Daily writing prompt

Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

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Are you serious. Growing up in London, we spoke English at home, actually Cockney English, the London language: not such perfect English but we were understood. I just had to adapt when going to school to speak “proper” English. And so the foundation was already laid for other languages when I was at school. I learned French for five years at school and German for two years. Oh and I also did a year learning Spanish, although I had problems because it was too similar to Italian.

Eventually I leaft school, worked in London, and decided to go other places. I found work in Switzerland and then it all began with the language tick. In Switzerland they speak four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romany (a Swiss mountain language in the Kanton of Graubunden). My French was useful, My German developed, although mainly Swiss German dialect, and I had many Italian speaking friends, so the Italian improved. Romany was not a language I learned, but somehow I know what they are saying. It is a mixture of latin for me so my French and Italian knowledge comes in useful. I just had a passionate interest in learning other languages and eventally I achieved my goal to lean Russian. After more then ten years at evening classes, I could read, write and speak Russian, although not so perfect, but the Russians understood me. I was working for many years in Switzerland as an export clerk and my languages were very useful, evening speaking to Russian customers in their language. Somewhere along the line I decided that Arabic would be useful, and I persevered for a year, but have now forgotten a lot, although at the time I could write and read it.

I also learned to write Pitmans shorthand at school, mainly in the english version, but you can adapt it to other languages

I just had a tick for foreign languages and they still fascinate me today, with 80 years of age. You can never learn enough and I just love to speak to people in their own language. English I have naturally not forgotten, being my mother tongue, but who needs English when you speak four or five other languages.