TAM III Language Challenge

[Loon]

I am planning on attending TAMIII.

And it sickens me that a whole bunch of people who are going to be at TAM III (well, I suspect that these people will be there) speak English really, really well even though it is not their native language.

Since I have neither the ability nor desire to go lesioning people's brains so that we all speak the same number of languages, I am left with the option of learning another language.

So I'm looking for a person who:

* Will be at TAMIII
* Is a native speaker of a language that is not English in any of its many forms.
* Does not mind spending a little bit of time having inane and broken conversation with me in their native language. Possible exchange for beer and/or food at TAMIII.

Much as I would like to discuss the latest in laparoscopic surgery or developments in Iraq in this language, I suspect the conversation won't rise too far above "Hi, I am Loon" "Do you like weather?" "What do you like food?" "I am not understanding much of you." "Potatoes amuse me."

Any kindhearted volunteers?

 

[Kitten]

Loon,

I am not a native speaker, but I can teach you some basic phrases in Arabic and also how to write your name, if you want.

Great idea on the language challenge! Too many native English-speakers expect everyone to speak perfect English.

The other day one of my friends was complaining because one of her TAs had a thick Chinese accent. His grammar and vocabulary were fine-- he just had a thick accent. I told my friend to think about the kind of accent SHE'D have if she tried to learn Chinese.

Anyway, hope that you receive some responses from some actual native speakers, but my offer still stands in any case.

Kitten

 

[Kitten]

"Potatoes amuse me."

Goes to look up the word for "potato" in Arabic...

 

[CFLarsen]

...of a language that is not English in any of its many forms.

I assume you mean American? Well, quite a lot of TAMx attendees speak this weird language, but I haven't heard anyone who couldn't understand (most) of what they said...

It won't be a problem with your English. Even Americans understand most of it.

 

[Chaos]

Re: Re: TAM III Language Challenge

I assume you mean American? Well, quite a lot of TAMx attendees speak this weird language, but I haven't heard anyone who couldn't understand (most) of what they said...

It won't be a problem with your English. Even Americans understand most of it.

...but Australian is another thing entirely...

 

[CFLarsen]

Re: Re: Re: TAM III Language Challenge

...but Australian is another thing entirely...

That won't be a problem anymore. Since Australia is now part of the Danish realm, they will have to speak Danish from now on.

 

[Loon]

Re: Re: TAM III Language Challenge

It won't be a problem with your English. Even Americans understand most of it.

Well, seeing as it's my native language and all (American- southern california dialect), I don't expect it to be a problem. I just put that in to forestall comments about "I'll teach you real English" or whatever. I want to work on something I currently have no knowledge of (so Japanese and English are out- I could make far more progress in a new language than I could even in Japanese). Actually, I do know a little Spanish.

So far the only offer I have is from a native English speaker.

And she's offering perhaps the most formidable language I can imagine. Even the writing frightens me. But, kitten, you're on!

So is their anyone who wants to share their native language?

Oh yeah, to return the favor, I'm more than willing to help people with Japanese. Or English, should they feel the need for help.

Great idea on the language challenge! Too many native English-speakers expect everyone to speak perfect English.

I never thought of it this way. Though my idea of "good English" underwent a rapid and violent change when I moved to Japan and started teaching English.

My goals are more to promote multilingualism and to expand my world (TM)

 

[Kiless]

WHAT?????

That won't be a problem anymore. Since Australia is now part of the Danish realm, they will have to speak Danish from now on.

RIGHT! That's IT! I shall make all sorts of incoherent comments regarding crocodiles with occasional utterances of 'By Crikey!' throughout all of TAMIII, rather than my cod-upper-class-English accent!!

Pah, Danish, pah pah mutter hmph pah!

 

[Chaos]

Re: WHAT?????

RIGHT! That's IT! I shall make all sorts of incoherent comments regarding crocodiles with occasional utterances of 'By Crikey!' throughout all of TAMIII, rather than my cod-upper-class-English accent!!

Pah, Danish, pah pah mutter hmph pah!

Don´t listen to Claus. He is confusing Australia with Greenland.
Looks like the nordic climate has finally given his brain a frostbite.

 

[renata]

* Will be at TAMIII
* Is a native speaker of a language that is not English in any of its many forms.
* Does not mind spending a little bit of time having inane and broken conversation with me in their native language. Possible exchange for beer and/or food at TAMIII.

Sure Will Russian do?

Here is the first lesson
Hi, I am Loon- Privet, ya Loon (or if you want a translation of Loon) Privet, ya sumasshedshii
Do you like weather- Kak tebe nravitsia pogoda
What do you like food?- Kakaya tebe nravitsia yeda
I am not understanding much of you- Ya tebya ne ponimayu
Potatoes amuse me- Kartoshka smeshit menya.

 

[exarch]

TAM III Language Challenge accepted

I won't put anyone through the agony of learning Dutch, but I'm willing to speak French with people, since that is a second language for me too

 

[Chaos]

All right then, since Renata started it (really, it´s all her fault!), I´ll follow up...


Hi, I am Loon
Hallo, ich bin Loon (or Hallo, ich bin ein Spinner

Do you like weather?
Gefällt dir das Wetter?

What do you like food?
Was möchtest Du essen?

I am not understanding much of you
Ich verstehe Dich nicht gut.

Potatoes amuse me
Kartoffeln finde ich lustig.

 

[CFLarsen]

RIGHT! That's IT! I shall make all sorts of incoherent comments regarding crocodiles with occasional utterances of 'By Crikey!' throughout all of TAMIII, rather than my cod-upper-class-English accent!!

Pah, Danish, pah pah mutter hmph pah!

Don´t listen to Claus. He is confusing Australia with Greenland.
Looks like the nordic climate has finally given his brain a frostbite.

Looks like a few people have not been following the news: The Crown Prince of Denmark has just married an Australian, Mary Donaldson. According to old customs, large tracts of land are traditionally handed over to the country with the future king.

Australians can keep Lord Howe Island. I hope you'll all fit.

Will Russian do?

It does for most Russians.

Do you like weather

Huh??

What do you like food?

Huh????

I am not understanding much of you

Likewise...

Potatoes amuse me

Don't play with your food, dear.

In Danish (from proper English, feh!)

Do you like the weather?
Synes du om vejret?

What do you like to eat?
Hvad kunne du tænke dig at spise?

I don't understand most of what you are saying.
Jeg forstår ikke helt hvad du siger.

Potatoes are of highly comical value to me.
Kartofler er meget morsomme.

Don't say that this is not an educational forum!!

 

[exarch]

OK, I can take a hint. In Dutch and French respectively:

Hi, I am Loon
D: Hallo, ik ben Loon (or alternately "hallo, ik ben gek")
F: "Bonjour, je suis Loon" or more naturally sounding: "Bonjour, je m'appelle Loon" (= I am called Loon)
(again, alternately: "Bonjour, je suis fou")

Do you like weather?
D: Bevalt het weer U?
F: Est-ce que le temps vous plaît? (= litterally: "does the weather please you?")

What do you like food?
D: Wat wilt U eten?
F: Qu'est-ce que vous voulez manger?

I am not understanding much of you.
D: Ik begrijp je niet goed.
F: Je te ne comprend pas.

Potatoes amuse me.
D: Aardappelen zijn grappig.
F: Des pommes de tèrre m'amusent.

 

[Kiless]

Looks like a few people have not been following the news: The Crown Prince of Denmark has just married an Australian, Mary Donaldson. According to old customs, large tracts of land are traditionally handed over to the country with the future king.

Australians can keep Lord Howe Island. I hope you'll all fit.

NOO!!!!!! I hate beaches! I hate sand! Oh, man, no one told us about the fine print about having a Tasmanian marry a blooming prince... should have guessed that there was going to be some sort of revenge for all of our giggling about hats blowing off in the wind....

(Edited because apparently the word equivilent to 'giggle' or 'chortle with spiteful glee' which starts with an s is offensive... I just don't get that....)

 

[exarch]

Originally posted by Kiless
(Edited because apparently the word equivilent to 'giggle' or 'chortle with spiteful glee' which starts with an s is offensive... I just don't get that....)

D*mn, there's no reverse word lookup anywhere that I know of. Now I'm left guessing what the offensive term was. I feel deprived

 

[7th sextile]

ex: I'm guessing the term is "sni**er",a variant of snicker.

Didn't know it was considered offensive (my dictionary
describes it as 'echoic')though it does contain the
word "ni**er" which is an offensive term.We've
recently had similar problems with "niggard" and
"niggardly".

(edited to add'oh! now I see what Kiless meant-
the filter replaced the gg in both words-but not the
other two(?)

 

[Jeff Corey]

The word "s n i g g e r" is said to be equivalent to "snicker" in my dictionary.
But what is the Russki version of "Moose and squirrel must die!"?

 

[renata]

But what is the Russki version of "Moose and squirrel must die!"?

Los i belka dolzhni umeret!

 

[Zep]

Re: Re: Re: Re: TAM III Language Challenge

That won't be a problem anymore. Since Australia is now part of the Danish realm, they will have to speak Danish from now on.

Our new national coat of arms: