke:I think most of the work done by the Spanish Scholastics was in Latin and not Spanish.
MMm depends. Latin was dying out during the medieval days, breaking up into French, Spanish, German, Italian and English. Vernacular was becoming more common.
Nitroadict: liberty student: If I learn another language, it will be Mandarin. I'm hoping Korean & Japanese will be somewhat consolation languages, as I've already occasionally studied both (on & off, of course); the thought of trying to learn 3 languages at a time makes my head hurt :\ I suppose I could at least pick up the mini- Berlitz travel book for Mandarin if I ever come across it, though lol.
Try http://chinesepod.com/
French, German, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin and for academic purposes Latin. Any of these is good.
Freedom of markets is positively correlated with the degree of evolution in any society...
I'm pretty sure you meant Latin was being replaced in scholarly works by the native tongues of the scholars, Laughing Man, but the way you word it makes it sound like you're claiming Latin was in common use and somehow gave birth to English and German(although I wouldn't reject the idea that modern English is a romance language, considering how much of it does trace back to Latin).
German is good for logic. It's the only other language I know. I learned much from learning it.
Criminals, there ought to be a law.
Criminals there ought to be a whole lot more. Bon Scott.
Scholarly work aside. Learning spanish will give you language access to an extremely large percentage of the planet earth. Covering almost the entire latin america region and parts of europe. From spanish you can branch off to Italian, filipino, and various other languages across the world. Between knowing English and Spanish you can practically be capable of speaking almost across half the known globe. So if you like the idea of travel, your options would be further expanded to you.
Thats my imo and I am generalizing for the most part on the geography.
As for the present day - you are a very lucky man! English is the language of the science.
If you must... I would probably choose Russian, but thinking of the future - Spanish has remarkable potential.
Portuguese.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
GilesStratton: Portuguese.
Brazilian Portuguese or Portuguese Portuguese?
Why?
BioTube:I'm pretty sure you meant Latin was being replaced in scholarly works by the native tongues of the scholars, Laughing Man, but the way you word it makes it sound like you're claiming Latin was in common use and somehow gave birth to English and German(although I wouldn't reject the idea that modern English is a romance language, considering how much of it does trace back to Latin).
I've studied linguistics a bit as a hobby, and let me say that English barely resembles a Romance language. It takes a lot more than shared vocabulary. I think this is a good thing, though, because I'm personally more inclined to Germanic languages than Romance languages. :-P
Life and reality are neither logical nor illogical; they are simply given. But logic is the only tool available to man for the comprehension of both.—Ludwig von Mises
Life and reality are neither logical nor illogical; they are simply given. But logic is the only tool available to man for the comprehension of both.
I believe it was Voltaire who said
'German is the language of slaves and horses'
Laughing Man: I believe it was Voltaire who said 'German is the language of slaves and horses'
That reminds me of this:
Charles V: "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse".
"I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse".
Ihr beide seid pferden.
That which is more hilarious. I think jap is cuter. I learned german.
You gotta love the voice actors. Ever heard Mr. T? Pretty funny.
scineram: That which is more hilarious. I think jap is cuter. I learned german.
I think japanese has more intensity.
German, French, Ancient Greek/Latin (of the two I would choose Greek), maybe Mandarin or Arabic. If I had to pick two: German and Ancient Greek (assuming you don't mind studying a dead language)
Daniel: GilesStratton: Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese or Portuguese Portuguese?
Any difference between the two?
The one spoken by 190 millions and one of the most promising economies or the one of a very tiny country with weird accent?
Im biased, I admit.
ivanfoofoo: Daniel: GilesStratton: Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese or Portuguese Portuguese? Any difference between the two?
Yes, specially when it comes to slangs and other day by daystuff. Also the accent, european portuguese has very strong consonants and very short vowels in general, here in Brazil our vowels are more distinctive. Also the portuguese are more formal about the 2nd person, here 2nd and 3rd person are often mixed (but not confused). Also we brazilians are more open to foreign words, while in Portugal they like to translate almost everything, even if it sounds awkward.
Vitor: ivanfoofoo: Daniel: GilesStratton: Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese or Portuguese Portuguese? Any difference between the two? Yes, specially when it comes to slangs and other day by daystuff. Also the accent, european portuguese has very strong consonants and very short vowels in general, here in Brazil our vowels are more distinctive. Also the portuguese are more formal about the 2nd person, here 2nd and 3rd person are often mixed (but not confused). Also we brazilians are more open to foreign words, while in Portugal they like to translate almost everything, even if it sounds awkward.
This. It's like the difference between American English and British English, or Mexican Spanish and Spanish Spanish.