Languages

Bloodraine:

Cecilia:

Here, there's a big difference between people talking english and people writing english.

Yeah. Its funny, because here, people don't worry about their written work, which is 25% of your grade, but everybody always gets scared shitless for the speaking exams. I know I do, even though they're worth the same mark overall.

We don't have speaking exams here in english :s

Here, it's the opposite. People speak English. Its taught everywhere. It's so important and employers will looks for English speakers blah blah. People sometimes don't even talk in their mother tongue anymore in favor of English.

But when they write something down, it's awful. I mean, a lot of people speak awful English here and try to translate directly from Hindi and Telugu, but written work is so much worse. Spelling errors, grammar errors; its an editors worst nightmare.

the welsh language is dieing out very quickly, and we should do all we can to make sure it doesnt,

Cecilia:

HOP TEH HOPPUS.:

[Although speaking English fluently isn't very special anymore so hmm.]

It's not that obvious.
Here, there's a big difference between people talking english and people writing english.
Most of them are good at writing it but just very bad at talking it fluently.
I guess it's just that learning english at school is not like having a real conversation, as you'd do if you met some english person.
Like I say "it's raining today, where's my umbrella?" if I meet some hot dude in a bar. Add the big French accent and it's done

They teach us the basic stuff but not enough vocabulary, not enough pronounciation lessons..

Ah, but French is sexy.


But I get what you mean.
I have a really good English teacher, well I think she's good, because we mostly have to speak and make up dialogues, using ~idioms~ and stuff. In my opinion you learn more and it's easier.. :]

Lucifers Angel:

the welsh language is dieing out very quickly, and we should do all we can to make sure it doesnt,

You speak Welsh? Teach me!

Seriously. I read this book called Circle of Stars, and then Charlie Bone series and I've been trying to speak the Welsh names and phrases ever since.

It's so cool! Like, I think "help me" is "helpu fu" or something. But you're supposed to say it "helpi vi". Is that right?

Bloodraine:

Cecilia:

Here, there's a big difference between people talking english and people writing english.

Yeah. Its funny, because here, people don't worry about their written work, which is 25% of your grade, but everybody always gets scared shitless for the speaking exams. I know I do, even though they're worth the same mark overall.

Oh I understand that. I can pronounce more words and know their meaning than I can actually write them down. But my essays are ok, I guess.

Ivana. Your name is Ivana. The male form of Ivan, a common name. Ivana, if you think about it, is another form of the name Yvonne.

Uma is a common name in the western world. Uma Thurman is a kickass actor. But Uma is a very common name in India. Ususally the name is something like Uma Devi. But instead of "OOma", in India, it's pronounced "ooMA". The first syllable is shorter and theres a tiny bit of stress on the second syllable

Also, Angela is a common English name. Originating from angels, I assume. But for Hindus, the name Anjali is common and has a special meaning. She's the mother of a God. She had a kid with the wind. I don't know how. But she did.

Anji, I've been meaning to ask you. How is your name pronounced. It is aanjee or unji, with the u being a short u?

Anji:

Apparently the language that beats all is Swedish, I think. There are never any exceptions and all the constantans and vowels are always the same.

It do beat all But there are exceptions. Not many, not that I can think of anyway, but there are some. And the vowels aren’t always pronounced the same way. It sounds different depending on things like if it’s followed by one or two constantans; like “klocka” (watch, as in clock) where the first vowel is short and “kloka” (wise, in plural) where the first vowel is long (kinda like this: klooka). But there are exceptions such as “honom” (him) where the first vowel is short even though it’s only followed by one constantan. So yeah, it isn’t perfect. But almost Personally I think it’s the easiest language in the world but I guess that’s because it’s may mother tongue.

lyrical_mess:

Agreed. When your world has a ten kilometre radius, well, that's no good. And language helps break those boundaries. And it also gives us GSBians something to talk about. [b]Like the first girl I talked to on here was Swedish. She taught me some Swedish phrases (all of which I forgot)[b]

That’s too bad. I’ll give you a quick course!

Hi = Hej
Hello = Hallå
How are you? = Hur mår du?
What’s your name? = Vad heter du?
My name is… = Mitt namn är…
I am X years old = Jag är X år gammal
How old are you? = Hur gammal är du?
I only know a little Swedish = Jag kan bara lite svenska
I don’t understand = Jag förstår inte

It’s sort of unnecessary for any tourist to know any Swedish words whatsoever though since everyone (and I basically mean everyone) understands and speaks English here to some degree, even though Swedish is our native language and we’re not bilingual. But since there are so few people speaking Swedish it’s compulsory to study English in school. It’s also compulsory to learn a third langue and you get to choose between French, German and Spanish. Later on most people are able to chose a forth and sometimes even a fifth language. I’ve studied five myself; English, Spanish, Japanese, German and Latin (not counting my mother tongue of course). The said thing is that I’m forgetting a lot and that I don’t have time to really learn the languages properly. But I will, in good time ^^

I don't know how to pronounce the letters. Can you teach me the alphabet first?

lyrical_mess:

I don't know how to pronounce the letters. Can you teach me the alphabet first?

Oh, I thought you’re just gonna use it when writing (for some reason ).

Teach you the alphabet? Um, I don’t know how I’d do that…I can’t teach you the pronunciation of our letters, especially not the vowels, by using the English alphabet because the pronunciation of their letters can’t be used to describe the ones in the Swedish alphabet. And I don’t know what else to do

Boo.

Um...record a video of yourself saying the alphabet, holding up each letter as you say it and put it on Youtube to educate Swedish-ignorant masses?

my mothertongue is the 8'th hardest on our planet...and i'm quite good at it....*laughs*

Well duh. Its your mother tongue. If you're not fluent in your mother tongue, well, you oughta be ashamed!

So its really not special that you're pretty good at your mother tongue. What is it by the way?

lyrical_mess:

Ivana. Your name is Ivana. The male form of Ivan, a common name. Ivana, if you think about it, is another form of the name Yvonne.

Uma is a common name in the western world. Uma Thurman is a kickass actor. But Uma is a very common name in India. Ususally the name is something like Uma Devi. But instead of "OOma", in India, it's pronounced "ooMA". The first syllable is shorter and theres a tiny bit of stress on the second syllable

Also, Angela is a common English name. Originating from angels, I assume. But for Hindus, the name Anjali is common and has a special meaning. She's the mother of a God. She had a kid with the wind. I don't know how. But she did.

Anji, I've been meaning to ask you. How is your name pronounced. It is aanjee or unji, with the u being a short u?

Yes, yes it is

lyrical_mess:

Lucifers Angel:

the welsh language is dieing out very quickly, and we should do all we can to make sure it doesnt,

You speak Welsh? Teach me!

Seriously. I read this book called Circle of Stars, and then Charlie Bone series and I've been trying to speak the Welsh names and phrases ever since.

It's so cool! Like, I think "help me" is "helpu fu" or something. But you're supposed to say it "helpi vi". Is that right?

do brofa a chyfnertha 'ch!! (yes i will try and help you)

alli pm 'm ag unrhyw bynciau cei am Cymraeg (you can Pm me with any questions you have about welsh)

我会讲中文.

There's a bunch of English words being used in China (well at least where I was), like 'cool' and 'cheese' and 'DVD', but it's funny how they pronounce it:
Cool -> 'coo-uh'
Cheese --> 'chee-sa'
DVD --> 'dee-vway-dee'

.:

我会讲中文.

There's a bunch of English words being used in China (well at least where I was), like 'cool' and 'cheese' and 'DVD', but it's funny how they pronounce it:
Cool -> 'coo-uh'
Cheese --> 'chee-sa'
DVD --> 'dee-vway-dee'

I love it how they pronounce hi-fi in French. It sounds nothing like they pronounce it in English.

Dr. Cuddy:

.:

我会讲中文.

There's a bunch of English words being used in China (well at least where I was), like 'cool' and 'cheese' and 'DVD', but it's funny how they pronounce it:
Cool -> 'coo-uh'
Cheese --> 'chee-sa'
DVD --> 'dee-vway-dee'

I love it how they pronounce hi-fi in French. It sounds nothing like they pronounce it in English.

"ee fee"

How d'you pronounce it in english?

Cecilia:

Dr. Cuddy:

.:

我会讲中文.

There's a bunch of English words being used in China (well at least where I was), like 'cool' and 'cheese' and 'DVD', but it's funny how they pronounce it:
Cool -> 'coo-uh'
Cheese --> 'chee-sa'
DVD --> 'dee-vway-dee'

I love it how they pronounce hi-fi in French. It sounds nothing like they pronounce it in English.

"ee fee"

How d'you pronounce it in english?

Hi-Fi
that's not very helpful.

So that "hi" rhymes with "high" and the same with "fi" and "figh", I guess. xD