You're a linguist? So how many languages do you speak?

[fuzzylogician]

Thanks! Our Linguistics section looked a little lonely.

Some of us are still around...but it has been rather slow lately.

[qbtacoma]

It is funny to learn how annoying this question is, but too late for me. I just asked my Spanish TA this question a few days ago! Whoops.

[psycholinguist]

It is funny to learn how annoying this question is, but too late for me. I just asked my Spanish TA this question a few days ago! Whoops.

Heh, no big deal. From now on you can delight pretty well every linguist you happen across by not asking them the question! * grins *

[jolly_orang]

Funny thread...reminded me of this quote:

"Asking a linguist how many languages they speak is like asking a doctor how many diseases they have."

---Lynne Murphy

[Fished from http://thelousylinguist.blogspot.com/2008/01/linguistics-forum.html]

[PhDreaming]

My favorite answer to give when this questions comes up while socializing/flirting: "I'm fluent in the languages of love and physical pleasure" ::wink::

[wlkwih2]

This:

Edited January 7, 2012 by wlkwih2

[PhDreams]

This:

<3

[calire89]

Is it bad that I've never been irritated by this question? I totally love learning new languages, and I don't mind telling people about the ones I've made progress on... ? I realize that languages =/= linguistics, so maybe I should be lecturing them instead!

Edited March 12, 2012 by calire89