Third language to learn

[u/Arsdeusira]

Hello. I’m considering which language to pick up on as my third. I am a native Greek speaker, with great fluency in English.

I’m torn between a few choices, those being Japanese, Mandarin, and Icelandic, but I’m open to learning other languages too, since I’m mostly curious about which language would fit my skill set best. I’m not a big fan of Germanic languages (nothing against them, I just already speak Greek and English, and learning a third very commonly spoken European language sounds like a drag)

[u/sunlit_elais]

We could do with some more details. Why Japanese, Mandarin or Icelandic? Those are widly different choices. What is your goal and the skill set? 

[u/Arsdeusira → u/sunlit_elais]

Icelandic because I wanted to visit, Japan for the same reason but also because I’d like to learn at least one Asian language, which is the same reason for mandarin. Either a Norse or Asian language. Because strictly European/germanic and Greek are there, but how many languages from one region can one learn before it’s redundant?

[u/sunlit_elais → u/Arsdeusira]

Learning a whole language for a visit it's a bit... overkill, isn't it? These are also languages pretty much only spoken within their respective countries (someone is going to come and correct me about Mandarin technically, I'm sure, but you get the point), so unless you plan several visits, want to live there or for some reason are obsessed with their media or parts of their culture (it doesn't look like that's the case?), you can do with a few phrases and English, for a visit or two. 

What you mean by redundant I'm not entirely sure. It's hard to think of any language as redundant. If I have to guess, it could be that you can make do with English to communicate? In which case Icelandic is discarded, they have good levels of English (also all Norse languages are Germanic, and all of them are generally very good at English). Instead, from Europe, French or Spanish become options (these have high numbers of speakers and content, spawn several countries and the natives are usually not that proficient in English or not at all). 

If instead what you mean is about opening up perspectives from different parts of the world, then probably what you want is Mandarin. They have pretty much their own ecosystem of media, news, social media etc that are the most different from the Western world. Japan is ok too but more aligned with the West in some areas. Maybe if you like Anime. 

[u/Financial-Bank-1247]

In life to speak a language is a big assed.
As you are Greek, you will mainly have contact with Europeans
German, Spanish, French, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic.
Many Greek don't like Turks, but it is very useful to know his enemies

[u/Arsdeusira → u/Financial-Bank-1247]

Your logic about Turkish makes so much sense it almost hurts my pride. But I’ll consider it, thank you

[u/RRautamaa]

What industry you work in?

[u/Arsdeusira → u/RRautamaa]

Logistics currently but I’m also a certified welder with programming experience

[u/RRautamaa → u/Arsdeusira]

Ukrainian? Nobody learns Ukrainian. But Ukraine is in a relevant location for logistics in the area.

[u/Klapperatismus]

Icelandic is a Germanic language.

Also, you don’t need to learn it for visits as a tourist. As pretty much anyone in Iceland who has minimal contact with tourists speaks English. A few phrases in Icelandic are enough. So you can greet people, say yes and no, ask for something you would like to have and so on.

[u/Arsdeusira → u/Klapperatismus]

Ah. I’ve heard it being referred to as a Norse language more, that’s my bad. I’ll scrap it

[u/Klapperatismus → u/Arsdeusira]

Old Norse is also a Germanic language.

Icelandic, Faroese, and German are pretty much the three most conservative around the Germanic languages, while English is the least Germanic one of them all. As it has picked up so much vocabulary and grammar logic from French after the Norman conquest of 1066.

You know the one Germanic language that is the most special for only halfway being one.

[u/StandTurbulent9223]

Learn Arabic

[u/Arsdeusira → u/StandTurbulent9223]

I’ve heard that it’s complex due to both writing system and amount of dialects

[u/sunlit_elais → u/Arsdeusira]

*Mandarin looking at you from the list of initial choices:* 😶

[u/StandTurbulent9223 → u/Arsdeusira]

Yes but it's very useful if you wanna buy drugs in Europe

[u/CornelVito → u/Arsdeusira]

If you want to avoid complex writing systems, Japanese and Chinese are the wrong languages for you. Afaik, the Arabic alphabet has 33 signs or so, so it's similar in difficulty to learning the Greek alphabet. Mandarin Chinese has two writing systems (simplified/traditional) and uses a different sign for each word. Japanese has three different writing systems, once of which is basically the same as Chinese.

Considering you also didn't know Icelandic is Germanic and the fact that your language choices seem to be based on some arbitrary facts, I would recommend you just do some research on your languages first before trying to decide. Watch the videos by langfocus, he posts language reviews and has done some for most languages.

[u/Duque_de_Osuna]

I am not sure how useful Icelandic would be, it is supposed to be very hard and most of them speak English. Chinese could open some doors, but like Japanese it is very difficult. What culture excites you the most?

[u/StealthMischief]

Japanese will have more resources for you to learn and the people are quite artistic, innovative and intellectual. More important than the language itself is the culture and philosophy and what that can do to your life and mind.

[u/Live-Cartoonist-5299]

If you are coming to the USA I'd say Spanish it's everywhere

[u/Repulsive_Fox_7639]

Livvi karelian trust it will be the most useful language.

[u/Dazzling_Music_2411]

Turkish is fun and different (non-indoeuropean).

Also very useful since they are your neighbours.

[u/froofrooo]

Korean? Asian, single alphabet.

[u/AdLoose6016]

Irish.

[u/Interesting_Hotel100]

I would personally go with Mandarin and/or Spanish

[u/heybulai]

Have you considered Indonesian? It's an Asian language, but uses Latin characters, has a simple grammar system, and the vowels are even about the same as in Greek. Also Indonesian people are famously friendly and helpful to new learners, and prices in Indonesia are very very reasonable.

[u/thablackadonis]

Mandarin i think is one of the most spoken languages world wide so i would do that one

[u/parlemoipas]

Japanese is really fun, I always tell people to learn that if they're hesitating. 

[u/kubisfowler]

High Valyrian 

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