Question for people who are from places where english is not the primary language...

[insertnamehere]

How do you feel when some American comes to your country and tries to speak your language, and has a terrible accent or is obviously not that good. Are you more "aww, at least they're trying," or "stupid fucking americans can't even learn a second language properly"?

I'm always scared to say things in non-english to native speakers of the non-english language. Everyone says that most people will not think badly of you, cause at least you try (and in some cases can speak the other language better than the other person can speak english) but it's something I'm really self-conscious about that has gotten in the way, I think, of me really doing well in other languages.

I ask the non-Americans of the board, rather than asking everyone how they feel when a forienger attempts their language, because Americans' feelings towards others, and others' feelings towards Americans, are two different things I think.

[Randetica]

i find it cute like retarded cute (y)

[Caribou]

I work at Rotterdam Central station, and I get a lot of foreign customers everyday. Most people just start speaking english or whatever other language they speak, without even asking if I understand them. Everyone just seems to assume that Dutch people speak their language anyway.
I find it very endearing when some of them do try to speak Dutch, even if they're not very good. At least they're making an effort.
I often hear from tourists that it's difficult to learn dutch in Holland, as everyone automatically starts to speak english. But I always try to help them out and teach them new words. And if they really don't understand me I'll just switch to english and explain.


So, don't feel stupid. People will appreciate the effort.

[Otis Driftwood]

I have met a lot of americans, many of whom I'd count as good friends now, but none of them ever bothered to learn german. Not that I mind...
Same with the brits. They know every german at least manages to get his point across, so even when they take courses, conversation is always in english...

[ericlee]

Eh, if I go to a different country, I usually fart before I speak. It breaks the ice on many types of levels. Then I'll try to talk whatever native language they speak.

[insertnamehere]

I think that I am going to take French. I have to take 3 semesters of a foreign language at my school, and while I have the most experience in Spanish, the Spanish department here is absolute shit. I can't tolerate the classes at all. I took a semester of German, and I have to say, it's fucking hard. I don't know what's so fucking hard about it, but yeah, fucking hard. I've taken Japanese in the past, and that was actually pretty easy to me. German just doesn't work in my brain. Given that Spanish and German are out (and it's a long story as to why I won't be taking Japanese, just accept that I won't), I figure I need something new. I love studying other languages so having to start over won't be too tedious for me, and actually I like the idea of starting over. Hopefully this time I will do it right. In Spanish, although I took a good deal of it, my beginning level Spanish classes were kinda bullshit and I feel like I never really got a good foundation, and that effected me the whole way through. If I can fit it in my schedule, I will be taking an accelerated French class (where they combine two semesters into one). The teacher said she thinks the class sounds perfect for me, since I've had experience with other languages and am actually interested in learning, I don't really need the slow pace of someone babying me though the 101 class. I'm looking forward to it.

It's just that... man those French sounds are hard. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna sound like a retard when I try to speak French. I'm glad to here that you non-Americans don't find people like me with terrible accents totally infuriating.

[TAL]

No one is stupid enough to try and speak Finnish. Including me.

[insertnamehere]

What's wrong with Finnish?

And whatever happened to Mythago?

[Otis Driftwood]

I find japanese easy to pronounce, my conversation book really helped me there, but it's unearthly on so many levels. Different numbers depending on whether the counted object is flat like towels and newspapers or some other shape. Them nihon jins is nutso!

[TAL]

What's wrong with Finnish?

And whatever happened to Mythago?

A lot.

He moved to Germany some years ago.

[insertnamehere]

Yeah, in general Japanese pronunciation and grammar is cake, until you get into the intricacies, but even then, you learn the rules and you're set. And I really, really like hiragana. Best writing system ever.

Katakana and Kanji can kiss my ass.

[insertnamehere]

A lot.

He moved to Germany some years ago.

I always liked mythago. *sad*

I remember he disappeared for a bit once, and then came back as Mythago II, and was never around as much.

[Otis Driftwood]

I've never seen a single post of that guy... :confused:

[ericlee]

So, I've just asked my wife what she thinks about it and she said that no matter how broken or bad the accent is, at least you tried.

She's got a point. If I want to travel somewhere, I'll at least try to learn the common phrases to get me by and I feel that it's kind of disrespectful to go somewhere and not try to study about it.

[TAL]

I always liked mythago. *sad*

I remember he disappeared for a bit once, and then came back as Mythago II, and was never around as much.

And then he came back as Lemmy's Liver.

[icy manipulator]

What's wrong with Finnish?

ever hear Kimi Raikkonen speak? :rolleyes:

[Bob]

who hasn't?

[mikizee]

German is a resonably easy language to learn. English is more difficult I hear.

Danke mein frau!

[QueenAdrock]

What's wrong with Finnish?

And whatever happened to Mythago?

Finnish is Finno-Ugric which means that it's really different from most of the other European languages (which are mainly Germanic). It's kind of a cross between Estonian and Hungarian. The Elvish language in Lord of the Rings is based on Finnish. It's a beautiful language, but terribly hard to learn.

My grandparents speak fluent Finnish and used to yell at each other in it when they didn't want the kiddles know what they were saying. I just found a home video a few weeks ago of my grandmother baby talking to my cousin in Finnish.

Dammit now I miss her. </debbie downer>

[BangkokB]

AS FOR MYTHAGO:
I sent him a Drunken PM about 3 years ago titled "Fuck this Rat Race". My idea at the time was Let's move to an opium field in Cambodia with nothing more than a boombox, my AiC collection and some Neil Young and Slayer. We'd be supervisors of the opium field: Making sure it was nothing but high quality was served.
Faith and behold he wrote back about a year to the day later with the what's ups? I replied saying that Michael Richards was the greatest comic genius since Jackie Gleason endorsed knocking his wife to the moon. And that was the last I've heard from him

We'll miss Him

[b-grrrlie]

And then he came back as Lemmy's Liver.
Isn't he in Canada now? :rolleyes:

My sister's ex-husband tried to study Finnish, but guess he was the only one to try. Finnish grammar is absolutely horrible, I never understood it completely. They say that Finnish is the worst language to learn (after Chinese) if you're not native.
Finnish, Estonian and Hungarian origin from behind the Ural-mountains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finno-Ugric_languages) in Russia.

[TAL]

Isn't he in Canada now? :rolleyes:

No, he isn't Helvete.

[insertnamehere]

Now I'm mighty interested in Finnish. Not that I'd take it as a formal class, we don't even have that, but do some looking into it on my own.

[Randetica]

I've never seen a single post of that guy... :confused:

you should become best friends, no you MUST become best friends!

he checked his myspace profile lately so i guess that bastard is STILL alive (y)

[QueenAdrock]

Now I'm mighty interested in Finnish. Not that I'd take it as a formal class, we don't even have that, but do some looking into it on my own.

Poika means boy, because that's what my grandma used to call my brother. And that's my extent of Finnish. Amazing, huh?

Oh and pulla means delicious sugary bread with raisins in it that you should eat.

[insertnamehere]

sounds delicious. do you pull-a it apart?

[b-grrrlie]

Poika means boy, because that's what my grandma used to call my brother. And that's my extent of Finnish. Amazing, huh?

Oh and pulla means delicious sugary bread with raisins in it that you should eat.In Swedish pulla means something totally different... In Finnish it's a delicious (http://shark.dls.net/~chrismac/pulla.html) thing. Well maybe sometimes in Swedish as well... :p

[TAL]

Perv! (y)

[QueenAdrock]

Ooooh! A recipe! I have to make it now. (y):)

[ms.peachy]

So, I've just asked my wife what she thinks about it and she said that no matter how broken or bad the accent is, at least you tried.

She's got a point. If I want to travel somewhere, I'll at least try to learn the common phrases to get me by and I feel that it's kind of disrespectful to go somewhere and not try to study about it.
This has been my experience in traveling. People want to see you make the effort. It's not about how well you speak, it's about not being so arrogant as to turn up without having bothered to try. If you learn just a few phrases, people will generally be pleased that you have tried, then let you off the hook and speak English (or refer you to sopmeone who does). Learn how to say hello, goodbye, where is the toilet, table for two, please, thank you. A little goes a long way.

[Caribou]

In Swedish pulla means something totally different...


Haha, I actually wanted to mention that, but now you've beaten me to it.
I'm not telling what it is though, just to keep it a little more mysterious.

Just don't ever ask a Swedish (or Norwegian) guy for 'Pulla' when you want sugary bread. If you want 'suga' you could give it a try though. :p

[Otis Driftwood]

When LLCoolJ was over here for the HipHop Open he seemed to be fascinated by the word "Pulleralarm"... :rolleyes:

[Randetica]

lol or adrock by the word ausfahrt cause it reminded him of farts!

[buddylee]

yes , everyday Here In Ca , I'm hard pressed to find an English speaking person .
radio stations switching to non english , Stations that have been Rock stations for 30+ years