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Danish. Well actually the term "Danish" may have quite a lot of meanings.
I write a rather clean version of "rigsdansk", the official or authorized kind of Danish, which AFAIK actually is a dialect from Roskilde near Copenhagen.
I speak a regional variant of Danish, that is typical of towns in Jutland, the peninsula in the western part of Denmark.
But my real native language is a local variant of Jutlandish, the old rural dialect, that is now disappearing. I do not speak it very well any more, but I understand it perfectly.
I read Danglish though I certainly do not like to. This *** of poorly handled Danish and poorly handled English is written and spoken by a very large part of Danish web and computer techies.
Norwegian and Swedish. I hardly write or speak these two other Scandinavian languages, but like most Danes I understand them fairly well.
English. I read and understand better than I write and speak.
German. My level here is somewhat lower than in English.
French and Spanish. I am able to read uncomplicated texts. (The dialect sung on the flamenco record that I am hearing right now is certainly beyond my comprehention!)
[edited by: eelixduppy at 9:28 pm (utc) on Feb. 18, 2009]
if you were the only one of your British team in a meeting with a chinese team who was fluent in chinese, would you let them know that early in the meeting or keep it to yourself for a while?
Either let them know from the beginning or don't let them know at all. If they speak chinese among themselves and later find out you understood everything but didn't tell, they might well be pretty upset. I wouldn't like it at all, kind of feeling spied upon.
I'd say better tell them, you never know if they can find out any other way.
I am sure we had this thread about a year ago.
I have asked about members' languages before, but that is a long time ago.
It must have been one of the very first threads that I started. I find the question of peoples languages and their attitude to their own and other people's languages incredibly interesting.
That also includes the question of dialects. The dialect that I grew up with is disappearing. I doubt that any people below 30 years speak it. Is the same picture showing in other languages?
I have survival skills in these languages (by that, I of course mean that I can order beer!):
Spanish, Italian, Swedish, French and Nepali.
That also includes the question of dialects. The dialect that I grew up with is disappearing. I doubt that any people below 30 years speak it. Is the same picture showing in other languages?
Not at all. My Essex-boy accent comes roaring back when I come within shouting distance of Sarfend (birthplace Southend), Germans think I speak a horrible Tyrolean dialect and the French think I sound Swiss French/Savoyard. Luckily I understand some Italian and Dutch but don't attempt to mangle their languages.
Dialects are alive and well and living in Tyrolean side-valleys - so much so that it is not unknown to show local news items with subtitles
;)
Mac
troels_nybo_nielsen I wondered as I was sure that the thread had started before. Its one of the shames of this forum that they lock old threads to me. I would rather that the old one had been updated .. it happens on another forum, something great from 2 years ago or more is dragged back by someone and starts again. I am also interested in language but normally dissapointed in England that so many people dont bother. Island mentality.
Sinner_G I think you have it right, very bad form to allow them to think they can have a confidential chat in front of you when you can listen to every word :-) .. a little similar to the salesman I knew who could read very fast upside down, reading papers on your desk quite well when seated the other side of it :-)
oh watch out brick coming ... oh too late
:)
