What language has the best poetry?

Franco   Thu May 20, 2010 5:41 pm GMT
If French is an international language of communication how come only French people use French on this forum?.
Penetra   Thu May 20, 2010 6:43 pm GMT
Spanish.
Spanco   Thu May 20, 2010 11:53 pm GMT
If Spanish is an international language of communication how come even Spanish people use English on this forum?
Drake   Fri May 21, 2010 1:59 am GMT
Yes, of course the big three are English, French, German, with greats like Wordsworth and Goethe and so on. I also enjoy Russian poetry for its epicness sometimes. Another often overlooked language in East Eur is Romanian, which although it doesn't have as many famous poets overall, has produced some impressive works in the romantic style, such as with Eminescu, who is easily on par with Lermontov and the likes. Spanish of course has many greats, as already mentioned. I haven't heard much Chinese, but I think after you'd get used to it it couldn't be too bad. Anyway, I think most languages can sound good, but especially those with plenty of vowels to make them more fluid and rhyming smoother. But even some African tribal songs can have plenty of rhythm.
Baldewin   Fri May 21, 2010 5:41 pm GMT
At least there's a Hablemos Español and as well as with French many Antimooners at least understand Spanish. Where's the Parlons français-thread? „Lassen wir Deutsch sprechen“ would be deleted of course by you-know-who.
Shropshire Lad   Fri May 21, 2010 6:40 pm GMT
I think the "bastardness" of English gives it a unique poetic quality: Germanic words can be used to give a warm and fuzzy feeling, Norman French words have a lot of romantic value and Latin words convey abstractions very well.
Bro   Mon May 24, 2010 5:49 pm GMT
American, of course, without a doubt.
pierre   Thu May 27, 2010 9:24 pm GMT
PARISIEN   Fri May 28, 2010 10:49 am GMT
<< I think the "bastardness" of English gives it a unique poetic quality >>

-- C'est assez vrai. L'anglais a en effet une qualité vague et allusive, procède par connotations, et a de ce fait une qualité poétique inhérente.

Mais d'un autre côté, des langues extrêmement "techniques" comme l'allemand et le latin s'avèrent encore plus impressionnantes quand elles sont pliées aux besoins de l'expression poétique. Certaines pages de Goethe ou Virgile semblent ouvrir sur des mondes inconnus, avec une mystérieuse prégnance dont l'anglais (et le français) ne seraient peut-être pas capables.
Hairewin   Fri May 28, 2010 11:24 am GMT
At least there's a Hablemos Español and as well as with French many Antimooners at least understand Spanish. Where's the Parlons français-thread? „Lassen wir Deutsch sprechen“ would be deleted of course by you-know-who. >>

Oh yes, it's because of Google Translation.

Keep on dreaming Hispanic disguising as Dutchman/Flemish.
Penetra   Fri May 28, 2010 12:23 pm GMT
French
Sergius   Sat May 29, 2010 9:36 pm GMT
Yeah, I really like French poetry for the feel of it. And Drake, I admit I guess Romanian does have a little decent poetry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyCTfLt086c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdx1-Gm_cL4&feature=related

Russian is cool too. But I also think Greek has an interesting style or sound to it, especially the ancient kind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMY45Pf3z74
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvd5vaQuIQk&feature=PlayList&p=4306BF3EEE54FC5B&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=3

I'm interested in learning more about Eastern poetry now, like the ancient Indian epics now, and even Chinese or Japanese poetry.