Help with sentence

[shinobi]

can anyone help me out im trying to ask the question "what languages do you speak" and "do you like beer?"

can anyone help me?


thanx

sorry i just noticed the grammer & sentence board but i dont know how to delete posts

 

[Glenn]

"what languages do you speak"

どの言語を話しますか。 (dono gengo o hanashimasu ka)

There are other ways to say this, but I think this will suffice.

"do you like beer?"

ビールが好きですか。 (biiru ga suki desu ka)

 

[shinobi]

thanx mate ^-^

 

[Elizabeth]

I'm not sure, but maybe "Nanigo wo hanashimasuka?" is more natural.

 

[GaijinPunch]

どの言語を話しますか。 (dono gengo o hanashimasu ka)

There are other ways to say this, but I think this will suffice.

Remembering you can substitute 国語 (kokugo) for 言語 (gengo) probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

Have fun boozing with your multilingual friends!

 

[Elizabeth]

Remembering you can substitute 国語 (kokugo) for 言語 (gengo) probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

Although I don't think there's a way to make it work here. 何ヶ国語を話しますか？sounds to me like you're asking if they speak several independent languages.

 

[Glenn]

You could say 何の国語を話しますか。 That to me makes is sound like it's more about which ones than a number.

I had thought that 国語 was used only to refer to the Japanese language, though. So it can be used to refer to any national language?

 

[Elizabeth]

You could say 何の国語を話しますか.

It could be taken as "what sort of languages" or "what kind of language(s) is it that you speak" as well. But with "言語,窶?#12288;not "国語.窶

 

[GaijinPunch]

I had thought that 国語 was used only to refer to the Japanese language, though. So it can be used to refer to any national language?

Yes, it refers to the langauge of any country, when used like that. Some other relevant vocab:
母国語 - mother language
他国語 - foreign language

It seems when you make it a compound word, it refers specifically to Japanese (I didn't know this until I looked it up). My dict says that 国語問題 are "problems pertaining to Japanese". I assume the history behind words like this come from Japans hundreds of years of seclusion... just a guess.

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa Mina-san!

Originally Posted by Glenn
どの言語を話しますか。 (dono gengo o hanashimasu ka)
There are other ways to say this, but I think this will suffice.

I agree with Glenn. It is very polite, but is formal style.

Originally Posted by Elizabeth
I'm not sure, but maybe "Nanigo wo hanashimasuka?" is more natural.

Yes, it's more natural. And if you want to say in Kansai-ben style, "Nanigo Hanasun?".

Originally Posted by GaijinPunch
Remembering you can substitute 国語 (kokugo) for 言語 (gengo) probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

Ummm, 国語(kokugo) and 言語(gengo) are different words. And you can not say "どの国語を話しますか？"(Dono Kokugo wo Hanashimasu ka?) or "何の国語を話しますか？"(Nanno Kokugo wo Hanashimasu ka?). Because...

Originally Posted by Glenn
I had thought that 国語 was used only to refer to the Japanese language, though.

Yes, 国語 means only Japanese language. "どの国語を話しますか？" don't make sense. :sorry:

Originally Posted by GaijinPunch
母国語 - mother language
他国語 - foreign language

There is a simple mistake. "母国語" is "mother language". It is not a mistake. But "母国語" is a compound word "母国 + 語" but not "母 + 国語". "母国語" means "母国の言語" or "母国の言葉". "母国の言語" means "mother language" or "one's mother tongue". But if it is "母 + 国語", it means "母の国語". "母の国語" means "my mother's Japanese"?
"他国語" is foreign language. But it is "他国の言語" but not "他の国語".

We can not say "どの国語を話しますか？". Because "国語" means Japanese language. But "国語" is a compound word "国 + 言語" originally. It means "国の言語". And we can say "どの国の言語を話しますか？".

NANGI

 

[GaijinPunch]

But if it is "母 + 国語", it means "母の国語". "母の国語" means "my mother's Japanese"?
"他国語" is foreign language. But it is "他国の言語" but not "他の国語".

Right -- but I never said it was any of those.

We can not say "どの国語を話しますか？". Because "国語" means Japanese language. But "国語" is a compound word "国 + 言語" originally. It means "国の言語". And we can say "どの国の言語を話しますか？".

Sorry if I confused. I can see where answering in vocabulary and not sentences can be misconstrude. Truly an obstacle when exchanging on the internet, and not in person.

And we can say "どの国の言語を話しますか？

Yes, but sounds a bit too text book-ish, no?

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa GaijinPunch-san!

Yes, but sounds a bit too text book-ish, no?

You are right. Usually Japanese never say "どの国の言語を話しますか？" in conversation because this sentence is so formal style. I think it is on text book only.

If you want to say "what languages do you speak" formally, "どちらの国の言葉を話されます？" is more natural in Japanese conversation. But this word "どちらの国の言葉を話されます？" is familiar language and is not so formally. I think "どの国の言語を話しますか？" is correct Japanese in formal style, but "どちらの国の言葉を話されます？" is more natural.

"どの言語を話しますか" is correct Japanese, but too formal and standoffish. Specially "言語". Japanese people don't use "言語" in daily conversation. "どの国の言葉を話しますか" is more natural.

I think "何語を話しますか" is the most simple words, and the best words in daily conversation.

NANGI

 

[GaijinPunch]

I think "何語を話しますか" is the most simple words, and the best words in daily conversation

Without a doubt!

 

[Inuyasha-the-kid]

I-****-a-ru-(no)-be-du?

ashitaru no biru?

desksu ka?

KASHI!

 

[TwistedMac]

I-****-a-ru-(no)-be-du?

ashitaru no biru?

desksu ka?

KASHI!

um.. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "yes"?

 

[Scrivener]

Konnichiwa GaijinPunch-san!



You are right. Usually Japanese never say "どの国の言語を話しますか？" in conversation because this sentence is so formal style. I think it is on text book only.

If you want to say "what languages do you speak" formally, "どちらの国の言葉を話されます？" is more natural in Japanese conversation. But this word "どちらの国の言葉を話されます？" is familiar language and is not so formally. I think "どの国の言語を話しますか？" is correct Japanese in formal style, but "どちらの国の言葉を話されます？" is more natural.

"どの言語を話しますか" is correct Japanese, but too formal and standoffish. Specially "言語". Japanese people don't use "言語" in daily conversation. "どの国の言葉を話しますか" is more natural.

I think "何語を話しますか" is the most simple words, and the best words in daily conversation.

NANGI

Thanks NANGI, I found that very interesting.