Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 15, 2017 15:33:18 GMT
Oh blimey!!! What I don't get is how come your English is so good? It's something that has always amazed me.
Your English is so good that I can't see you actually being Finnish. Frans is the same. I kind of assume that I'm speaking to English people because your language capabilities are excellent.
Javier is frighteningly good and he's Spanish!!!
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Post by dmcrimson on May 16, 2017 0:54:42 GMT
Oh blimey!!! What I don't get is how come your English is so good? It's something that has always amazed me. Your English is so good that I can't see you actually being Finnish. Frans is the same. I kind of assume that I'm speaking to English people because your language capabilities are excellent. Javier is frighteningly good and he's Spanish!!! Blame our schooling system I actually posted on Facebook about this... English begins at third grade, while swedish only at seventh - and it's our second language, penned down in the constitution.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 16, 2017 6:40:12 GMT
Well, they have certainly taught English extremely well!!
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Post by marveltone on May 16, 2017 10:27:38 GMT
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I understand most of you Europeans better than I do many Americans.
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Rabbit
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Posts: 7,087
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Post by Rabbit on May 16, 2017 10:51:50 GMT
I know. That's why I'm so careful what I say to you. You have pitchforks. I quite like Americans actually. I met really lovely people in Florida tbh.
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Post by tupisac on May 16, 2017 11:09:01 GMT
Americans are relatively easy to understand. The hardest accent I've encountered was Scottish. Couldn't understand a singe word, even from the guy's introduction. I think he's name was "Eh".
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Post by marveltone on May 16, 2017 16:24:25 GMT
Americans are relatively easy to understand. The hardest accent I've encountered was Scottish. Couldn't understand a singe word, even from the guy's introduction. I think he's name woas "Eh". I guess I was talking about written communication. Americans often tend to have deplorable written language skills. As far as spoken language goes, you ought to hear old-timers from Main speak. It's like another language altogether. Cajuns in New Orleans are also quite difficult to understand. I'm told I sound like a Canadian. Makes sense, I guess, seeing as we live on the border.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 16, 2017 16:32:14 GMT
Americans are relatively easy to understand. The hardest accent I've encountered was Scottish. Couldn't understand a singe word, even from the guy's introduction. I think he's name was "Eh". You're not on your own. Everyone has trouble with that accent!! My Mum and Dad were from N Ireland and as a kid, I had to permanently translate what they said to the English. My Mum used to say, 'Anyone would think we can't speak English!!' They wanted me to sound English so I had to copy the accent around me, which unfortunately wasn't upper class English. I had no clue that there was a 'posh' accent and I learned the common one!!! I hate hearing my voice. Frans' English is also superb. I forget totally that I'm speaking to a Dutch fella when we speak. Javier is also unbelievable in written English, so I'm guessing he also speaks superbly. It amazes me because the English are so poor at language learning. Mind you, I do think that Frnch and Spanish on the whole are taught very badly in schools here.
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Post by tupisac on May 16, 2017 20:29:16 GMT
I guess I was talking about written communication. Americans often tend to have deplorable written language skills. As far as spoken language goes, you ought to hear old-timers from Main speak. It's like another language altogether. Cajuns in New Orleans are also quite difficult to understand. I'm told I sound like a Canadian. Makes sense, I guess, seeing as we live on the border. Well, I've never been to America . I've met some people from NYC, rest of my experience comes from TV and movies. Yes, there are some examples, like from Netflix documentaries, of crazy hillbilly accents I cannot understand at all. But actually not that many, especially comparing to UK diversity. I do watch a lot of panel shows like QI and have to skip whole sections containing for example Johnny Vegas.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 16, 2017 20:40:25 GMT
One accent I couldn't understand in USA was black southerners.
'Ya wan fie wiyat?'
I struggled like hell with it. She was asking me .....
'Do you want fries with that' after I'd ordered a burger.
I asked for a coke and she slapped an empty cup down in front of me and said nothing. I asked her if she'd forgotten the drink and the look on her face ........ She pointed at a serve yourself coke machine and pulled a face.
Well, I'm foreign ..... I didn't know!!!
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Post by tupisac on May 16, 2017 20:47:19 GMT
They wanted me to sound English so I had to copy the accent around me, which unfortunately wasn't upper class English. I had no clue that there was a 'posh' accent and I learned the common one!!! I hate hearing my voice. For my ears you sound like a guy from XXth century BBC Frans' English is also superb. I forget totally that I'm speaking to a Dutch fella when we speak. Javier is also unbelievable in written English, so I'm guessing he also speaks superbly. It amazes me because the English are so poor at language learning. Mind you, I do think that Frnch and Spanish on the whole are taught very badly in schools here. Dutchies are actually elitist ***s, perfecting their english just to make sure NO FOREIGNER EVER learns their language . Whole room switches to english the moment someone shorter than 1,90 m comes in.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 16, 2017 21:13:39 GMT
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Post by marveltone on May 17, 2017 3:39:45 GMT
My mother-in-law's ​family were Dutch Mennonite from way back. They lived in Mennonite communities in Canada, so they largely kept their language and culture. She would often mix Plattdeutsch words and phrases into her English. Took me a bit of time to get used to this bizarre combination.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 17, 2017 8:41:57 GMT
They wanted me to sound English so I had to copy the accent around me, which unfortunately wasn't upper class English. I had no clue that there was a 'posh' accent and I learned the common one!!! I hate hearing my voice. For my ears you sound like a guy from XXth century BBC Frans' English is also superb. I forget totally that I'm speaking to a Dutch fella when we speak. Javier is also unbelievable in written English, so I'm guessing he also speaks superbly. It amazes me because the English are so poor at language learning. Mind you, I do think that Frnch and Spanish on the whole are taught very badly in schools here. Dutchies are actually elitist ***s, perfecting their english just to make sure NO FOREIGNER EVER learns their language . Whole room switches to english the moment someone shorter than 1,90 m comes in. Actually Frans recommended a light hearted book about the Dutch called 'The Undutchables'. I got a copy and it is hilarious and really self effacing as well!!! This guy goes though all kinds of things and why Dutch people might react a certain way or how they made decisions in their country. It had me rolling but also feeling guilty, because it's also kind of un-PC in what it says sometimes. I was rolling around while reading it. It says a lot when someone can be so blatantly self-critical of their country and people, but there's also a real 'security' type of feeling in it because they have the confidence to do it. It also sold a load in Holland!!!! The Dutch are very upfront people. When I stayed in a place called Volkensburg, there were two things that really creased me up. Three actually, but one I can't say on here because it's to do with the war!! There was a huge girl working in the hotel. So huge that she completely covered up her moped when she drove it and looked like she was on wheels. I went in to get a drink on the first night and the first thing she said was ... 'I know. I'm ****ing fat but I'm helping the country with its milk and cheese surplus. They pay me you know!!' And a guy who took me to some underground caves there. They have nuclear proof doors and you could live there after an explosion. He took me in and turned the lights out ... pitch black. Then he said with his wonderful bouncy accent ... 'You know, we have the choice of death. Burnt quickly up top or mould slowly down below in here. Great here because we can tunnel upwards to the graveyard above and choose our own plot.' He had such a straight face, I was nearly wetting myself. In actual fact, he was making the point that a bucketload of money had been spent on the doors and if there was a nuclear attack, there would be a dash for these caves and the doors would be shut after so many had made it inside. Only to die slowly instead!!! Holland is wonderful. Great people.
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Post by tupisac on May 17, 2017 12:01:20 GMT
Dutch are strange people. I've lived in Amsterdam for half a year during my wild college period. What I've learned: - There is Amsterdam and the rest of Netherlands - Ordinary dutch person is conservative and religious - Calling Netherlands "Holland" is like calling GB "England" But yes, great people and great country. 2nd place in my internal rank of great countries to be born in. 1st place is Canada
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