English is my native tongue.
I studied German and Japanese in high school. I don't like German. Japanese was OK, but I wasn't into doing all the necessary work at the time.
Now I study both Mandarin and Latin. Mandarin I study at university, Latin is a hobby language.
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Originally Posted by masoris  Really? I think it's very hard to learn Mandarin and Japanese. Because you need to memory Chinese characters at least few thousands and must know how to pronounce them. |
Yeah I agree. We have to learn about 60 new words a fortnight. The only way I have found to learn them is to write them out repeatedly.
我同意。我和我同每两个星期要学六十个生词。如果我要记对这些词，我应该写很多边。我写中文字写得不错，可 是我中文说得不是很流利！
I like Mandarin because it is so different to English, it is a real challenge. I have also found that every Chinese I have ever requested help from has always been absolutely patient and never criticized my attempts to speak.
This is the absolute opposite of the most common reaction observed when the shoe is on the other foot. Most westerners I have seen in situations where they have the opportunity to help someone improve their English skills are very rude and impatient.
The more I study Chinese the more I like their culture when compared to ours (the West).
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Originally Posted by Chroniker This is kinda off topic but, how would you say "in defense of liberty" in Latin? An exact translation would be nice but getting close will work. |
If you mean that one is speaking in defense of liberty, then perhaps:
"Defensio libertati"
Which is literally "Defence of liberty"
To the best of my knowledge the following would mean "In defence of liberty"
"In defensione libertati"
This "Defensio, Defensionis" means:
defense/protection; act of defending; argument/justification in defense, excuse legal maintenance of a right; legal prosecution, punishment;
Bold for the meaning one imagines you are aiming for.
By Latin is not great ( < 1st year), but after consulting my three paper dictionaries, and one digital one, the above is my best try.
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Originally Posted by Power Magister mundi sum |
Oh yeah? Well:
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Magister mundi potes, sed Rex mundi sum!
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If you like languages, I recommend some Latin. The grammar will help with other languages, and in many cases, Latin's grammar will make your target language's grammar seem simple!
There is also the exciting fact that if one can read Latin, one can read texts written over 2000 years ago, in the original language. Can't wait to read about Caesar kicking Gaul arse all across ... Gaul.