Trek actors and foreign languages

[alpha_leonis]

I recently read an article in "Parade Magazine" about William Shatner, which stated he's fluent in English and French (makes sense, since he's from Montreal), and also that he had studied another language (presumably Esperanto, due to his appearance in the movie "Incubus").

Any other Trek stars known for speaking non-English languages? (And no, Klingon doesn't count. )

I seem to recall reading once that Linda Park from Enterprise is bilingual in English and Korean, since she was born from Korean immigrant parents (she herself may have been born in Korea, I can't recall). Anybody else?

 

[TrekNut87]

I recall reading that Garrett Wang is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

 

[HIj'Qa]

George Takei speaks Japanese and Spanish

 

[Kryton]

Just to confirm, Shat is, indeed, a speaker of Esperanto.

 

[Mareika]

I recall reading that Robert Beltran speaks Spanish.

 

[Kryton]

I forgot that Beltran was "Raoul" in "Eating Raoul"...one of two films he did with the wonderful Mary Woronov!

 

[Helmgirlie]

I recall reading that Robert Beltran speaks Spanish.

No, he said at various conventions (which I attended personally) that he doesn't speak Spanish very well. Just a few words. At the Fedcon 2006 where a Dutch woman said things to him in Spanish during the panel, he couldn't understand her. So she had to translate it into English for him. I was able to understand what she said to him. And my Spanish is not good. So, maybe that says enough. She asked him if he had ever been to Holland in Spanish. Not very difficult Spanish, but he really didn't understand what she said. I recall he then explained he doesn't speak it well. He also said during one of the conventions that back in high or elementary school teachers had put him in a Spanish speaking class. Because he's from Mexican ancestry, they assumed he spoke Spanish. He was like... ahm... ah.... que?? so they immediately put him back in the native English speaking class.

A friend of mine did hear him speak some Spanish to his brother though, so I am sure he does speak some. But as far as he said himself, it is not enough to hold a conversation. He also said that at his house during his childhood, they did speak Spanglish. A mix of English and Spanish.