I am going to be starting to learn a language at my uni next semester however I am torn between Russian and Arabic. I am very found of both cultures, I do prefer middle eastern cuisine, in fact it is probably my favorite kind of food. From what I have heard there is demand for both. One thing I might add it seems there are more tools for self teaching Russian than Arabic, so perhaps if I am paying for classes Arabic would make more sense. Which Language would Int recommend?
TLDR: Should I study at uni Russian or Arabic?
Thank you for your input.
oh my
Russian.
>>51037948
From basic to more advanced, this is what the state department wants you to know:
Azerbaijani, Bangla, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Punjabi, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu
Arabic and Persian
Chinese, Japanese, and Russian
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So an intermediate understanding of Arabic is more valuable, I would go with that
>>51037948
There are a lot of Arabics out there. The dialects can be as distinct as the Nord languages. Nobody speaks MSA at home.
I'd look more deeply into that before choosing.
What's the point of learning Arabic? To read Quran? To impress girls you won't ever fuck?
Doesn't matter, no one learns languages at school. The language of your movies, podcasts, vidya, etc. is the one you're learning.
>>51038031
I intend to study whichever I choose for several years at uni so that is useful to know.
>>51038098
What's the point of learning Russian? To read War and Peace? To impress girls you'd like to fuck?
>>51038134
actually i know a person who got a pretty decent job in the government with only a high school ged just because they knew arabic and english
it's pretty good if you want to get a job in the government
>>51037948
>TLDR: Should I study at uni Russian or Arabic?
You probably shouldn't learn either of those, but if you must choose one of them, you should try Arabic.
>>51038092
I am aware of that.
>>51038098
I am studying Anthropology and have decided to take up Linguistics as a double major, A significant number of classes in one language of my choosing are required for the linguistics major. There are many Interesting Anthropological and Archaeological aspects to the Middle East.
>>51038197
Honestly Russian literature and Film are a major influence in my considering to study Russian.
>>51038197
At least you can read something other than Quran if you pick Russian. I'm not saying that Russian is the best possible choice out of all languages, but in my opinion it's more useful than Arabic.
>>51038281
>There are many Interesting Anthropological and Archaeological aspects to the Middle East.
>>51038341
What Film are you talking about? Any suggests?
>>51038425
I think both are very beautiful, and yes Russian literature is some of the best. However there is a long literary tradition in Arabic simply translation are not widely available for many works.
>I am very found of both cultures
Brush up on your English first.
>>51038341
>Russian film
Try again
>>51038551
Dostoevsky is shit.
Tolstoy is shit.
Bulgakov is shit.
Any other literature?
>>51038484
Anything by Tarkovsky such and The Mirror, or Andrei Rublev.
>>51038579
Fond, excuse me, no need to be rude.
>>51038608
Why do you want to know Russian to watch Tarkovsky? It's like learning english to watch the avengers franchise.
>>51038579
>>51038662
Not to mention the random capital letters.
>>51038590
I dislike Tolstoy myself. I really like Dostoevsky and no one is going to change my opinion on that. Also Pushkin, and it would be interesting to see Nabokov's writing before he began writing in English
>>51038694
I have poor grammar and spelling with English I am sorry. That does not mean I could not benefit from trying to expand my horizons by learning a new language.
>>51038767
Would you like to live sometime in the Dostoevsky's Petersburg?
(I'm actually wondering, because I heard some people do like the shithole he depicted and, in all honesty, it still remains the same)
Does anyone have further input on the topic at hand?
>>51038890
Not really.
>>51037948
Modern Standard Arabic would be the best choice. It's would have more usuage, is more common in any relevant places, and Arabic qts are easier to get then Russian qts.
>>51039003
>Arabic qts are easier to get then Russian qts.
That's not true
>>51039003
Based on this thread that is what I am leaning towards.
>>51039001
The art look kinda pedophile to me.
Is MENA all asleep right now?
Arabic will undoubtedly be the most useful one
>>51039397
That's what I have been thinking. That at the very least Arabic would have more utility. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which Dialects are worth studying?
>>51039003
from what I have heard I kind of doubt easier, but they are more qt in my opinion
>>51039525
afaik egyptian arabic is the most popular variant of arabic and pretty much everyone should understand it. I'd ask in /mena/ if i were you
>>51039982
Thank you I will.
Russian of course, you will understand this, for example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYT0_9Qr93M
>>51039982
>egyptian arabic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOlpK6Yj5a4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sst67oMvSvU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFyFNvs2LDY
Enjoy the wonderful egyptian "culture", OP.
>>51037948
Final bump
>>51044111
>>51038031
Isn't this specifically for people who intent to work for the government, though?
>>51038031
Bullshit. Persian is a lot easier than Arabic.
>>51046393
yeah but I imagine it is useful more broadly
>>51048301
i think you have missed the point. They want you to be on an intermediate level for both, not that they are both easy to learn
>>51038581
What's so bad about it? I enjoyed Бpaт
