| gen. |
иностранные языки (foreign language; second language. There are connotative differences. A foreign language is learned mostly for the cultural insight it may provide. A second language is learned mostly for utilitarian purposes. In technical usage, a foreign language is one you learn so that you can communicate with foreigners; a second language is one you learn so that you can communicate with people in the country where you live. People living in the U.S. who speak either English or Spanish may learn the other as a second language. But if the same people learned German or Urdu, for example, they would probably learn it as a foreign language. GMAU Alexander Demidov) |
