Mind your language (34)
Elley: I don,t know if this is normal, but when you teach your own language to foreigners you tend to see it in a way you didn,t before, seeing fairly common words in a slightly different light. For example, take the word "invalid". Used it for years without thinking what it meant. Not a valid person, amazing. In Spanish they say "menus valido" meaning "less valid" still not good. I have two disabled friends who are ten times more able than so called normal people!
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Yeah, quelquefois apres j'avais bu beaucoup du vin - oui,oui!
rusty_knight: Yeah, quelquefois apres j'avais bu beaucoup du vin - oui,oui!
Ah zoh! Und ven vun hast zu viel detrunken die worden nicht maken sensen in any language, innit?
rusty_knight: Ah zoh! Und ven vun hast zu viel detrunken die worden nicht maken sensen in any language, innit?
Hello, Elley - how're you didling?
Elley:
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
It's alright If I stick to one languge but when I mix, then the languages mix
it's part of the fun I guess
dragonfly88: It's alright If I stick to one languge but when I mix, then the languages mix
it's part of the fun I guess
it's part of the fun I guess
Voulez-vous coucher avec die grossen damen mit zer gerfunkelinks?
Elley: I don,t know if this is normal, but when you teach your own language to foreigners you tend to see it in a way you didn,t before, seeing fairly common words in a slightly different light. For example, take the word "invalid". Used it for years without thinking what it meant. Not a valid person, amazing. In Spanish they say "menus valido" meaning "less valid" still not good. I have two disabled friends who are ten times more able than so called normal people!
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
"Mind your language" - do you remember that funny British sitcom from the 70s, about a class of foreigners learning English?
Yes, it's interesting how you can see languages from different perspectives, and still learn new things yourself about your own language.
I've definitely noticed the same thing about losing some of your native language - since I have not lived in Sweden for over 10 years (and despite working in Swedish here a few years, having Swedish friends and speaking Swedish here at home with my son), I often find myself looking for words and expressions when I am back there to visit. I think it has less to do with the time in life that you learn a new language, and more to do with how many languages you are currently using at the same time on a daily basis.
And a few times I have also begun using "the wrong" language with people in different situations. You do feel a right eedjot then, don't you?
Where I work people speak many languages, and we have two main working languages, so whenever you speak to someone, the first thing you establish is what language to speak! Another fascinating phenomenon I've seen here and nowhere else, is two people talking to each other in one language each; which is quite clever actually - they talk in the language they are most comfortable expressing themselves in (English or French), and they both very well understand the replies in the other language!
Another kind of weird thing I've found is that, since I use several languages - but mainly English, I think to myself in English. And even dream mostly in English! Hm.
rusty_knight: Voulez-vous coucher avec die grossen damen mit zer gerfunkelinks?
translate the second part please
Elley: I don,t know if this is normal, but when you teach your own language to foreigners you tend to see it in a way you didn,t before, seeing fairly common words in a slightly different light. For example, take the word "invalid". Used it for years without thinking what it meant. Not a valid person, amazing. In Spanish they say "menus valido" meaning "less valid" still not good. I have two disabled friends who are ten times more able than so called normal people!
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Yes, Happens to me also, mostly when you are not thinking,replying to a shop assistant, answering your mobile or phone, I have had people hang up thinking they have the wrong number.
I'm fluent in 2 languages
and find that I can either speak both well
or I get all tongue twisted and muddled in both
depending on how much (and what) I've got on my mind 
and find that I can either speak both well
or I get all tongue twisted and muddled in both
depending on how much (and what) I've got on my mind
breezee: I'm fluent in 2 languages
and find that I can either speak both well
or I get all tongue twisted and muddled in both
depending on how much (and what) I've got on my mind
and find that I can either speak both well
or I get all tongue twisted and muddled in both
depending on how much (and what) I've got on my mind
Parekaloh? Kali mera, kali spera, kali whatever!
Efharistoh poli - hellas!
rusty_knight: Parekaloh? Kali mera, kali spera, kali whatever!
Efharistoh poli - hellas!
Efharistoh poli - hellas!
Ti mou kaneis, re kerata;
breezee: Ti mou kaneis, re kerata;
sorry, that's 'all Greek' to me!
Taramasalata!
Elley: I don,t know if this is normal, but when you teach your own language to foreigners you tend to see it in a way you didn,t before, seeing fairly common words in a slightly different light. For example, take the word "invalid". Used it for years without thinking what it meant. Not a valid person, amazing. In Spanish they say "menus valido" meaning "less valid" still not good. I have two disabled friends who are ten times more able than so called normal people!
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Yeah!!! My Spanish got really rusty (apart from everyday stuff), even though it's my first language, when I was living in UK, as I mostly spoke in English or French with my friends and at work. I was teaching French and Spanish all day long but only at GCSE level ...
Words and the power of the words has always fascinated me ... Sometimes there just is not a word in a language that truly expresses a meaning as well as in another language. I have a very good friend of mine, also Spanish, who was brought up in France like me, then lived in the UK for many years like me... I've known her since we were 15 and when we get together, we mostly speak in French but when a better word exists in the other language we just use Spanish or English!!! It's great!!!
I very rarely speak to people in the wrong language because I lived in France for 20 years (Spanish at home and with relatives, French when out: school, college, work etc) and in UK for 27 years ... My family (4 generations) speak either just one of those 3 languages or a combination, so when we get together you have to swap language depending on who you're addressing, even around the dinner table ...
I know!!! I'm just soooooooooooooo clever!!
Nah!!! It's only the circumstances of my life that have made it so....
Nina3: "Mind your language" - do you remember that funny British sitcom from the 70s, about a class of foreigners learning English?
Yes, it's interesting how you can see languages from different perspectives, and still learn new things yourself about your own language.
I've definitely noticed the same thing about losing some of your native language - since I have not lived in Sweden for over 10 years (and despite working in Swedish here a few years, having Swedish friends and speaking Swedish here at home with my son), I often find myself looking for words and expressions when I am back there to visit. I think it has less to do with the time in life that you learn a new language, and more to do with how many languages you are currently using at the same time on a daily basis.
And a few times I have also begun using "the wrong" language with people in different situations. You do feel a right eedjot then, don't you?
Where I work people speak many languages, and we have two main working languages, so whenever you speak to someone, the first thing you establish is what language to speak! Another fascinating phenomenon I've seen here and nowhere else, is two people talking to each other in one language each; which is quite clever actually - they talk in the language they are most comfortable expressing themselves in (English or French), and they both very well understand the replies in the other language!
Another kind of weird thing I've found is that, since I use several languages - but mainly English, I think to myself in English. And even dream mostly in English! Hm.
Yes, it's interesting how you can see languages from different perspectives, and still learn new things yourself about your own language.
I've definitely noticed the same thing about losing some of your native language - since I have not lived in Sweden for over 10 years (and despite working in Swedish here a few years, having Swedish friends and speaking Swedish here at home with my son), I often find myself looking for words and expressions when I am back there to visit. I think it has less to do with the time in life that you learn a new language, and more to do with how many languages you are currently using at the same time on a daily basis.
And a few times I have also begun using "the wrong" language with people in different situations. You do feel a right eedjot then, don't you?
Where I work people speak many languages, and we have two main working languages, so whenever you speak to someone, the first thing you establish is what language to speak! Another fascinating phenomenon I've seen here and nowhere else, is two people talking to each other in one language each; which is quite clever actually - they talk in the language they are most comfortable expressing themselves in (English or French), and they both very well understand the replies in the other language!
Another kind of weird thing I've found is that, since I use several languages - but mainly English, I think to myself in English. And even dream mostly in English! Hm.
Hiya Nina!!
Isn't fantastic when 2 people communicate FULLY, but each one is speaking a different language to the other ... My parents feel most at ease in Spanish but speak French and understand all of it ... My brothers feel most at ease in French but speak Spanish and understand all of it .... They often have conversations with my parents just like you describe!!!
We have this thing in my family as I explained in my above post where we all speak at least one of three langues or combination of ... So everyone speaks to another in the language there are either most at ease with, or the other understands better.
My parents (Spanish) and my children (British): common language French... So they all make an effort ...
My bothers/sister (Spanish/French) and my children (British): common language French/English... So they muddle through in either.
My grandchildren and my parents talk by sign language because they don't have a common language.
My children and their cousins use a mixture of French and English ...
I speak in Spanish to my parents, French to my brothers/sister, English to my children and grandchildren ... And dream in any of them depending who is involved in the dream ... Also think in whichever language I am using ...
Btw, I was born in Spain, my daughter in France and my son in the UK. So I declare us a European family par excellence!!!
FlowerOfTheSun: Hiya Nina!! Isn't fantastic when 2 people communicate FULLY, but each one is speaking a different language to the other ...
My parents feel most at ease in Spanish but speak French and understand all of it ... My brothers feel most at ease in French but speak Spanish and understand all of it .... They often have conversations with my parents just like you describe!!!
We have this thing in my family as I explained in my above post where we all speak at least one of three langues or combination of ... So everyone speaks to another in the language there are either most at ease with, or the other understands better.
My parents (Spanish) and my children (British): common language French... So they all make an effort ...
My bothers/sister (Spanish/French) and my children (British): common language French/English... So they muddle through in either.
My grandchildren and my parents talk by sign language because they don't have a common language.
My children and their cousins use a mixture of French and English ...
I speak in Spanish to my parents, French to my brothers/sister, English to my children and grandchildren ... And dream in any of them depending who is involved in the dream ... Also think in whichever language I am using ...
Btw, I was born in Spain, my daughter in France and my son in the UK. So I declare us a European family par excellence!!!
My parents feel most at ease in Spanish but speak French and understand all of it ... My brothers feel most at ease in French but speak Spanish and understand all of it .... They often have conversations with my parents just like you describe!!!
We have this thing in my family as I explained in my above post where we all speak at least one of three langues or combination of ... So everyone speaks to another in the language there are either most at ease with, or the other understands better.
My parents (Spanish) and my children (British): common language French... So they all make an effort ...
My bothers/sister (Spanish/French) and my children (British): common language French/English... So they muddle through in either.
My grandchildren and my parents talk by sign language because they don't have a common language.
My children and their cousins use a mixture of French and English ...
I speak in Spanish to my parents, French to my brothers/sister, English to my children and grandchildren ... And dream in any of them depending who is involved in the dream ... Also think in whichever language I am using ...
Btw, I was born in Spain, my daughter in France and my son in the UK. So I declare us a European family par excellence!!!
Hi FotS!
Wow, what a truly European family you have there! And you communicate the same way - isn't it a fantastic way of doing so?!
'Yeah!!! My Spanish got really rusty' - I thought that was 'personal'!
Elley: I don,t know if this is normal, but when you teach your own language to foreigners you tend to see it in a way you didn,t before, seeing fairly common words in a slightly different light. For example, take the word "invalid". Used it for years without thinking what it meant. Not a valid person, amazing. In Spanish they say "menus valido" meaning "less valid" still not good. I have two disabled friends who are ten times more able than so called normal people!
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?
Hey Elley,
You know that even the same word has different meaning when applied in different contexts. When adjectives are applied to things, they can have different meanings when applied to people. An invalid answer is not the same as an invalid person.
Some people find the English language difficult because they cannot spell it correctly, so confuse words like see and sea. But then there are words that are spelt the same and are wildly different like.....he saw the saw. (one is a verb, the other a noun)
Talking in multiple languages one discovers that there are words that can express and embody ideas better in one language than in another.
The biggest advantage of being multilingual is that of being able to comunicate with a wider range of individuals from different countries. Each country has its traditions, and there is this exchange of traditions when different people use different ways of expression.
We Maltese are bilingual. The great majority of us talk English and the native language Maltese. Many of us also talk Italian. Some talk French or German. One of my sons talks Spanish too, because he lived in Madrid for two years teaching English and Italian.
It is far more difficult though to learn culture than to learn the language.
rusty_knight: Ah zoh! Und ven vun hast zu viel detrunken die worden nicht maken sensen in any language, innit?
Und wenn einer zuviel getrunken hat,machenWorte in jeglicher Sprache keinen Sinn !
Conrad73: Und wenn einer zuviel getrunken hat,machenWorte in jeglicher Sprache keinen Sinn !
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Created: May 2008
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Also, as I started to live more and more Spanish I began to lose my English, didn,t expect that. Maybe this only happens when you learn a new language later on in life.
The other thing I do is sometimes forget who I am talking to and use the wrong language. I went to London and quited a few times I spoke to people in Spanish almost without realising it, til I saw a glazed look on their face.
Those of you who speak other languages, do you have saimilar experiences or is it just me ?