The Official Languages Thread

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Vad?! Kan jag inte det?!? *Clutches her books/dictionaries/notes of German/Indonesian/Spanish/Italian/Chinese/Dutch/Japanese*

But I didn't say you couldn't try.

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Well then I couldn't give you a hard time. I could get my Merde! book out and really say things - the censors and the mods and admins wouldn't even be able to censor the posts. Hmmmm - that gives me an idea.

Don't be so sure of it, pal. I just might.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Eärniel
Don't be so sure of it, pal. I just might.

I should have known. Belgium - a satelite country of France.

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Artanis
Moi aussi. Yo tambien. I think German grammar was alot easier.

Or maybe it's just me getting older.

Spanish grammar. Eeeeeeeeek. I hate it.
I will never get that. They with their 5000 tenses.
In German we have like 6 (see, I don't even know it) but we only use 4. It's really easy with the tenses in German.

I had a very good grip of French grammar when I started studying Spanish, and I think the grammar of the two languages are pretty similar. So Spanish grammar was piece of cake to learn . Well, almost.

Spanish and French pronunciation may be as different as German and Swedish, but when it comes to vocabulary I believe French and Spanish share more words than German and Swedish, even though there are quite a few German words in Swedish.

So maybe I should learn French. When I am able to speak spanish.

Yah, a lot of the french and spanish words are similar. But only in the written form. I wouldn't be able to find the similarities when they speak French. Impossible. Always leaving away half of the word.

[Grey_Wolf]

Why does the Danes base their counting on 20? Is it the German influence?

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Grey_Wolf
Why does the Danes base their counting on 20? Is it the German influence?

Haha! Halvtres, tres, halvfjers, fjers, halvfems, fems! (don't mind the spelling ) It's a bit like that in French too, quatre-vingt, quatre-vingt-dix!

[Earniel]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
I should have known. Belgium - a satelite country of France.

Watch it, you... colonist.

Oh, I've been wanting to ask. Can 'Yank' be used in a friendly-teasing way? I've seen it used before that way on a different messageboard but I've noticed it isn't really well received here on the Entmoot.

[Grey_Wolf]

Originally posted by Artanis
Haha! Halvtres, tres, halvfjers, fjers, halvfems, fems! (don't mind the spelling ) It's a bit like that in French too, quatre-vingt, quatre-vingt-dix!

Why can't they use 10 like normal people.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Eärniel
Can 'Yank' be used in a friendly-teasing way? I've seen it used before that way on a different messageboard but I've noticed it isn't really well received here on the Entmoot.

In Swedish the word 'jänkare' (Yankee) is used in a friendly way about Americans. Don't think would JD like it though

[Ruinel]

Originally posted by Jonathan
In Swedish the word 'jänkare' (Yankee) is used in a friendly way about Americans. Don't think would JD like it though

Neither would I.

[Artanis]

I didn't know 'yankee' would be taken as an offence by an American. Why don't you like it?

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Artanis
I didn't know 'yankee' would be taken as an offence by an American. Why don't you like it?

I don't like it because I've heard it generally used deragatorily by Europeans for a while now. Sort of like other slang terms. During World War II it was used as a term of endearment - now it seems to be used as something that is said under their breath as a putdown. I'm not saying everyone is like this - but I've been around enough to see it used in this manner. I also don't particularly like the term though, but I would make an exception toward certain people. It's all in the context and nothing is black and white. I would prefer to be referred to as an American - and not a Yankee.

On the other hand - if you said it to a southerner- chances are you are seriously going to get an earful. They lost the war to the north (Yankees) - remember?

[Jonathan]

Bearing in mind that Americans often use terms like Canuck or Kiwi without being derogatory, it's strange that you think others use the term Yankee to express disdain.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Bearing in mind that Americans often use terms like Canuck or Kiwi without being derogatory, it's strange that you think others use the term Yankee to express disdain.

Actually - until this board - i had never heard of new Zealanders used as Kiwi and I have never referred to a Canadian as a Canuck - nor would I. I use people's nationality terms unless I am friends with the person and I am joking around - right [edited: because it was for jonathan's eyes only] ********?

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Lalaith
Spanish grammar. Eeeeeeeeek. I hate it.
I will never get that. They with their 5000 tenses.

Jaså? Tell me all about it, if you will.
You know, it might come in handy with my career as an interpreter/linguist. Not only because I love grammar.

[Edit] Only for Jonathan's eyes, eh? But I saw it too. I'm quite offended.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Linaewen
[Edit] Only for Jonathan's eyes, eh? But I saw it too. I'm quite offended.

Sure you are. Now you can PM or e-mail me with what you think you saw, because I don't think you did.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
On the other hand - if you said it to a southerner- chances are you are seriously going to get an earful. They lost the war to the north (Yankees) - remember?

True enough, though it's a long time ago. Thanks for reminding me.

Try calling a Norwegian 'nisse' and see what happens.

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Artanis
True enough, though it's a long time ago. Thanks for reminding me.

Try calling a Norwegian 'nisse' and see what happens.

Hei Artanis og Falagar: Nisse!

Don't call a Swede 'torsk' either. Well do I remember the anger that it once caused...
I don't think there's any term for an Australian that would offend an Aussie.

Jag vann, JD!

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Hei Artanis og Falagar: Nisse!

Not us! We know you too well!

You shouldn't call a Norwegian 'torsk' either, though it doesn't mean the same as in Swedish, I'm quite convinced it would be taken as an offence.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Don't call a Swede 'torsk' either. Well do I remember the anger that it once caused...

Thanks for the info - it might come in handy when talking to Jonathan.

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Artanis
Not us! We know you too well!

You shouldn't call a Norwegian 'torsk' either, though it doesn't mean the same as in Swedish, I'm quite convinced it would be taken as an offence.

Jaså? Darn. Well, what would insult you, then?
How do you say 'You ...[idiot etc]' in Norsk? I mean, the Swedish equivalent of something like 'Din dumbom!'. Can you tell me some norsk interjections? Takk!

I wouldn't be offended if someone called me a cod. I'd be confused. (And then smack them on the head).

JD, it means both cod and a person who goes to prostitutes or something. Svensken var inte glad.