How many languages do you speak fluently?

Hangar Flying
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Same here. But we are not the norm. Many people understandably want single number answers because they are easier to handle.

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That is why I chose simple sequence with outliers
 I know the power/value of n

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Which is why I will never trust anyone who quotes ‘statistics’. Most folk will nod their heads without understanding the numbers.

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This conversation is exactly why I don’t introduce you guys to my other friends!:disguised_face:

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Occasional forum thread derailments are a fact of life. :wink:

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Especially on here. It is a part of Mudspike forums culture.

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Part of language is culture, and part of culture is life expectancy, so I think we’re right on track :sunglasses:

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Let’s face it, the longer you live, the more your language will change!
Or it will change around you.
Or others will change and you won’t.
Ad nauseum.

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ΠΑΝ΀Α ΡΕΙ

river stream GIF

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Absolutely. Language is ever evolving. That’s what is so fascinating to me. Sometimes I am excited about how gaps in the lexicon get filled.


OK, and sometimes I am not. You probably won’t see me use skibidi or much else of the current “Gen Alpha (?) slang” but at times the people come up with cool new words that I’ll adopt, even though it makes me the cringe old dude using slang words.

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You misspelled Santa Fe. And that’s not Santa Fe.

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Language evolving to fill gaps is indeed fascinating. Already established words having their meanings changed, though, I have issues with. “Those who control the meaning of words, control the people who have to use them.”

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I remember as a kid watching the Hindenburg newsreel for the first time. When the shocked, crying commentator called it a “terrific crash” I thought “Wow! What a mean guy!” The word “terrific” had reversed meaning in just a generation.

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I’ve never noticed “terrific” having an absolute reversed meaning, but rather the meaning could be opposite depending on the context. There’s a few other words like that locked away somewhere in my brain but I haven’t had my morning coffee yet.

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It can, but is it used in the negative way, anymore? I use horrific instead. Terrific is a positive word, for me


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Not sure about colloquial usage but the negative meaning is still listed in the dictionary.

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Yes it does. But I don’t think I have ever used terrific in a negative meaning, nor do I remember hearing it being used that way


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I’m with @Troll

I had no idea that terrific (once) had that meaning
 terrirfying would be what I would use.

I actually like the way that languages evolve over time
 It allows me to ■■■■ (P) off all the Gen Z’s by using “groovy” a lot :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

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Speaking of changing meanings of certain English words, I really would be curious to find out when the original meaning of the word “gay” changed to its current meaning. I’m also wondering if that change only happened in the US or if it changed in most English speaking countries.

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I think it was in the 1970s when that movement really gathered steam in the wake of the civil rights movement.

I remember an episode of Barney Miller where one of the guest star cops actually admitted being gay to Barney after some incident or other.
I think Wojciehowicz (a name I to this day think is one of the best for any character) talking to Barney referred to him as a “member of the opposite sex” and Barney replying “they prefer the term ‘gay’.”
Quite possibly the earliest instance I recall on TV or film. It aired from 1975-82 and I don’t think was at the very end, so maybe 79-80 or so?

I will further mention I have not seen that episode again since it originally aired 45 or so years ago, so I’m surprised I still remember it