Language Barriers

[stuartcox]

This might seem to be a funny advert, but it certainly reflects the truth when crossing borders!

 

[huub vink]

Yep you always wonder why English speaking people expect the rest of the world to speak English as well.......

Cheers,
Huub

 

[dominique]

Yep you always wonder why English speaking people expect the rest of the world to speak English as well.......

Cheers,
Huub

Absolutely Huub, I wish the French was still the lingua franca it used to be two centuries ago (no pun intended)

 

[stuartcox]

Yep you always wonder why English speaking people expect the rest of the world to speak English as well.......

Cheers,
Huub

I would like to see every country have their own ATC language! That could be fun...!

 

[Bjoern]

Vell, Ai vor maiself dond hev eh tschormen ekzent.


(My spoken english would maybe qualify as a mélange of american and british english.)

 

[dominique]

I would like to see every country have their own ATC language! That could be fun...!

Sure, but you never know what to expect. I was once in a French AFB tower where a French military controller was directing a French Mirage to touch and go ...in English. SOP for NATO forces .

 

[n4gix]

Absolutely Huub, I wish the French was still the lingua franca it used to be two centuries ago (no pun intended)

I think Latin would be better, since it is (now) completely agnostic and cannot offend anyone's "native sensibilities or prejudices..." :ernae:

I've always been amused when someone seems to think if they speak their own language more slowly and loudly, that somehow they'll be understood by whomever it is they are attempting to communicate...

This seems to be a universal constant* and is not limited only to the arch-typical "Ugly American" stereotype.

*Note bene: this may actually be an adult's corollary to the little children's taunting song that exists in every child's world: "Na, Na na Na na..." (sung to the notes: sol-sol mi-la sol-mi)

See: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=187747

 

[Bjoern]

I think Latin would be better, since it is (now) completely agnostic and cannot offend anyone's "native sensibilities or prejudices..." :ernae:

Latin's dead, dead and more dead.

I've always been amused when someone seems to think if they speak their own language more slowly and loudly, that somehow they'll be understood by whomever it is they are attempting to communicate...

My mom is world champion at that. Slightly annoying.

 

[brad kaste]

....How about Esperanto?....

 

[stiz]

english is the only language that should be spoken, so bow down and conform allready!


seriosly though i'm always amazed when someone from some say finland/sweden/germany/holland/any country that doesnt speak english, comes along and speaks and spells better english then what i do!

 

[Wing_Z]

....How about Esperanto?....

Amazing that it crashed and burned so solidly...
Actually, language is such an intrinsic part of a people's culture that it is not so amazing.
And so far it's just been easier to conquer a place, and then force the locals to speak your lingo
Pity the Brits didn't take China, then we would've had a little insight there - more people speak Mandarin than any other language today.

 

[Henry]

Yep you always wonder why English speaking people expect the rest of the world to speak English as well.......

Cheers,
Huub

actually whenever i have been to Holland, France, etc etc
they all love to speak English
good job too cos im stupid enough not to speak other languages
thats my failing not theres
i can understand the US there is not another country close by
But England
last time i was in Amsterdam i went into a cafe
for lunch i got a menu it was in Dutch how dare they
but being a sweetheart the waiteres said would you like one in english
embarrassed as always yes please
but sadly the English language is at the moment the most commonly used
good job cos i cant read arabic
H

 

[stuartcox]

 

[tigisfat]

Yep you always wonder why English speaking people expect the rest of the world to speak English as well.......

Cheers,
Huub

Because for some reason, a good portion of everyone on the planet does speak great English. Well, maybe except for the French.

I was just never exposed to other languages. He's right, America's just huge. I've travelled abroad quite a bit, and I gotta say that I'm embarassed at how well I DON'T speak the new languages I think I've tought myself.

 

[ndicki]

It isn't even the language. Have you ever made a joke or amusing aside in a US Army briefing? They don't have a sense of humour while on duty. If you DON'T tell one in one of ours (British Army) you'll be looked at oddly. The language is more-or-less the same, but the culture is worlds apart.

No, I'm not trying to offend the Americans. Just stating an observed fact. My father had the same thing during the War - RAF and USAAF. So it isn't just the language barrier.

When you work in a multi-language environment as I do, many of the groups do make an effort to pick up bits of the other's languages. Even the French!

 

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Vell, Ai vor maiself dond hev eh tschormen ekzent.

That may qualify for a job as EU Commissioner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88OGXLFpeMw

For those not too much accustomed to the swabian deformation of the german language, spoken in the far southern parts of my country:
In the beginning of the vid, he refers about the importance of language skills...

More facts about this tongue wizard:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Günther_Oettinger

Cheers,
Markus.

 

[tigisfat]

It isn't even the language. Have you ever made a joke or amusing aside in a US Army briefing? They don't have a sense of humour while on duty. If you DON'T tell one in one of ours (British Army) you'll be looked at oddly. The language is more-or-less the same, but the culture is worlds apart.

No, I'm not trying to offend the Americans. Just stating an observed fact. My father had the same thing during the War - RAF and USAAF. So it isn't just the language barrier.

When you work in a multi-language environment as I do, many of the groups do make an effort to pick up bits of the other's languages. Even the French!

hmm, no offense taken. I am curious though, there wasn't a day that went by where I someone didn't crack me up in the US Military. We do try to be as serious and professional as possible when it's crucial, but for the most part everyone's always cutting it up. I've never heard anyone say that the Army (or any US Service) doesn't have a sense of humor on duty.


I've also spent a little bit of time with the RAF, and I'll admit those guys are pretty funny.

 

[Mathias]

That may qualify for a job as EU Commissioner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88OGXLFpeMw

For those not too much accustomed to the swabian deformation of the german language, spoken in the far southern parts of my country:
In the beginning of the vid, he refers about the importance of language skills...


Cheers,
Markus.

OMG, Öttinger! But that fits right into the drama with our useless foreign minister Westerwelle.

 

[dominique]

a Well, maybe except for the French.

well, now, thank you VERY MUCH Tig

 

[Bjoern]

english is the only language that should be spoken, so bow down and conform allready!

One thing where english really outshines german is in the lyrics of songs. German lyrics just sound...kind of awful compared to their english counterparts. The reason may be that english offers you fifteen thousand different ways to say something while german offers you one or two.

seriosly though i'm always amazed when someone from some say finland/sweden/germany/holland/any country that doesnt speak english, comes along and speaks and spells better english then what i do!

That's not hard.

Seriously (without offending anyone), I get the impression that at least 50% of native english speakers on the internet are dyslexics. It's pure torture for the eyes and the grey matter! :isadizzy:

When you work in a multi-language environment as I do, many of the groups do make an effort to pick up bits of the other's languages. Even the French!

It's amazing that you can get along in France with english.
As long as you ask the people you're talking to politely (in french) if you may speak with them in english!

For those not too much accustomed to the swabian deformation of the german language, spoken in the far southern parts of my country:
In the beginning of the vid, he refers about the importance of language skills...

Oh, Ötti...fortunately, I fled the federal state before he got to power there.
Effin' Swabians. :d

OMG, Öttinger! But that fits right into the drama with our useless foreign minister Westerwelle.

When you're to lazy to talk in a foreign language in your country, you practically "pull a Westerwelle". :d

I still like him 'tho.



Btw:

:d