General Discussion

MineralMan

(150,926 posts)

12. It doesn't take much language skill

Wed May 23, 2012, 03:29 PM

May 2012

to communicate to some degree. Anytime I've traveled to a place where I didn't know the language, I've taken the time to learn to be polite in that language. Greetings, goodbyes, counting, pleases and thank yous. And then I learn one important phrase that seems to make up for my ignorance: "I am sorry I speak {language} so poorly. I am a beginner." That usually triggers a fun lesson in the language that teaches me something. If I'm in that place long enough, I get better.

Finally, laughter is the same in all languages, as are smiles. They speak volumes.

I first started this practice when I found out I would be stationed in Turkey while in the USAF. I went to the base library and got records that taught basic Turkish and studied them right there at the library. It worked great, and by the time I left Turkey, 15 months later, I could carry on most normal conversations. It's easy, and it's fun, and you get to meet real people where you are.

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Pizza!!! que? Pizza!!! que? Pizza!!! que? Tostada Italiano!!! Ay, muy bueno!!! [View all] MiddleFingerMom May 2012 OP

LOL! lunatica May 2012 #1

Yup, I live on a street with a Spanish name and here in my area of Los Angeles County Raine May 2012 #16

Is the name of that "spainish" street Takeco? lonestarnot May 2012 #21

Uh no Raine May 2012 #26

Soright Bobalouie. lonestarnot May 2012 #27

I live in a Spanish-named town in a Spanish-named county Retrograde May 2012 #23

These people are too much. surrealAmerican May 2012 #2

Easy: you have to order it in Italian... JHB May 2012 #3

It's all about "liberty" with these guys... jberryhill May 2012 #4

Somebody wanna call the whaaaambulance for Peter Thomas? gratuitous May 2012 #5

Peter Thomas' reaction is instructive here MrScorpio May 2012 #6

Remember the Philadelphia restaurant owner with the English only sign? alp227 May 2012 #31

You'd really have to try not to learn at least a little basic MineralMan May 2012 #7

I am VERY disappointed in myself for NOT learning much more than restaurant Spanish. VERY. MiddleFingerMom May 2012 #9

It doesn't take much language skill MineralMan May 2012 #12

A SMALL minority of the troops in Germany gained real fluency in the language... MiddleFingerMom May 2012 #13

People almost never think Americans know any language MineralMan May 2012 #17

Sometimes... but there's WAY 'Murrcans" out there who will say... MiddleFingerMom May 2012 #19

I am so glad you agree! 50 shades of grey May 2012 #30

Hey Pete nykym May 2012 #8

What an idiot. Solly Mack May 2012 #10

Pizza Patron is gonna have a hell of a lot of new hifiguy May 2012 #11

I HOPE that's true. I admired their accepting pesos (Michiganders have been been accepting... MiddleFingerMom May 2012 #14

lol, i like Little Ceasar's OriginalGeek May 2012 #15

You know, I've heard enough people sing their "praises" in the last few years... MiddleFingerMom May 2012 #18

lol well I'm not sure "praise" is the right word.. OriginalGeek May 2012 #24

I love Little Ceasar's Aerows May 2012 #28

What a great way to get hundreds of adults to study another language. Even a little. n/t jtuck004 May 2012 #20

Can the tantrums get any more childish than this? n/t Bolo Boffin May 2012 #22

saw this story earlier -- seems like an awesome promotion fishwax May 2012 #25

When Latinos do it, it's discrimination. When they do it EFerrari May 2012 #29