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Question to non-Slavs: which Slavic language(s) would you like to learn?
If you had to learn a Slavic language, or just wanted to learn one or two for fun (well, "fun" is not really the right word), which one(s) would you choose?
I'm currently learning Russian. Actually, I've been learning Russian for 10 years already, but still, I'm an eternal beginner...I lacked motivation these last years. And I gave up my plan to study this language. Good news, since I joined The Apricity, my interest in foreign languages increased again.
Why Russian? I wouldn't say it's the most important Slavic language, ALL languages are important. When you're in Slovenia, for instance, being able to speak Slovenian can sometimes be important. I would rather say: Russian is the most influential Slavic language...The Russian Federation is still a superpower, and the most populated and extended Slavic country, which generated an impressive literature.
In France, during the Cold War, while English was often the first foreign language taught at school, students had the choice between German, Spanish and Russian. I remember that one of my cousins studied Russian.
After the USSR was dissolved, the Russian language has lost its influence. Now Chinese is competing with Spanish and German.
My second choice would be Polish. Poland is the most populated Slavic country in the EU. Cultural life is very lively in Poland. Poles are said to be hospitable and friendly. I think it's true because my best friends are Polish and always welcome me like a king whenever I visit them.
I tried to teach myself some Polish. I still remember a few basic sentences. But what discouraged me further was the complex phonology of Polish. Too many "przydźwięszczówna#%*§" for my taste. I find it's even more complicated than Cyrillic alphabets, relatively easy to learn in comparison.
My third choice would be Serbo-Croatian. Studying Serbo-Croatian was relatively popular in France when Yugoslavia was ruled by Josip Tito. However, Serbo-Croatian lost much of its international influence and prestige after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Now, the various dialects making up Serbo-Croatian (Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin) are evolving differently, all of them going their separate ways. Serbo-Croatian will progressively lose its unicity.
I selected 10 languages which are official languages of sovereign countries. I excluded the four following regional languages: Sorbian, Kashubian, Rusyn and Silesian.
I will try to see if I can add more voting options than just only one. A poll with only one option is never funny.
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Originally Posted by James Markham
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