any cunning linguists?

grynch · 08-01-2011, 03:27 AM

ok... after that bad joke...
.
in my "hello..." thread I was speaking about the various language they speak here and that's got me thinking about the make up of the cellar...

do any of you kid n kidders speak any "foreign" languages

I like to think of myself as multi -lingual speaking both American -AND- British English as well as a bit of French.

Sundae · 08-01-2011, 04:20 AM

I have Tourist Lingo in French, German, Spanish* and Italian.
Which means I can say Please, Thank You, Sorry/ Excuse Me (essential to a Brit) Hello, Goodbye and order drinks and food reasonably well. My Dutch is on an even lower level, but I can at least say Hello in Dutch - I am then replied to in English, to my relief. But the Dutch like you if you make the effort, whereas the French are appalled if you mangle their language.

I should have tried to keep up my French. I've lost pretty much all of it.
I was taught by a native French-speaker from the age of ten and was reckoned to have a good accent because of it. I spent some time in France - attended a French school - and got on quite well. But I was appallingly homesick - something I never expected. I think that gave me a real fear of ever leaving my country. I know many people who dream of moving abroad - I am definitely not one of them. I could handle Wales. Maybe.

Although moving to Toledo has its own appeal...

* ETA my Spanish is Catalan, which is slightly different to standard Spanish. I learned it in holiday resorts/ from tourist guides, as opposed to having language lessons.

wolf · 08-01-2011, 11:41 AM

I speak fluent Geek, although with a slightly Nerdish accent.

And German.

infinite monkey · 08-01-2011, 11:57 AM

I speak jive.

And some french.

Spexxvet · 08-01-2011, 12:20 PM

I am fluent in pig latin.

Nirvana · 08-01-2011, 12:27 PM

tourist[stolen from Sundae] Italian and Spanish and extremely fluent in Sarcasm

[hence the overuse of eyebrow guy]

Scriveyn · 08-01-2011, 01:09 PM

English (preferably BE)

I can get the drift of Italian, French and Middle English but not much speaking/writing capabilities in those.

Spexxvet · 08-01-2011, 01:13 PM

I was fairly fluent in French in my late teens, when Rosetta Stone was an actual stone.

Trilby · 08-01-2011, 01:00 PM

Parseltongue.

:P

Sundae · 08-01-2011, 01:03 PM

I can tie your little thing into a knot with my tongue too....

Trilby · 08-01-2011, 01:05 PM

Sundae speaks fluent sex.

infinite monkey · 08-01-2011, 01:27 PM

Oh yeah, I speak a little Spanish too. For example, I know that como se llama means "what is the name of your llama?"

Sundae · 08-01-2011, 01:48 PM

From Blackadder II, I learned "un fuego grande" meant a big fire, and "les testiculos" were testicles. And yes, in the episode the two were linked.

Education is just everywhere!
And yet Infi & I get paid for it

Spexxvet · 08-01-2011, 02:00 PM

In Spanish I can say "two cold beers, please", "where is the bathroom", and "eat my meat" (my older brother had Spanish in high school).

Sundae · 08-01-2011, 02:11 PM

I hope he didn't forget to teach you por favor!

ETA - it's already there in your post!
My post seems redundant now, but I'm keeping it as an intersting point (IMHO)

I think when Americans abroad are considered rude, one of the main reasons is that they do not use please and thank you as often as Europeans.

From working in a London restaurant I realised it was a cultural difference and nothing to do with manners, but it's a surprise when you first encounter it. On the one hand you're treated like a servant, but on the other you get a bloody big tip! And the Americans you meet when you're not wearing work clothes are happy to divulge their whole family history (including salaries) as soon as you've said hello.

08-01-2011, 03:27 AM	#1
grynch the big Cheese Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Switzerland Posts: 390	any cunning linguists? ok... after that bad joke... . in my "hello..." thread I was speaking about the various language they speak here and that's got me thinking about the make up of the cellar... do any of you kid n kidders speak any "foreign" languages I like to think of myself as multi -lingual speaking both American -AND- British English as well as a bit of French.

08-01-2011, 11:41 AM	#3
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I speak fluent Geek, although with a slightly Nerdish accent. And German. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-01-2011, 12:20 PM	#5
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I am fluent in pig latin. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

08-01-2011, 12:27 PM	#6
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	tourist[stolen from Sundae] Italian and Spanish and extremely fluent in Sarcasm [hence the overuse of eyebrow guy] __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

08-01-2011, 01:13 PM	#8
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I was fairly fluent in French in my late teens, when Rosetta Stone was an actual stone. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

08-01-2011, 04:20 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I have Tourist Lingo in French, German, Spanish* and Italian. Which means I can say Please, Thank You, Sorry/ Excuse Me (essential to a Brit) Hello, Goodbye and order drinks and food reasonably well. My Dutch is on an even lower level, but I can at least say Hello in Dutch - I am then replied to in English, to my relief. But the Dutch like you if you make the effort, whereas the French are appalled if you mangle their language. I should have tried to keep up my French. I've lost pretty much all of it. I was taught by a native French-speaker from the age of ten and was reckoned to have a good accent because of it. I spent some time in France - attended a French school - and got on quite well. But I was appallingly homesick - something I never expected. I think that gave me a real fear of ever leaving my country. I know many people who dream of moving abroad - I am definitely not one of them. I could handle Wales. Maybe. Although moving to Toledo has its own appeal... * ETA my Spanish is Catalan, which is slightly different to standard Spanish. I learned it in holiday resorts/ from tourist guides, as opposed to having language lessons.

08-01-2011, 11:57 AM	#4
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	I speak jive. And some french.

08-01-2011, 01:09 PM	#7
Scriveyn amnesic-confabulatory opsimath Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Between my ears Posts: 739	English (preferably BE) I can get the drift of Italian, French and Middle English but not much speaking/writing capabilities in those.

08-01-2011, 01:00 PM	#9
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Parseltongue. :P __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-01-2011, 01:03 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I can tie your little thing into a knot with my tongue too....

08-01-2011, 01:05 PM	#11
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Sundae speaks fluent sex. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-01-2011, 01:27 PM	#12
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Oh yeah, I speak a little Spanish too. For example, I know that como se llama means "what is the name of your llama?"

08-01-2011, 01:48 PM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	From Blackadder II, I learned "un fuego grande" meant a big fire, and "les testiculos" were testicles. And yes, in the episode the two were linked. Education is just everywhere! And yet Infi & I get paid for it

08-01-2011, 02:00 PM	#14
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	In Spanish I can say "two cold beers, please", "where is the bathroom", and "eat my meat" (my older brother had Spanish in high school). __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

08-01-2011, 02:11 PM	#15
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I hope he didn't forget to teach you por favor! ETA - it's already there in your post! My post seems redundant now, but I'm keeping it as an intersting point (IMHO) I think when Americans abroad are considered rude, one of the main reasons is that they do not use please and thank you as often as Europeans. From working in a London restaurant I realised it was a cultural difference and nothing to do with manners, but it's a surprise when you first encounter it. On the one hand you're treated like a servant, but on the other you get a bloody big tip! And the Americans you meet when you're not wearing work clothes are happy to divulge their whole family history (including salaries) as soon as you've said hello.

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