[SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?

Tue, 9 Mar 2004 19:25:01 -0600

Most Americans are monolingual, unless they have recent ancestors from
somewhere. Even then it is usually gone by the third generation. This is
because the "melting pot" is pretty intolerant. Blend in or die. (We have
some charming myths about ourself that don't seem to stand up to much
scrutiny). At any rate, I had just taken German in high school when I went
over there in the army (the low point of my youth.... the Army, not
Europe.... I loved Germany), so I could get along in it, which made me
pretty rare, and pretty popular. However... so many Germans, Frenchman,
Dutchmen, Danes and whoever else I encountered spoke English (and wanted to
practice it on me), that I had a heck of a time finding chances to practice
my German (since I was with Americans most of the rest of the time). It was
embarassing to have someone say, "My English is not very good, but..." then
speak fluently to you on the topic of your choice for several hours. Not
many Yanks can do that!

Since I only had some German as a second language, I had to resort to it on
the rare occasions when English did not work in Holland. This was not
popular in the early 60's. I would have done better to resort to sign
language.

The other thing that was interesting (speaking of the north
German/Belgian/Dutch "what is it?" dialects), is that on trains I would
think I was hearing English, then get closer and realize that it was one of
the northern dialects. It sounded not at all like German unless you got VERY
close. 73 Jan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Redding" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: [SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?

> Yeah, that was wierd.
> I was stood outside KFC on Damrak smoking a cigar, and two girls
approached
> me asking for a light (in perfect English with a Dutch accent).
> I lit their cigarettes, then it occurred to me:
> "How do you know I am English, just by looking at me?"
> They replied: "We don't, but English covers everybody...everybody speaks
> English".
> Try that in London...where the version of English spoken there is almost
> unintelligible to most Englishmen :-)
>
> Chris G4PDJ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jan Clute" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 12:49 AM
> Subject: Re: [SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?
>
>
> > My experience was that they spoke to each other in English.
> > Heck of a deal, huh?
> >
> > 73 Jan
> > N0AAA SOC#*(
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chris Redding" <[email protected]>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 6:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?
> >
> >
> > > Yeah...
> > >
> > > Master linguist Michel Thomas calls it 'a "weil" situation'.
> > > Bloody vile, alright...
> > >
> > > Good job the Germans cut foreigners some slack.
> > >
> > > Next (having fallen in love with Amstersam) I want to learn some
Dutch.
> > > Problem is that even the Germans and the Dutch can't talk to each
> > > other...they can write to each other, but not talk. So what chance do
we
> > > have!!!
> > >
> > > Chris G4PDJ
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Reicher, James" <[email protected]>
> > > To: <[email protected]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 10:58 PM
> > > Subject: RE: [SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?
> > >
> > >
> > > Not to mention being spit on in a lively conversation!
> > >
> > > 73 de N8AU, Jim in Raymore, MO
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
> > > Behalf Of Chris Redding
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 4:39 PM
> > > To: [email protected]
> > > Subject: Re: [SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?
> > >
> > > Try German:
> > >
> > > I will here tomorrow not be, because I towards home morning early
> > > travelling
> > > am.  :-)
> > >
> > > Chris G4PDJ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Hank Kohl K8DD" <[email protected]>
> > > To: <[email protected]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 8:57 PM
> > > Subject: [SOC] Fwd: Why is English so hard to learn?
> > >
> > >
> > > > >
> > > > >14. Let's face it - English is a ridiculous language.
> > >
> > >
> > >
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