Poll: Should I learn French or Italian?

[Lilani]

I am contemplating buying that fancy Rosetta Stone program sometime this summer, but I'm torn between French and Italian. I'll only be able to afford one, as all 5 levels cost a hefty $470 (given I do get it through the main company), so whichever one I get I'm stuck with. I'm an art student, and I'm equally interested in learning both on all levels. They'd be equally useful, and both are equally romantic.

So I ask you: if this was your call, which would you choose?

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Italian, you got so many beautiful cities!

 

[LobsterFeng]

Italian. Pretend you're a mob boss.

 

[DEAD34345]

Woah... I voted Italian, but for that kind of price I would say neither. Couldn't you just go for one of the cheaper ones?

I doubt they would be all that different.

 

[lobster1077]

Irish! You can go live in Gaelteacht in Galway and see all the magical walls there. Truly a worthwhile endeavour.

 

[kickassfrog]

The french are smelly, cheesy, greasy europeans, while the italians are... hang on a second- they're basically the same

I would go french

P.S. Just joking, you cheese eating surrender monkeys and mafia owned side changers

 

[Stoic raptor]

French. Although it would really depend on where you are and what you expect in the future.

But I would say french. Looks like I am the only one who suggested it.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Italian has about 147 million speakers. French has about 375 million speakers. As such, French would be far more likely to become actually useful, unless you specifically want to go to Italy.

 

[Vengeful Dusk]

Definately Italian, it's so much more fun to exaggerate that accent for comedic effect. Plus Italy is just so much better than France. In terms of... food...

 

[Berserker119]

French is the worst language I have ever had the misfortune to learn. Go with anything but.

 

[Vorpals]

Depends on which languages you already know.

If you already know Spanish or another romance language (Portuguese), Italian is so similar to Spanish that I've been able to talk to Italians in Spanish and them talk to me in English and be able to get across sufficiently. However, if you don't know Spanish then it goes the other way as well: you may be able to talk to people who speak Spanish via Italian.

Most of the people I've talked to who have or are learning French say that it's been useless to them, so either way I think Italian wins.

However, as others have said, it really depends on where and what you're dealing with.

 

[Daverson]

Italian. Say what good you will about the French, I'll just counter it with "they didn't invent Spaghetti".

I know the French have done a lot for western cuisine, but, given the choice between living without frogs legs, or living without Spaghetti, I know which I'd pick. Jus' sayin'.

 

[lobster1077]

Italian has about 147 million speakers. French has about 375 million speakers. As such, French would be far more likely to become actually useful, unless you specifically want to go to Italy.

Italian is basically the same as Spanish which is spoken pretty much worldwide. Ah ho ho ho.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Italian has about 147 million speakers. French has about 375 million speakers. As such, French would be far more likely to become actually useful, unless you specifically want to go to Italy.

Italian is basically the same as Spanish which is spoken pretty much worldwide. Ah ho ho ho.

They're very similar. But I had an ex who spoke Spanish, and actually couldn't get her brain around Italian because the similarities kept tripping her up.

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

French would be more useful (unless you want to go to italy)
Italian in my opinion is more cool
Sup to you reaaaally?

 

[dj Facchiano]

italian, because I'm 50% Italian

 

[Doge Dominico]

French- Because even "It itches" sounds romantic in french

Italian- So those mobsters can't wack you

Or even an odd combination of the two I'll dub, Fritalion.