shit
join:2003-07-14
Skowhegan, ME | reply to bchoate8
Re: Second Languages
My Languages
1.Fluent English of course.
2.Very good French,a lot of people from Quebec come here.
3.Some Spanish.
I would like to learn German and also Lithuanian,I have some family that speak it at home. |
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chRoniX10
Peace sells, but who's buying?
Premium
join:2004-05-22
Tarzana, CA | reply to theman23
Privet kak dela? Ya tojo gavaru na ruskam izike.
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CPM
join:2001-08-24
Miami, FL | reply to 2kmaro
Same English and New York City English and some dirty yiddish. |
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gnomedex
Premium
join:2004-06-13
University Park, PA
clubs:   | reply to theman23
Almost fluent in Italian, I am starting to teach myself German and Greek, and next year I will be taking Latin
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Learn as if you are going to live forever, live as if you are going to die tomorrow |
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
4 edits | reply to sbcs53
said by sbcs53  :English (native US Dialect, a little experience with the UK dialect as well) I am surprised you would even make that differentiation flat VS apartment, lift VS elevator, or cookie VS biscuit... really very trivial things.
Unless you want to get into city variations like Cockney and the actual regional dialects like Welsh, Scott,and Irish etc.... King/Queens Engliish very little difference and no gramatical/construct ones..
Heck never had a problem with Indian's, South Africans, Austrailians, Bahamians, or New Zelanders either to mention some others, with different accents but same basic language and construct.
»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI | reply to theman23
English is my Primary,
Vietnamese is my Secondary
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Do the Dew! |
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3SGTE
ST215W
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
clubs:
| reply to Hayward
said by Hayward :said by sbcs53 :English (native US Dialect, a little experience with the UK dialect as well) I am surprised you would even make that differentiation flat VS apartment, lift VS elevator, or cookie VS biscuit... really very trivial things. In my experience, there are those who (for example) are not aware of the meaning of things such as bonnet or boot (automotive sense). Understanding the distinction is important in this case.
The next consideration are those people who seize on a minor difference eg: color vs colour and let their spelling/local preference distract them from the content of the message.
Understanding the reactions of different readers and avoiding certain pitfalls can help with avoiding potentially serious misunderstandings.
The use of pants to describe either undergarments or trousers.
Imagine if you were in London, and you said "nice pants" to a female co-worker...
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The preceeding post may contain dry humor. Be still, my love, my watermelon rind. I am consumed with your collection of agile fans and spare blades. |
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sbcs53
join:2003-12-03
Matawan, NJ
| reply to Hayward
said by Hayward :said by sbcs53 :English (native US Dialect, a little experience with the UK dialect as well) I am surprised you would even make that differentiation flat VS apartment, lift VS elevator, or cookie VS biscuit... really very trivial things. Meh, just making myself seem cosmopolitan (though I'm not that much so). lol
I really would like to see more of England... I was on Cunard's QM2... met so many nice people from there on her.
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Got a G4 or eMac for sale? PM me. |
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
4 edits | reply to 3SGTE
said by 3SGTE : In my experience, there are those who (for example) are not aware of the meaning of things such as bonnet or boot (automotive sense). Understanding the distinction is important in this case. Funny you would pick THOSE to.... lets think of what is a bonnet.... a headress... as is not a hood? (And where else are you going to look for the engine (likely part of the conversation) any way?
Or Boot....a place you hide your feet or at least something you give someones rear end if you aren't happy.
How hard is that connection???
quote:
The next consideration are those people who seize on a minor difference eg: color vs colour and let their spelling/local preference distract them from the content of the message.
Then they just aren't even really thinking just looking to judge.
quote:
Understanding the reactions of different readers and avoiding certain pitfalls can help with avoiding potentially serious misunderstandings.
Again I would really defy you to come up with one for "proper" English that would require more than a simple what do you mean and then remembered forever thing, if one couldn't just intuitively infer it.
quote:
The use of pants to describe either undergarments or trousers.
Imagine if you were in London, and you said "nice pants" to a female co-worker...
quote:
In England I'd probably say trousers to begin with. And actually pants wouldn't be a proper term for a woman's undergarments anyways.
And trousers is not a particularly uncommon word here especially if you are talking about anything at all formal.
Again though still trivial and semantic differences hardly a "foreign" language. And certainly any Englander would not take offense at on first saying knowing likely you're an American.... just correct you and say remember that 
Which by the way NONE of these mentioned things have ever taken me more than one hearing/explanation to understand or remember. (assuming I didn't just figure it out for myself as in bonnet and boot) Oh and lets not forget Windscreen and Windshield... is that mind boggling too? Or Petrol is gas.... now lets see where does gas come from PETROLeum.
Or lift/elevator.... now what does and elevator do??? Hmm that's a real stretch too hunh.
Or apartment/flat.... generally apartments are single floor which are????.... well FLAT!!! You know the person is talking about or you are being invited to their home.... another huge leap hunh????
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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joeybee
Joey
Premium
join:2003-08-12
Hamilton, ON
clubs: | reply to theman23
does jibberish count as a second language?
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Once You Go Mac You Can't Go Back |
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g0nepostal
I Am The One Her Mom Warned Her About
join:2001-03-23
Concord, CA
clubs:
 ·DSL EXTREME
 ·Astound Broadband
 ·magicjack.com
| reply to theman23
Spanish and Italian
I can speak fluent Spanish (read and write it, too) but I can only listen and understand about 60% of what I hear in Italian.
One thing I've noticed is that whenever I speak to restaurant staff in Spanish, I always get much better service. It rocks. |
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UnKown
The Underground Network
join:2002-09-08
Orlando, FL | English
tib bit of ebonics
rastaclot
broken spanglish |
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rwong48
join:2002-11-10
San Jose, CA
clubs: | reply to theman23
Re: Second Languages
english
cantonese
spanish |
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CurtesyFlush
Bababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.
Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA
| reply to Jellen
said by Jellen : het moet hier I believe he's inviting all of us to his place for champagne. |
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3SGTE
ST215W
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
clubs:
| reply to Hayward
said by Hayward : snip You have to relax!
Your over the top response to a few simple observations I made is a perfect example of how one needs to tolerate and work around linguistic differences. These differences do not always play out in the same way, especially if the material in question is written, not spoken.
Not everyone is blessed with the experiences that allow you to make those leaps of understanding. I DO NOT say this because I am taking the piss out of you.
Tolerance of those differences, and awareness and willingness to work around them are a tremendous boon to any who are willing to make the effort.
Someone who has learned English as a second language is a perfect example. Regional differences can quickly become insurmountable.
My point is;
when in Rome, do like the Romans (or something like that)
Again, my post was not meant to belittle you, or your experiences.
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The preceeding post may contain dry humor. Be still, my love, my watermelon rind. I am consumed with your collection of agile fans and spare blades. |
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visio
join:2001-08-29
Clifton, NJ
| reply to theman23
English (American)
failed out of spanish in high school
I want to learn Russian. Always been fascinated by that language, and it didnt help when I dated a foreign exchange girl from siberia (oh the memories....the wonderful memories...)
Is it hard to learn? and are those PC Language cd's worth it? |
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Bobcat
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Bedminster, NJ | reply to theman23
My wife knows six (6) languages:
- Armenian
- French
- English
- Turkish
- Arabic
- Italian |
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Biggles
Chocks Away Ginger
Premium
join:2003-04-16
sweden
| reply to theman23
English
Swedish (which gives me Norwegian and Danish by default)
A little bit of French (but being English, I will never use it )
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Tarquin Fintimlimbimlimbimwhinbimlin Bus Stop Ftang Ftang Olay Biscuit Barrel |
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oldduke
join:2001-06-15
Gulf Breeze, FL | reply to theman23
English is native. I can get by in German and Spanish.
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Cogito ergo sum, I think. |
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Jellen
join:2004-08-19
Belgium | reply to CurtesyFlush
That's correct now try to find me  |
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