I was wondering if there were any places on the Web like TextKit that were dedicated to providing electronic copies of old books in living languages, like German, French, Italian, etc. Does anybody know of such a place?
I have a funky french grammar - 1851 - A french grammar by C.J. Delille. It’s more a reference grammar but sweet anyhow!
I was looking for an Italian grammar. The older grammars for me are just nicer, simpler…no LEARN LANGUAGES FAST! BE FLUENT WITH NEW XXXXXX METHOD!
gutenberg.
http://gutenberg.net/
[quote author=klewlis link=board=6;threadid=750;start=0#7408 date=1064946349]
gutenberg.
http://gutenberg.net/<br />[/quote]
Oops, typo. I meant to type “old books on living languages”, i.e. grammars, tutorials, etc.
That’s a good question! Unfortunately, I can’t think of any sites like Textkit. I’d be interested in a French site.
On the hand, if you’re looking for French book recommendations, just give a shout…
[quote author=mariek link=board=6;threadid=750;start=0#7427 date=1064960180]
That’s a good question! Unfortunately, I can’t think of any sites like Textkit. I’d be interested in a French site.
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Thanks, but I have several French grammars. (Thank you, outlet book stores!) I was looking for a good German grammar that doesn’t cost $40 for a paperback, and haven’t been able to find any in PDF form on the web.
I did a Google search using several different search terms, and didn’t come up with anything.
But learn German anyway - it’s a wonderful language…;D
German has preserved its “old” style more than any other modern language qu’I know. It is great but very difficult. The inflexions are not straightforward although they may seem thus. A natural knack of comprehending thoroughly languages is required also for easy rendering of the strict word order.
Sprachgefuhl habe ich in meinem Kopf. (or is kopf feminine? See?! 
)
Posted by: Clemens Posted
But learn German anyway - it’s a wonderful language…;D
Uhh… I disagree…
Now if I had time on my hands to learn some other languages I’d try to learn Finnish.
[quote author=Emma_85 link=board=6;threadid=750;start=0#7594 date=1065112700]
Posted by: Clemens Posted
But learn German anyway - it’s a wonderful language…;D
Uhh… I disagree…
Now if I had time on my hands to learn some other languages I’d try to learn Finnish.
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Egads! German at least only has four cases (as did old English). Finnish has, what, twenty some cases? No thanks!
Lol, I know… fascinating, isn’t it?
I would like to learn Finnish, because I really want to try to learn a language that isn’t Indo-European, and Finnish is Finno-Ugrian. I suppose I could always learn Japanese or something like that, but Finland is much closer (and they have great rock groups in Finland 
).
I’ve found some quotations that are really good:
“Das Leben ist zu kurz, um Deutsch zu lernen.”
Oscar Wilde
“Deutsche Sprache - schwere Sprache. Deshalb vereinfachen wir sie erfolgreich durch Englisch.”
Erhard Blanck
( ;D )
Now I know what to write all over my German book… hope my mad German teacher reads it.
Another one I like is:
“Deutsch ist schon allein deshalb eine gute Sprache, weil es zwei verschiedene Wörter für Mann und Mensch gibt.”
[quote author=Lector link=board=6;threadid=750;start=0#7523 date=1065038291]
I was looking for a good German grammar that doesn’t cost $40 for a paperback, and haven’t been able to find any in PDF form on the web.
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Let me know if you stumble upon a good one. I’d be interested in an advanced German grammar.
I am also looking for something similar on classical Arabic but it seems there isn’t anything around. (And I have had to curb my book spending whilst I pay for the builders renovating our house to get rich! Woe! Misery!)
Haha but finnish pronunciation would be very hard. They speak up and down tones which may only be done if you are a professor or have “Sprachgefuhl” (of finland)
Well, as I said, if I had any time…
Anyway, the best way to learn a modern language is to just go and live in the country for some time. Lol, but there are too many places where I want to live…
I want to go to Iceland, guess why! Then to the Phillipines for nice variation.
…to learn the languages of course 