Language barrier - DPChallenge Forums

12/30/2007 01:50:21 PM · #1

Ok, I've been doubting posting this, but after some "problems", I want to post it anyway.

Some people in this community don't use English as their first language. That is not a problem ofcourse, but sometimes that can be confusing, not only for the American or English member, but also for the not-American or English member.

Some jokes are not or mis-understood, proverbs aren't understood, etc.

I speak for myself when I say that I try, but since I've been "back" on this site again, it's happened a couple of times that I didn't understand.

The language barrier will always be a problem (for me), but I will do my best to understand, or ask when I don't.

Now, back to whatever you were doing ;)

12/30/2007 01:51:51 PM · #2

What did you say?

12/30/2007 01:52:47 PM · #3

Originally posted by FocusPoint:

What did you say?

sorry, that was in Dutch. Let me translate!

12/30/2007 01:53:52 PM · #4

Sign language ;) That's the best... I think right now you are showing me the middle fing... wait a minute :P

Message edited by author 2007-12-30 13:54:09.

12/30/2007 02:14:19 PM · #5

Originally posted by FocusPoint:

Sign language ;) That's the best... I think right now you are showing me the middle fing... wait a minute :P

uuuhm...

right.

fotomann_forever

12/30/2007 02:17:03 PM · #6

Might be part of the problem :-D

Love ya, Mutz.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/30/2007 02:23:35 PM · #7

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Might be part of the problem :-D

Love ya, Mutz.

aaaaw..

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/30/2007 02:54:02 PM · #8

Hanneke,

To the extent that this is prompted by our little give-and-take in the "soft thumbs" thread, just let me say that if there IS a barrier there it was as much my fault as yours, even more so. I wasn't very clear in what I said, and I'm sure plenty of native English speakers were scratching their heads and saying "What's bear blathering on about, anyway?" I mean, face it, the image as a whole has plenty of contrast and sharpness and there I was talking about "low" contrast and "softness", when what I meant was the SUBJECT is lit fairly softly and displays little contrast to snap out on the thumb view.

I think you do a GREAT job with English, actually.

R.

Message edited by author 2007-12-30 14:54:34.

12/30/2007 02:59:53 PM · #9

R., it's not only that little conversation, but also some other stuff. Sometimes it just frustrates me when I don't understand what people are trying to say.

You know, the comment-threads I've been doing lately are helping me a little bit in getting better with the english. So I'm really trying ;)

thanks!

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/30/2007 03:40:39 PM · #10

Lemme give you a bit advice that might save your life in the future for some reason...

*ignore*

you'll do fine... but don't ignore this suggestion. It's life I tell ya ;)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/30/2007 03:44:10 PM · #11

Originally posted by biteme:

Well, that's good that your English is improving. I'm all in favor of that :-)

But as far as "understanding what people are trying to say", look at it this way: I'm a PROFESSIONAL in written communication, and even so I manage to be completely obscure from time to time. The same goes for pretty much everybody here, if only because we tend to assume everyone knows what we're talking about and leave out stuff... So to whatever extent you DON'T understand, it may be not so much the fault of your English skills as it is the fault of the WRITER, see?

R.

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

12/30/2007 03:47:22 PM · #12

Originally posted by biteme:

I think your written english is very good. Its hard to believe that you sometimes struggle with understanding things in the forums. Actually I have trouble understanding lots of things going on around here. =)

Mambe

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/30/2007 03:55:58 PM · #13

I agree with Hanneke.

Personally I sometimes feel quite stupid because I don't get the idea , I still remember my first times at DPC chat but all was so friendly that I didn't mind asking for explanations...
The only time I'm a bit frustrated is during voting when I can't understand the title of a photo.
By another hand , I always keep my dictionary near me and I've learnt many new words , that's great !

I do my best when I write because I think in french and usually speak spanish , so there's a mix of structures and words.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

12/30/2007 04:01:36 PM · #14

Originally posted by FocusPoint:

Lemme give you a bit advice that might save your life in the future for some reason...

*ignore*

you'll do fine... but don't ignore this suggestion. It's life I tell ya ;)

'Lemme'? Maybe this kind of English doesn't help, either. ;-)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/30/2007 04:06:46 PM · #15

Originally posted by Pug-H:

Originally posted by FocusPoint:
Lemme give you a bit advice that might save your life in the future for some reason...

*ignore*

you'll do fine... but don't ignore this suggestion. It's life I tell ya ;)

'Lemme'? Maybe this kind of English doesn't help, either. ;-)

Just trying to help ;)

raish

Olympus C-2500L

12/30/2007 04:10:00 PM · #16

I know that I, fairly deliberately, use abstruse, obtuse or obscure language, or something.

*If you can't google it then assume that it is gobbledygook.

*Don't even google it if you don't have time / can't be bothered.

*You can always ask, at least if the offender is myself. I can't actually speak for others, but you can ask them too and let them stew in their own error of incomprehensibility (as far as I'm concerned).

*And I was about to entitle a picture 'qu'ils mangent de brioche ...'

*For my part, the variety of cultures and languages is a wonderful thing. On behalf of the Anglophone community, I apologise for your discomfort. (While doing little or nothing to help).

fotomann_forever

12/30/2007 04:10:50 PM · #17

Don't think I've ever used "Lemme" ... gonna give it a try one day :-D

justamistere

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

12/30/2007 04:15:32 PM · #18

A picture is worth a thousand words, when in doubt, just shoot.

If you don't understand something, the best way to get a thousand crazy replies is to, simply ask for an explanation.

What does biteme mean? Why would you want someone to do that?