The Official Languages Thread

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Nurvingiel
Lin, are numbers in Chinese the same as Japanese kanji?

I think so. Japanese stole our numbers and words.

Oh, Lai, that's just because it's new. Once you study it for a while, it all becomes intuitive. (Like how Swedish word order has become for me, partly).
Don't forget that it's extremely different to the Indo-European languages, which you're used to, so it's going to take a longer time to adapt to. (Jon, are you reading this? )

Pronunciation is not that scary. I just make it sound thus.

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Oh, Lai, that's just because it's new. Once you study it for a while, it all becomes intuitive. (Like how Swedish word order has become for me, partly).
Don't forget that it's extremely different to the Indo-European languages, which you're used to, so it's going to take a longer time to adapt to. (Jon, are you reading this? )

Pronunciation is not that scary. I just make it sound thus.

Hmmmm, but I guess it would be worth it. Not many "western" people speak Chinese. Hahaha.

But it would be necessary to go to China for some time, to learn it.

My question for today: do they (the chinese mandarin speakers) learn both the "western" letters and the chinese letters?
And use them?

[Grey_Wolf]

If you use division too frequently and incorrectly in Swedish word order it does make for funny sentences some times.

For example if you write a sentence the wrong way:

En brun hårig flicka satt vid en bar disk intill en sjuk gymnast.
(a brown(skinned) hairy girl sat at a bare counter next to a sick athlete)

istället för (instead of)

En brunhårig flicka satt vid en bardisk intill en sjukgymnast
(a brownhaired girl sat a barcounter next to a physiotherapist)

[Jonathan]

Though that is division, not word order. While you divide words in the English language (e.g. radio programme), you write them as one single word in Swedish (radioprogram). Sometimes, if you incorrectly divide the words, the sentence can get an entirely different meaning. Grey Wolf posted a good example of that.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Though that is division, not word order. While you divide words in the English language (e.g. radio programme), you write them as one single word in Swedish (radioprogram). Sometimes, if you incorrectly divide the words, the sentence can get an entirely different meaning. Grey Wolf posted a good example of that.

Excuse me - that is radio PROGRAM.

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Though that is division, not word order. While you divide words in the English language (e.g. radio programme), you write them as one single word in Swedish (radioprogram). Sometimes, if you incorrectly divide the words, the sentence can get an entirely different meaning. Grey Wolf posted a good example of that.

If I may comment on this topic.

In German everything is put together.
You would never say: the captain of a ship ... never.
We call it Schiffskapitän.
If you want to combine words just put them together. My favourite example:
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft
But this is not the longest, you could but many words at the end of this one.

So, my contribution for today. Hehehe.

[katya]

I noticed that yesterday. I was playing around and changed my playstation 2 language to German (I don't know any German) and instead of "system configuration" it was "systemkonfiguration" all one word.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Lalaith
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft

That is 10 consonants in a row . The Swedish record is 8 consonantes - Världsschlager (World popular (hit) song).

And JD, I prefer British English. Programme!

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Lalaith
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft

Geez! Would you really put 3 'f's together?

[Falagar]

One of the few Norwegian words with many consonants in a row is 'angstskrik' (can't remember if it's the word with the most consonants on a row).

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Artanis
Geez! Would you really put 3 'f's together?

*cough*
Yah, according to the new orthography rules (I think introduced in 1999 or something like that) you can put 3 consonants in a row, if it is necassary.
Before we used to write Dampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft, which is not correct, if we look at the original words Dampfschiff and Fahrt.

That is 10 consonants in a row . The Swedish record is 8 consonantes - Världsschlager (World popular (hit) song).

And JD, I prefer British English. Programme!

Didn't notice that before.
Usually german speakers have problems pronouncing too many consonants all at once like it is done in the eastern european languages (or Russian).

Why do you know what the swedish record is?

PROGRAMME!

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Lalaith
Why do you know what the swedish record is?

Just some fun trivia

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Jonathan
And JD, I prefer British English. Programme!

What is the need for the meaningless extra letters though? It's Program. You only like the british way because they're fellow europeans and you think they are culturally superior to the US - you just don't realize how wrong you are.

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by katya
I noticed that yesterday. I was playing around and changed my playstation 2 language to German (I don't know any German) and instead of "system configuration" it was "systemkonfiguration" all one word.

Oh. Having fun with foreign languages.
Once I switched my mobile to Svenska. Hahaha.
When I wanted all the sounds to be loud again (I had the mobile at a silent level) for the the first time, I switched it off. Hahaha.
But I kept it for like 2 weeks and it worked.
Till somebody wanted to safe his number in my mobile.

Jon, you and your knowledge. I will never get how you can know all these facts and figures. Bra. Bra.

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
What is the need for the meaningless extra letters though? It's Program. You only like the british way because they're fellow europeans and you think they are culturally superior to the US.

It's just about showing off with our skills.
We ARE ABLE to remember 2 letters more. Ha.

And we like it traditional.

[Grey_Wolf]

Here's another one: this one is about how to pronounce the words.
(this being the incorrect way)
Den hetlevererade gudien fick sitt liv och leverne
förevigat.

(the hotheaded guide had his life and lifetime immortalized)


(this being the correct one)
Den hetlevrade guiden fick sitt liv och och leverne förevigat.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Lalaith
It's just about showing off with our skills.
We ARE ABLE to remember 2 letters more. Ha.

And we like it traditional.

But the US is unique. Even Canada uses the British system - but of course they lived under British rule for a long time and are still tied to Britain. For some reason they just can't let go of those apron strings. I'd rather not follow the crowd.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft
That is 10 consonants in a row . The Swedish record is 8 consonantes - Världsschlager (World popular (hit) song).

I isn't a consonant, is it? Then it's only 6 consonants in a row. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Falagar]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
I isn't a consonant, is it? Then it's only 6 consonants in a row. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Stop teasing him when you know you're right.

[Nerdanel]

Lin, thanks for the lessons. But I think it's impossible for me to learn that! Maybe if I go to China for a year or two..
And nice avatar, by the way! Though I'm not supposed to like the Swedish colours.. Blue and white is better!