What Southeast Asian languages can you speak?

[zhaoyun]

I've heard Thailand's government is among the least corrupt in SE-Asia if I'm correct, and the country's infrastructure is overall superior to Philippines. Bangkok's airport is also light years ahead of Manila's Ninoy Aquino international Airport for example.

Yeah and much of the big shot billionaires investing in Philippines are Chinese and Japanese businessmen: http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/...in-philippines This Okada hotshot's ambition is apparently to trump the Almighty Vegas! The Chinese are also investing in Manila's new 'City of Pearl' smart-city project! ....That's just it Filipinos in general are usually not as adept as the Chinese/Japanese when it comes to business is what everyone seems to say! And I've read about China's 'expansionist agenda'.

This 32 language polyglot ranks Mandarin as the most difficult language of all to learn:


...
To get an edge on business I wonder if it would be better to learn Mandarin, or perhaps Cantonese on the other hand..

Mandarin is undoubtedly way more useful than Cantonese. Cantonese is a local dialect and it's really only useful if you are living in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou or dealing with some overseas Cantonese communities. Mandarin is the national language of China.

Anyways, to answer OP's question. I have learned phrases of Tagalog, Vietnamese, Thai, but obviously not learned anything in depth.

[zhaoyun]

The idea right now is to learn Chinese because international politics and business will become "bilateral" as the Chinese economy overtakes the US as the world's largest. The Chinese are expanding into Africa, many private Chinese citizens are buying up lots of real estate in Detroit (!), and China is even encroaching on the Philippines.

Thailand has absorbed influences from India and China and their Buddhism is very 'Hindu' compared to other ethnic Buddhisms. Thailand also has good food and excellent private health care.

Obviously, learning Mandarin would be the most useful out of any Asian language when it comes to business for reasons I don't need to explain. China is a much harder place for foreigners to adapt to than Thailand. Thailand is pretty much a foreigner's playground, they bend over backwards to accommodate foreigners and many Westerners live there for decades without even having to learn Thai or even show the locals any modicum of respect even.

China is way more xenophobic and nationalistic, but if you are a Westerner who learns Mandarin well and generally has a respectful/friendly disposition, you will be treated well.

[Iloko]

How many can you speak? Just Tagalog or Ilocano as well?

Just Tagalog but I'm glad that I can understand at least one non-Euro language as you get the best of both worlds. But to be honest knowing Tagalog is only really useful if you are living in Philippines.

I can't speak a single word of Ilocano or anything else. My father who's full Ilocano can sort of speak it, though not very well. My mother who is Tagalog only knows Tagalog.

How bout you do you know any non-Euro language?

Edit: I wish I could speak some Ilocano though!

[Mingle]

How bout you do you know any non-Euro language?!

I can speak Pashto and Urdu/Hindi. I know a tiny bit of Persian and hope to learn it soon.