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That a [ Language ] is a topic being addressed is understood in many contexts so the word [ Language ] itself is omitted. In these [ Language ] is the understood topic contexts, including the word [ language ] is superfluous and a distraction, making the sentence tediously awkward and unnatural:
[ We speak the English Language. Do they speak the English Language? -
(In) What language is speaking?
She is speaking (in) Russian.
What languages does she speak?
She speaks Russian and Urdu.
In what language is the seminar being held?
Into what languages is the book being translated?
Have you fluency in Early Modern, Middle or Old English?
Adding the word [ language ] is useful in context where aspects of Russian is a topic in question, of emphasis of for differentiation:
We study Russian. → Russian what? → Russian Art/s, Ballet, Cinema, Culture/s, Demography, Ecology, Economy, Flora, Fauna, Geography, History, Industry, Language, Literature, Music, Pedagogy, Theater, Zoololgy ‧ ‧ итд ‧ ‧ и так далее ‧ ‧ [ and so on ]
But I believe you don't say I know English in English. Maybe you say, I am not a native speaker, I am not sure about that
True, but "I speak Russian" is also accepted as an answer on a similar exercise...
I agree with you domhorse. I understand how the sentence translates to I know, but it means I speak too.
You are correct: in English "I speak XX" is a far more common way to say it. "I know XX" is totally valid, though.
- 111
Sometimes Duolingo looks for a literal but awkward translation, and sometimes it doesn't.
How would one distinguish between this meaning and "I know English people?"
There is an another word used to designate English people: англича́нин (Englishman, English person, nominative singular), англича́не (English people, nominative plural). Example: Я хорошо знаю англичан.
No, because язык is a masculine inanimate noun it doesn't decline in the accusative.
But я знаю английский язык is grammatical.
In another excersice they translate "Я знаю.." To "I speak".. why not here?
Я знаю is "I know"
If you wish to say I speak, you need to use "Я говорю".
Perhaps it was a slight error in the system?
You're mixing two different transcription systems there. It's best to just use the Russian keyboard.
If you must use an English keyboard, I think that "Ya znayu angliyskiy" might work. Perhaps...
Is it more common to say “I know English” rather than “I speak English”?
