To those who English is not their 1st language

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

05/19/2005 05:24:42 PM · #51

OK, I know I have made a pest of myself today, but I just want to thank everyone who posted to this thread. I never thought it would hit home for so many, AND more importantly, the thread didn't get taken down any negative roads. Great day on DPC!

milo655321

Nikon D70

05/19/2005 05:25:39 PM · #52

Originally posted by messerschmitt:

Ha, I'm sure if you ever read my German, you'd be appalled and rightly so. [/quote]

not that it makes any difference but im in the Netherlands
a stone throw away from the German border though [/quote]

Well, if you'd ever read my Dutch, you'd be perfectly mortified as I don't know any at all. LOL

messerschmitt

05/19/2005 05:25:49 PM · #53

great day to u too Kylie!

Jinjit

05/19/2005 05:29:34 PM · #54

Originally posted by Kylie:

Me, too, except for an entirely different reason -- I make typing errors every other word! And I always catch them AFTER I hit "Post". lol

You bad bad woman!! Didn't you say you have some things to do??? )

(I'm trying really hard here to avoid any discussion regarding typoes. I'm the queen of those, and this is when I am copy & pasting from the dictionary all the time...

RayEthier

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

05/19/2005 05:29:41 PM · #55

Originally posted by Beetle:

I have had a lifelong passion for the Italian language (doesn't it sound like music even when they are yelling at each other?).
I have attended a few courses, but keep forgetting everything due to lack of practice :-(

Ahhhhhh yes... it is almost as romantic as french...hehehhehe

05/19/2005 05:31:13 PM · #56

Originally posted by Jinjit:

Originally posted by Kylie:
Me, too, except for an entirely different reason -- I make typing errors every other word! And I always catch them AFTER I hit "Post". lol

You bad bad woman!! Didn't you say you have some things to do??? )

(I'm trying really hard here to avoid any discussion regarding typoes. I'm the queen of those, and this is when I am copy & pasting from the dictionary all the time...

SSSShhhhhhhhh . . . . I am supposed to be

DanSig

05/19/2005 05:36:45 PM · #57

I have never learned any German, but Icelandic and German come from the same source, so when I meet German people or watch german TV shows I can understand about 30-50% of what is said, so I can guess the rest to put together a whole sentence, the only problem is I never know if they are speaking against or for something, that is the part I usually have to guess..

I've been to Germany twice and had very little problem understanding and speaking German.. even though I have never learned any, I just listened to the people around me and copied them, usually with some success :)

Jinjit

05/19/2005 05:40:42 PM · #58

Originally posted by Kylie:

SSSShhhhhhhhh . . . . I am supposed to be .

As long as no typoes mentioned, I wouldn't tell a soul

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

05/19/2005 06:42:06 PM · #59

Originally posted by messerschmitt:

... i can follow most discussions but for example when someone like Zeusen has something to say i often have to do a lot of browsing in the dictionary (mostly worth it)...

I have heard from a very reliable source that Zz is not a native English speaker himself and that his English is more of a phantasy of what the language could or should be than a mirror of anything heard or practiced around us. :-)

Other than this, you should be able to tell that he is not a native speaker by his inability to distinguish between "that"/"which" and "whose" (following a noun describing an object).

messerschmitt

05/19/2005 06:55:59 PM · #60

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Originally posted by messerschmitt:
... i can follow most discussions but for example when someone like zeuszen has something to say i often have to do a lot of browsing in the dictionary (mostly worth it)...

I have heard from a very reliable source that Zz is not a native English speaker himself and that his English is more of a phantasy of what the language could or should be than a mirror of anything heard or practiced around us. :-)

Other than this, you should be able to tell that he is not a native speaker by his inability to distinguish between "that"/"which" and "whose" (following a noun describing an object).

i admit ure inability to distinguish mentioned words really slipped my attention:) and thanks for ur explanation regarding ure creativity in the use of the language so i don t have to blame the composer of the dictionary for the missing

Message edited by author 2005-05-19 19:12:48.

carlos

Canon EOS-50D

05/19/2005 07:01:27 PM · #61

Originally posted by Jinjit:

Maybe we should open a thread about all kind of slang and common expressions translated into English. This should be hillarious!!

There are a couple books here in Spain which are called "From lost to the river" and its sequel "Speaking in silver". Ok, I know those mean nothing to you English speakers and hopefully it will even puzzle you all. The author makes literal translations of Spanish common expressions into English, the even provide you a pronunciation so you can say it to every English speaker you meet ;). They even advise "when speaking, use the pronunciation we give. English speakers will recognize every single word... but will not make any sense of what you're saying... at all"

The book itself is absolutely hilarious, provided you understand both languages so you know what you're saying. You cannot read more than a couple pages in a row, as your stomach start to hurt so bad you cannot stand it!!!

BTW, thank you all who appreciate our efforts. we try harder!... wait, isn't that from a commercial?
Carlos

PS: "From lost to the river" means something like "once started, still ahead whatever it happens anyway" and "Speaking in silver" means "Saying it clearly and straight". I could post you some more examples if you feel like it.

Message edited by author 2005-05-19 19:05:02.

Matthew

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

05/19/2005 07:07:32 PM · #62

(sadly) there aren't many who would realise thay it is "for whom"... bring back Latin grammar, I say!!

Originally posted by Kylie:

Edit: just to illustrate my point, I, of course, mangle the subject line myself! lol

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/19/2005 07:15:13 PM · #63

Originally posted by legalbeagle:

(sadly) there aren't many who would realise thay it is "for whom"... bring back Latin grammar, I say!!
Originally posted by Kylie:

Edit: just to illustrate my point, I, of course, mangle the subject line myself! lol

Now THAT was embarrassing!!! But, yes, I would love to see a return to "real" language. Words are wonderful things.

carodani

Canon EOS-60D

05/19/2005 07:33:00 PM · #64

that's the magic of such virtual community :)
I always supposed people who speak english as their first language have to spend a lot of strenght reading me and a lot of others :P
I can say SORRY :)

Matthew

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

05/19/2005 07:34:48 PM · #65

I don't usually partake in the usual grammatical and spelling conflagrations. But I am occasionally excised.

Words do have meaning. Subtlety is a truly wonderful thing.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

05/19/2005 07:36:09 PM · #66

Originally posted by legalbeagle:

(sadly) there aren't many who would realise thay it is "for whom"... bring back Latin grammar, I say!!...

Well, Latin grammar is still very much alive in most Indo-European languages. Frankly, I've never found an effective way to show the hidden 'cases' in English without resorting to Latin.

Artan

Canon Digital IXUS v3

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

05/19/2005 08:02:15 PM · #67

As one of the few genuinely native English speaker on this site I wish to stand on my soapbox and spout for a few seconds.

English in the language that is taught in England. Americans, Canadians Australians, New Zealanders etc. speak a version of this language, but it is not English, it is their own derivation.

We spell colour with a U
Pronounce Z Zed
We walk on pavements and ride up tall buildings in lifts.
The back of my car has a boot, and a trunk is what my Granddad stored his possession in when he was in the Navy.
A Fag is a cigarette.
After spring come Autumn
The bottom floor on a building is called the Ground Floor; the next one up is the first floor.
Trousers are what you wear over your pants, and one of the core subjects at school is Maths.

With that off my chest, I will toddle off back to the Cat and Mouse sit on me Aris and empty a bottle of Mother Ruin.

Chin Chin

Jewellian

Pentax *ist DL

05/19/2005 08:05:07 PM · #68

Smatter chew peeple? Yant to start sumpin up? talkin' all fancylike and stuff.... Ain't nuthin like a good ole talkin by a good ole suthun boi.

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

05/19/2005 08:18:41 PM · #69

I am one of the fortunate few who is bilingual, in that I speak English as well as Hick... my true native tongue.

We say "howdy" and "howsyermomma'nem" to everyone we meet.
We always ask "jeetchet?" when we want to know if someone is ready to partake in a meal with us.
We use terms such as "widjadidja" to find out if someone brought something with them which we might need (i.e. You didn't brang 'at rifle widjadidja?).
We eat "maters," "taters," and gravy goes with everything.
We wear "britches."
Prior to accomplishing a task, we usually let someone know that we are "fixin' to" do whatever that task might be.
We say that small things are "no bigger'na minute" and large things are "as big as Ike."

Yeah, I might be a redneck...but I wouldn't have it any other way. ;o)

Matthew

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

05/19/2005 08:41:22 PM · #70

Originally posted by zeuszen:

I've never found an effective way to show the hidden 'cases' in English without resorting to Latin.

"who" and "whom" being the most obvious examples (subject and object, or nominative ad accusative). Veritas. As Kilroy Silk would say.

While the words themselves are not important necessarily by themselves, it is noce to be able to express yourself concisely and accurately. Unless you are a woman, in which case it does not matter, because every man is supposed to understand what you mean, even if that is not what you said .... (joke - no really - a joke - not meant seriously - yeah I know that it SOUNDS serious - it is supposed to be humorous - no I agree that it is not funny - I agree - very bad taste - We should have this guy expelled m- Or subject to the Spanish Inquisition (if only they were more predictable...).

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

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

05/19/2005 08:51:01 PM · #71

Originally posted by legalbeagle:

"who" and "whom" being the most obvious examples (subject and object, or nominative ad accusative)...

You list the accusative (direct object). The dative (indirect object) also triggers a whom. This, I believe, is where most native speakers stumble, especially Americans.

Jinjit

05/19/2005 08:51:30 PM · #72

Originally posted by Artan:

And I simply say tomato (trying to make the heaviest australian accent)

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

05/19/2005 08:53:30 PM · #73

What? I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition to turn up.

Anyway, the total number of years I've lived in Japan (over 5 and a half now), my Japanese language skills aren't great - however the Japanese people say how good it is. But there are so many things I can't express; I really should do more formal study of it.

ParadigmShift

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/19/2005 08:56:16 PM · #74

Originally posted by Artan:

After Spring come Autumn? You don't have Summer in England? That would explain the grumpy mood of you Brits.

Just kidding of course. But seriously - can someone explain this to me (me being a non-native speaker of the English language)?