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MineralMan

(151,273 posts)

58. One of the things we had to do in the Russian immersion school

Wed May 22, 2013, 02:33 PM

May 2013

was learn to write very quickly in Cyrillic. I got very good at it, but it destroyed my handwriting in English because we did so much of that transcription. Finally, I had to change from script to printing in English, and I'm still doing that.

Moving between alphabets turns out to be a real challenge.

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When English is Not a DUer's First Language, [View all] MineralMan May 2013 OP

True, except for many the internets is a place to prove ones superiority. Thus any opportunity to KittyWampus May 2013 #1

You're right, and I've been guilty of that, myself, sometimes. MineralMan May 2013 #3

Two DU members come to mind as I read this. They take abuse for this and it's embarrassing. NYC_SKP May 2013 #2

There are several DUers I know of who don't have English as their MineralMan May 2013 #4

I called it bullying once. And you're right -that's exactly what it is. randome May 2013 #6

I have to say you achieved that goal. rug May 2013 #5

I was expecting that. Thanks. MineralMan May 2013 #7

Airman, you left one important detail out of that story. Gormy Cuss May 2013 #61

Putin? n/t VWolf May 2013 #63

DUZY! tavalon May 2013 #104

Let's hope his next attempt wasn't the synonym "tramp". Spitfire of ATJ May 2013 #66

My English-Russian dictionary says that would be 'Putin.' n/t Gormy Cuss May 2013 #67

Probably the best word is MineralMan May 2013 #75

Each and every person who has studied a foreign language has made a similar mistake. Ednahilda May 2013 #8

Yes. I learned to always reverse translate that day. MineralMan May 2013 #10

yep. laundry_queen May 2013 #41

One of the things we had to do in the Russian immersion school MineralMan May 2013 #58

That would be tough laundry_queen May 2013 #71

Ukrainian is very similar to Russian, MineralMan May 2013 #73

Reverse translation is also very useful when using Google Translate. MineralMan May 2013 #81

The funniest one I came across Ednahilda May 2013 #102

That's funny! MineralMan May 2013 #105

Having worked with non-Native English speakers and lived in another country, SharonAnn May 2013 #9

I work closely with a man whose first language is Mandarin. MineralMan May 2013 #13

Since the early days of DU, grammar and spelling have been critical here liberal N proud May 2013 #11

It all depends on how it is done, I think. MineralMan May 2013 #16

Agreed, but the peer pressure is good liberal N proud May 2013 #20

I don't see pipi_k May 2013 #23

That's a good point. That reminds me of a conversation I had with a my DIL's father, Tien, who is Arkansas Granny May 2013 #12

English is a great language, but has many, many words with multiple MineralMan May 2013 #15

Great story, MM. R&K nt longship May 2013 #14

Thanks. I love laughing at myself. MineralMan May 2013 #17

I learned that one, too, at my father's knee. longship May 2013 #19

I hope you keep your own advice in mind the next time you think it funny when someone uses a sabrina 1 May 2013 #18

Schtick is not an English word. MineralMan May 2013 #21

No need to thank me. I did not say 'schtick' was an English word, but when it is used by someone sabrina 1 May 2013 #27

Actually, this thread is not about that at all. MineralMan May 2013 #28

Lol! n/t sabrina 1 May 2013 #32

The person you're referring to pintobean May 2013 #80

This thread is not about that person at all. MineralMan May 2013 #86

Cool schtick, bro. pintobean May 2013 #92

I'm a native English speaker and most of the time SheilaT May 2013 #22

That's true. And automatic spelling checkers on MineralMan May 2013 #24

If you got a PM from another user SheilaT May 2013 #25

Yes. I just almost never initiate DU Mail. MineralMan May 2013 #26

my paternal grandparents were immigrants LittleGirl May 2013 #29

Interesting sentiment, considering how you've noted even the most minute mistakes of DUers. Octafish May 2013 #30

"Baited breath" is funny. MineralMan May 2013 #31

Yes, that's what this is all about. Thanks. The internets, you just can't say anything anymore and sabrina 1 May 2013 #40

It's a pathetic attempt to cover his tracks... SixString May 2013 #52

America! What a country. SCVDem May 2013 #33

Learning a second language or more is a great idea! MineralMan May 2013 #34

That would be me I was fluent in gopiscrap May 2013 #35

I would never have guessed that you had other languages MineralMan May 2013 #36

Yes it sure is. gopiscrap May 2013 #39

American English was my first language. MineralMan May 2013 #42

It was pretty funny gopiscrap May 2013 #44

British and American English keep getting more and MineralMan May 2013 #45

I agree gopiscrap May 2013 #46

I'm not sure that "devolved" is the right word. MineralMan May 2013 #48

yeah maybe you're right gopiscrap May 2013 #49

LOL! MineralMan May 2013 #51

attacking anyone on grammar is petty BainsBane May 2013 #37

+1 lunasun May 2013 #53

My high school had a course in Russian snort May 2013 #38

Yah, nobody much teaches profanity. You have to get that MineralMan May 2013 #43

I usually don my pedant's cap only when asked Warpy May 2013 #47

Homophones are about the most common sort of errors. MineralMan May 2013 #50

Eto pravda? Ochen xoroxo! xtraxritical May 2013 #54

Spasibo! MineralMan May 2013 #55

Bonjour, c'est mon cas (Hi, it's my case) :) Amonester May 2013 #56

Vous avez une bonne attitude. MineralMan May 2013 #59

Vous aussi ! :) Amonester May 2013 #64

Zut alors ! J'ai oubli� �a. MineralMan May 2013 #65

Des fois oui, des fois non. Amonester May 2013 #68

C'est tr�s d�routant. MineralMan May 2013 #69

Oui, c'est tr�s compliqu�. Amonester May 2013 #72

Well, you learn something new every day! laundry_queen May 2013 #76

As I know it, the true rule is a space is required, but in French Amonester May 2013 #96

Great story; but understand ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2013 #57

Stuff happens, doesn't it? MineralMan May 2013 #60

Stuff???? 1StrongBlackMan May 2013 #62

If you understand the context and meaning.... N_E_1 for Tennis May 2013 #70

I'm not sure that is the best course. MineralMan May 2013 #74

I'm afraid there are too many English speakers to OldEurope May 2013 #83

Yes, English is widely used - and misused. MineralMan May 2013 #85

That's why my husband only reads JustAnotherGen May 2013 #77

thinking in another language and then trying to translate it into words of another loli phabay May 2013 #89

English isn't my first language Socialistlemur May 2013 #78

The basics of Russian aren't too hard to learn, IMO. MineralMan May 2013 #79

When I was a child, half a century ago, I visited for several months in Mexico. Shrike47 May 2013 #82

That's funny. I like it. MineralMan May 2013 #84

Sounds like me in Mexico trying to get by on my "conversational Spanish" lessons ... Scuba May 2013 #94

Yeah, my Spanish vocabulary is mostly gone from lack of use but the accent sticks Fumesucker May 2013 #98

Interestingly, spell checkers (and DU has one) will pick up a lot of the common errors one sees here bike man May 2013 #87

So would re-reading what one has written, with an MineralMan May 2013 #88

I told our Italian CFO to "run" a program. She moved it. Then I tried telling her to "execute" it. ieoeja May 2013 #90

Interesting. Translation is difficult, to be sure. MineralMan May 2013 #91

I IM with people all over the world Skittles May 2013 #93

Ha! Offshore is more literate in our language than most us! NYC_SKP May 2013 #97

Great thread. Thanks Mineral Man and all the others who helped make it such a good read. Scuba May 2013 #95

My pleasure. MineralMan May 2013 #99

It's a gift when an ESL takes the time to speak with us in English. We can figure the words out. freshwest May 2013 #100

I once ordered a condom and nutella crepe. msanthrope May 2013 #101

Thank you tavalon May 2013 #103

My dad told me a story in the 1960's Wednesdays May 2013 #106

I remember hearing that one when I was posted to the NSA, MineralMan May 2013 #107

hahahahaa!!!! pipi_k May 2013 #108