Anyone speak a different language? - Page 5

Biscuit · 02-11-2009, 10:26 AM

As recently as a few years ago I was quite fluent in French, but lack of practice (only 3 people in my family still actively speak it) has made me insanely rusty...

although I easily understood the "your mom is a mountain (pile) of shit" post immediately....

I have French citizenship (dual from birth - US/France) and hope to live there at some point to absorb the culture/language/whole experience...

fnfalman · 02-11-2009, 11:07 AM

My French and Spanish become considerably more fluent when I'm drunk.

cuttle · 02-11-2009, 11:32 AM

English is my "different language"

1st language is German
pending on the region I understand dutch and afrikaans (don't speak it thou)
tiny bit of Spanish
a little bit of something else

Archren · 02-11-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuttle

English is my "different language"

1st language is German
pending on the region I understand dutch and afrikaans (don't speak it thou)
tiny bit of Spanish
a little bit of something else

I remember two words of Afrikaans from my childhood in South Africa... "hund" and "kat"... those things were important when I was 6!

2up · 02-11-2009, 11:41 AM

I understand Italian spoken and written, but I can barely speak it anymore, although it was my first language.

I don't remember the rules of the language which means I have to think to much if I'm trying to speak it, so by the time I have half a thought formulated the conversation is light years beyond where I'm still at.

Other than that I understand some French, Spanish and German. And whomever said they can order drinks in 7 languages but can ask for the bathroom in only 2 cracked me up. When I lived in Germany the first things I learned were to order a drink and ask for the bathroom.

Racerboy · 02-11-2009, 11:52 AM

English Primary....

I lived in Mexico for four months and doubled my vocabulary there from 6 to 12 words, enough to get some food and directions. Living in So Fla it has again doubled...so no I can get food, directions and a hotel

In the military, I lived in Germany for 5 years and learned Bayerisch German and had used it so seldom in the past 20 years its almost non existent except when I get pissed off.

Archren · 02-11-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racerboy

In the military, I lived in Germany for 5 years and learned Bayerisch German and had used it so seldom in the past 20 years its almost non existent except when I get pissed off.

Where at in Bayern? I spent 2 years in the Graf/Vilseck area myself.

Gruss Gott!!

cuttle · 02-11-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archren

I remember two words of Afrikaans from my childhood in South Africa... "hund" and "kat"... those things were important when I was 6!

It would come back quickly - most folks who speak german and english can understand it:

english: dog & cat
afrikaans: hund & kat
dutch: hond & kat
german: hund & katze

Archren · 02-11-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuttle

It would come back quickly - most folks who speak german and english can understand it:

english: dog & cat
afrikaans: hund & kat
dutch: hond & kat
german: hund & katze

True... so much of English is Germanic in origin that they are very similar. I can understand it when I read it better than I can understand it when it's spoken, because my brain has enough time to make the connection.

I'm not looking forward to learning Arabic, though. I know some very basic phrases right now, but the more complex stuff makes me nervous.

Papa_Complex · 02-11-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuttle

It would come back quickly - most folks who speak german and english can understand it:

english: dog & cat
afrikaans: hund & kat
dutch: hond & kat
german: hund & katze

Except that the rules in Dutch seem to be to English, what HP's 'reverse Polish' is to a normal pocket calculator.

02-11-2009, 10:26 AM	#41
Biscuit I like cheese. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: ATX Moto: '06 Triumph Daytona 675, '05 Ninja Two-Fiddy Posts: 31	As recently as a few years ago I was quite fluent in French, but lack of practice (only 3 people in my family still actively speak it) has made me insanely rusty... although I easily understood the "your mom is a mountain (pile) of shit" post immediately.... I have French citizenship (dual from birth - US/France) and hope to live there at some point to absorb the culture/language/whole experience... __________________ (formerly Raceninja) www.deanecreative.net

02-11-2009, 11:07 AM	#42
fnfalman Europhile Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SoCal Moto: Aprilia RS125, Aprilia SR50 Factory, Aprilia Tuono, BMW Rockster, KTM 990 Adventure Posts: 1,875	My French and Spanish become considerably more fluent when I'm drunk. __________________ *Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride*

02-11-2009, 11:32 AM	#43
cuttle now available w/o fish Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: in a holler Moto: DR650, Morini, 1/2 M900ie Posts: 820	English is my "different language" 1st language is German pending on the region I understand dutch and afrikaans (don't speak it thou) tiny bit of Spanish a little bit of something else __________________ "Typo's are very importand to al written form. It gives the reader something to look for soo they arenâ€™t distrackted by the total lack of kontend in your writing's." - R. K. Milholland

02-11-2009, 11:52 AM	#46
Racerboy The Other White Meat Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Moto: 1997 Cadillac Seville SLS Posts: 608	English Primary.... I lived in Mexico for four months and doubled my vocabulary there from 6 to 12 words, enough to get some food and directions. Living in So Fla it has again doubled...so no I can get food, directions and a hotel In the military, I lived in Germany for 5 years and learned Bayerisch German and had used it so seldom in the past 20 years its almost non existent except when I get pissed off. __________________ Have you ever wondered if the earth was a mental asylum for people rejected from a planet more sophisticated than ours... www.CheckeredFlagOils.com 954-975-BIKE (2453) 623-850-1OIL (1645)

02-11-2009, 11:41 AM	#45
2up Waiting for Hello Kitty! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Arizona Moto: Nothing ATM, which makes me want to cry. Posts: 810	I understand Italian spoken and written, but I can barely speak it anymore, although it was my first language. I don't remember the rules of the language which means I have to think to much if I'm trying to speak it, so by the time I have half a thought formulated the conversation is light years beyond where I'm still at. Other than that I understand some French, Spanish and German. And whomever said they can order drinks in 7 languages but can ask for the bathroom in only 2 cracked me up. When I lived in Germany the first things I learned were to order a drink and ask for the bathroom.