Any linguists among us?

[SledgeDG]

A most common answer when asking if somebody speaks English is "Nein", simply and short. For instance I have a lot of family and friends visiting from Finland and before retirement customers and other work related guests from non-German speaking countries. Trying to make it easier to my guests, I always ask in restaurants, shops etc. if the personnel can speak English, so my guests could communicate directly with them. It's surprisingly often when the answer is this one word. Nein.

It is also surprisingly often I've heard the answer "Aber warum? Ich bin doch Deutsch!" (But why? I am German!")

Sure...my mistake...I had overlooked one important fact: you are in the former GDR (Eastern Germany) while I grew up in Western Germany. The people in the former GDR had to learn Russian instead of "the language of the Class enemy". So you'd rather find people speaking languages of communistic governed countries than English.
Besides...learning a foreign language and speak it , too are two different pair of shoes. The lack of practice sure will make people feel uncomfortable to use that language (who wants to be rediculed in their own country so they'd rather deny even understanding said language. purely psychological...human nature 101

Out of opportunity I'd like to ask you a question:
From my (very limited) "studies" of your language I came to the conclusion that the Finnish language has no ties to any other European language. Is that true or am I just not seeing the bigger picture here ?

-DG

 

[Kari]

Finnish language belongs to Finno-Ugric languages. Other European languages belonging to this family are Estonian and Hungarian. Estonian and Finnish are quite similar, the relation between them is about same than between German and Dutch.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Finnish language belongs to Finno-Ugric languages. Other European languages belonging to this family are Estonian and Hungarian. Estonian and Finnish are quite similar, the relation between them is about same than between German and Dutch.

Kari,
Hazel knows sign language......




Peace Brothers

 

[SledgeDG]

Thank you for the explanation, Kari.

 

[spinifex]

if it helps, I am a cunning linguist.

I was waiting for this one....:haha:

I was checking the thread, to see if it had been used.
I must be a bit slow, as i got beaten to it.

 

[spinifex]

it's surprisingly often when the answer is this one word. Nein.

It is also surprisingly often I've heard the answer "Aber warum? Ich bin doch Deutsch!" (But why? I am German!")

Kari

Nein in Dutch is "Nee"

"Aber warum? Ich bin doch Deutsch!" (But why? I am German!")
"Maar waarom? ik ben nederlands!." (but why? i am dutch!)

Very similar, though some Dutch words are pronounced differently.
Use the word school, for example

English = School (skool) ch sounds like a "k"
German = Schule (sjule) ch sounds like a soft "j"
Dutch = School (sgool) ch sounds like a very harsh "g"

I haven't spoken Dutch since 1964, so forgotten most of it.

Cheerio

Jon

 

[jimbo45]

if it helps, I am a cunning linguist.

Dictionary, translation?

Think of something that rhymes with Aer Lingus.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[OneSerious]

Wow, thread got much bigger whilst I was sleeping. Good stuff!

I hope you guys who offered help know that when I start this I will take you up on the offers .

Cheers guys. Some great info in here. Makes it easier than jumping in and just going for it. Also, encouraging to see how many other people can speak other tongues.

 

[SledgeDG]

if it helps, I am a cunning linguist.

Dictionary, translation?

That's a play on words from one of the Austin Powers movies

She was a cunning linguist while he was a master debater
both expressions rhythm with expressions for different sexual practices (and that's the joke) That's as far as I'm prepared to go on an US family board If you still don't get it, pm me.

@spinifex:

German = Schule (sjule) ch sounds like a soft "j"

The German "sch" it's usually pronounced like the "sh" in shower
-DG

 

[Grimmjow]

Well, Macedonian is my native language, my English knowledge is decent, can speak Serbian/Croatian too (can pass with casual conversation). Can understand Bulgarian (mostly), trying to learn a little bit of German now. That would be it
cheers

 

[lorddenis]

Maybe a little off topic but still funny:

 

[OneSerious]

a very young Simon Pegg!

 

[Imperfect1]

"They" say that there's a correlation between language skills, math skills and music skills. I think there's some truth in that. I for one, have no skills in any of them (sadly) -- so at least I'm consistant. . .

 

[OneSerious]

"They" say that there's a correlation between language skills, math skills and music skills. I think there's some truth in that. I for one, have no skills in any of them (sadly) -- so at least I'm consistant. . .

My maths is shockingly bad but I can slap a bass about .

 

[Tews]

My maths is shockingly bad but I can slap a bass about .

Im more of a trout fan myself..

 

[OneSerious]

Im more of a trout fan myself..

Never played the trout myself lol

 

[noobvious]

"They" say that there's a correlation between language skills, math skills and music skills. I think there's some truth in that. I for one, have no skills in any of them (sadly) -- so at least I'm consistant. . .

My maths is shockingly bad but I can slap a bass about .

This one?

 

[A Guy]

A Guy

 

[Imperfect1]

A Guy

Yuck! :shock:

 

[OneSerious]

lol Using the Assimil method I've just learnt

Herr Ober! Der Tee ist kalt!
Wie ist der Tee?
Er ist kalt!
Oh, Verzeihung!
Herr Ober! Der Tee ist gut... abder die Tasse.
Ja, die Tasse?
Sie ist zu klein!

So I'm sweet if I get some cold tea in a German cafe.

Hey, it's a start.