Wizards of Oz

"Life is fraughtless ... when you're thoughtless."

26.9.07

Languages

September 26th is "European Day of Languages", encouraging language learning across Europe. Regretfully, I only know a smattering of words in a few languages (mostly Spanish) -- though at one time in my life I knew how to say Beer in 14 different languages. I have always been impressed by people that are able to become fluent in another language.

Like they say in France, a person who can speak two languages is bilingue, while a person who speaks only one is Américain...

Rather than wallow in my linguistic inadequacy, I decided to follow a link from blogger Layer 8 to determine "Which Ancient Language" I am. (I figured out after the test that this is a dating site, so hopefully the spam load in my mailbox won't increase...). The results:

You scored: Akkadian



You are Akkadian, a blend of the incomprehensible symbols of the Sumerians with the unwritable sounds of the early Semitic peoples. However, the writing just doesn't suit the words and doesn't represent everything needed, so you end up a schizoid mess. Invented in Babylon, you're probably to blame for that tower story. However, crazy as you are, you're much loved and appreciated, and remain actively in use by records keepers long after schools have switched to other languages.

Could it be coincidence that my characteristic "Ancient Language" is from what is today known as the Al-Anbar Governate in Iraq, the area recently stabilized in large part by the U.S. Marine Corps? And that my own ancestors (grandmother, grandfather, uncle, stepdad, cousin) are all Marines?

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9 Comments:

At 26/9/07 21:08 , Blogger Dan tdaxp said...

Akkadian? Me too!

 
At 27/9/07 00:17 , Blogger Curtis Gale Weeks said...

I'm Older Futhark:

Language of the Norse, Older Futhark! Thirty symbols, all told. And no hardier, more warrior-like tongue has ever graced the longships of the Viki or left the Celts and Saxons in such quivering fear. There's only one drawback, that being you died 800 years ago.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 30% on Ideogramatic

You scored higher than 8% on Syllablic

You scored higher than 65% on Logogramic

You scored higher than 36% on Alphabetic

 
At 27/9/07 06:43 , Blogger deichmans said...

Dan, Glad to know I'm not the only "neurotic mess"!

CGW, Looks like you're about as old as Soob.... :-)

 
At 27/9/07 11:46 , Blogger mark said...

I was Phoenecian ;o)

 
At 28/9/07 20:27 , Blogger Jay@Soob said...

"You are Linear B. Even those who can follow you think you're all Greek to them. Which, after all, is true - Linear B being the first known text for written Greek. To most people, you're incomprehensible. But what do you care? You're tough, hard, long-enduring and have greater nobility than most. Naturally, you don't admit to borrowing extensively from your brother Linear A."

Incomprehensible but noble. Hmm.

 
At 29/9/07 01:48 , Blogger Curtis Gale Weeks said...

"long-enduring"

--for over 800 years! Yes! The quiz is as great a guide as astrology for understanding people, it seems...

 
At 1/10/07 14:48 , Blogger Sean Meade said...

yep. Akkadian

 
At 8/10/07 13:54 , Blogger DF said...

I'm the Older Futhark.....

 
At 8/10/07 20:11 , Blogger deichmans said...

It's scary that df and CGW ended up similar -- but even moreso that Dan, Sean and me are also the same!

 

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