French vs German vs Spanish? Difficulty & Usefulness?

<< Eastern Europe (Poland, Rumania, Hungary, etc) Spanish is studied by a lot of people. (Instituto Cervantes repport). It is right that it was a language unknown in this area, but at this moment there are a lot of students.>>

But still much less than French, German and obviously English.

<<French is also required in secondary schools in Brazil, Hispanic America(except Mexico because as we all know.....) >>

In Costa Rica at least French tends to disappear and even some education authorities have proposed to replace it by more English classes since French teachers are scarcer every day. Really you won't find many people who speak it. It's just like a tradition from old times where Latin, Greek and French were the languages taught in 19th century schools. French was the only one who survived for now. Honestly it's not very useful around here.

Vlad,

It is true that Spanish has little influence in Europe, but the same can be said about Russian in Latin America. I would say neither spanish nor russian are international languages, but rather continental languages.

Russia's population is decreasing due to low birth rate.

Vlad,

After having studied Latin, French, German, and a little ancient Greek, I have always said that my next foreign language will be Russian. To me these are the only European languages of culture (Italian is also okay). I prefer to study languages which have contributed significantly to world culture, and Russian is one. No matter what these people tell you, you are right. But you already know that. They are likely jealous of the cultural history of your people. Think of the ballets, Tchaikovsky, Dostoyevsky, et al. -- of course they are jealous!

I took Russian history as an elective for my required non-western civilization class -- this was my way of getting around what was undoubtedly my university's way of making everyone take some politically correct class on a third-world country. I was prepared to fight it if they didn't let me take Russian History for my class. I think Russia has contributed much to the world of arts, literature, and culture in general. Have the Spanish-speakers? I think not.

All these Hispanophiles seem to do in this forum is try to pretend that their rapidly increasing numbers (caused by their proclivity for incessant reproducing) are what is so important. It's sad that they think numbers alone equate to status/recognition in the world. Please! It's even more impressive that the countries with teh FEWEST speakers have BY FAR the most contributions! These people are laughable and have an arrogance based on very little, mostly hot Latin air.

It is both humorous and pitiful to read these posts. I am glad that people like you and Lafayette exists in this world -- otherwise it would be hopeless.

P.S. Now that le Cretin d'Angleterre is gone (we hope), I feel there are more intelligent people posting on both sides. I wasn't about to humor him with another response.

Yes it is true that Russian has contributed greatly to society, and that is the main reason I learn this language. But I am under no false ilusions, you must admit, there has been little contribution as of late (literature wise that is), and their technological contribution is dimming every day.

It's all well and good they have contributed in the past, but where is the future?

There are not only numbers to defend Spanish and English. I read all this in Google (data from the World Bank):

Economic languages (GDP of countries and people speaking the language):

1. ENGLISH: USA, UK, Canada, India, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand...

2. JAPANESE: Japan

3. SPANISH: Spain, Mexico, Latinos in USA (10% GDP of USA), Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay...

4. GERMAN: Germany, Austria, Switzerland

5. FRENCH: France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland

6. CHINESE

7. ITALIAN

8. PORTUGUESE

9. RUSSIAN

10. ARABIC


You need to be more serious and give official data.

＜3. SPANISH: Spain, Mexico, Latinos in USA (10% GDP of USA), Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay...＞


The whole Hispanic world could be considered as only one country just like Germany, French or Italy? Hispanic world belongs to the same grade with Germany, French or Italy? How can they be compared together without justness?

The US astronauts are required to at least proficient in Russian because events like the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission way back in the 1970's US astronauts spoke to Soviet astronauts in Russian. The same thing happened in the 1990's when US space shuttle docked with Russian Mir station.

Russian is so widely spoken nowadays apart from Ex-Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, it is now making a comeback in China, now studied in Turkey, and the number of Russian speakers in Giblartar is increasing.

<<and their technological contribution is dimming every day. >>

Franco, you don't have any proof that Russia's technology is on decline in fact it is getting more sophisticated as time goes on. Statement like this can be intepreted that you are really insecure for the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. You write as if your envious of the achievement of other groups just because the Hispanic culture did not excel in science, medicine, technology, and arts. Tell me! What technological achievement and invention that Hispanic world can boast of? Nothing. Most people notice that aside from the fact that there is something wrong with Hispanic culture when it comes to productivity. The proof is no Spanish country can be considered as highly industrialized and progressive. Spain is considered as one of the poorest countries in Europe.

Russian population will increase in the future. They won't disapear so that their turf will beemptied as what you contemplating about so that Russia will be populated by hispanics.
Thanks for appreciating what I have posted Libelle!

<<Russian is so widely spoken nowadays apart from Ex-Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, it is now making a comeback in China, now studied in Turkey, and the number of Russian speakers in Giblartar is increasing.>>

That doesn't make it an international language! People are learning Russian?? So what? People are learning Spanish too!

Russian is not an international language, China and Turkey are in ASIA, and Gibraltar is hardly a major player. Spanish also isn't an international language, but you can't say it's any less important than Russian. It just depends on where you are... Russian will do no more good in South american than Spanish will do in CIS, so what is the point in this nonsensical discusion.

В действительности, единственный международный язык - это английский.

I forgot to mention: let's not forget that for decades the U.S. considered Russia to be its chief rival in space technology. Even though the Germans are also known for being technological geniuses (can we dispute that?!? No!) the Russians have also been highly regarded in this arena in addition to their vast contributions to culture.

And we don't we add another item to the equation: athletics! Which countries have been consistently winning in the Olympics for decades?

America
Russia
Germany
China

Thank you! I don't see the Hispanics picking up many medals in ANYTHING!

So the Spaniards have hardly contributed anything to

1. world culture (in general)
2. music
3. athletics/sports
4. important inventions of any kind
5. technology
6. science
7. world cuisine (although their Mexican brethren can cook up a mean tortilla)
8. literature
9. medicine

But they HAVE contributed to the world's population -- and they want credit for this? That is a BAD thing, not a good thing -- the other countries have been far more responsible in terms of population growth -- why can't the Spanish-speakers wake up and follow suit?

And one more thing: they keep bragging (which is laughable!) about how many speakers their language has, when in reality, they should be embarrassed and ashamed! Think about it in terms of PER CAPITA contributions to culture! 400 million people, 2 painters, and one Cervantes??? Oh là là, as the French would say! These Spanish-speakers and Hispanophiles should lay down their heads in shame and quit tearing cultures like France, Germany, and Russia apart.

All they do here in this forum is WHINE and make racist, envy-soaked comments about other cultures -- they are so hateful to all the white people of the world. Let's not forget that the Spaniards carry a significant amount of Arabian blood.

<<Russian will do no more good in South american than Spanish will do in CIS, so what is the point in this nonsensical discusion. >>

Really? On the contrary there are far more people who are willing to learn Russian in Latin America and Spain than there are in CIS who are willing to learn Spanish.

<<so what is the point in this nonsensical discusion. >>

Stop insisting that Spanish is second to English. There are other more important than it like French, Russian, and Arabic.

Прекратите настаивать, что испанский язык является вторым на английский язык. Есть другие более важные чем это как французский, русский, и арабский язык.

The Hispanics have perfected one branch of medicine. That is cosmetic surgery. Have you not noticed that most of the winners including the runner-ups in beauty international pageants are Hispanics. If the winner comes from a Non-Hispanic country, they protest fiercely especially if she is blond and blue eyed. They think they are the only true blond and blue eyed. Well many of them are blond but illegally(becuase of artificial hair color) and blue eyed because of contact lenses and light pinkish complexion thanks to skin bleaching.

<<-French, first language or mother tongue of 77 million people (Encarta 2006). France 60 m, Belgium 3 m, Canada 7 m, Switzerland 1,3 m and others 6 m. So, only in France and Monaco French IS THE FIRST LANGUAGE O MOTHER TONGUE. ONLY IN TWO COUNTRIES. >>

You said in your previous message that French is spoken in just wo countries. What can you say those 4.5 million not 3 million (because Brussels is predominantly French speaking) as you posted speakers, 1.3 million in Switzerland, and 9 million in Canada including the métis who speak French. Don't you know how to interpret what you have read correctly? Maybe, you mean French is predominant or in majority in France and Monaco only. Look at the paragraph above there are two sentences there that are contradiciting to each other.

<<In Eastern Europe (Poland, Rumania, Hungary, etc)>>

There you again. Spanish is almost unheard in Eastern Europe. Besides lots Instituto Cervantes in many parts of the world are being subsidized to keep on operating due to lack of students willing to learn Spanish.

<<In Eastern Europe (Poland, Rumania, Hungary, etc)>>

Goodness Sam, when are you going to post accurate messages here? You're filling this thread with your mess.

In Eastern Europe the moost popular Western European languages are English, French, German, and Italian while Spanish is not. Why don't this Hispanics go to Eastern Europe to find out the truth. Once they speak Spanish they will be replied in Italian because Italian influenced their culture in such fields as music, and arts.

Messages posted by supporters of Spanish are so pathetic, baseless, and inaccurate

<<What technological achievement and invention that Hispanic world can boast of? Nothing.>>

In one ot the tiniest countries of America a team of Costa Ricans scientists are building a plasma engine which eventually will be used by the NASA in the space.

All this matter of language vrs prestige and richness is really and honestly an idiotic nonsense.