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no_hypocrisy

(54,929 posts) Wed Apr 6, 2016, 05:29 PM Apr 2016

Does speaking a second language "fluently" demand you can speak it [View all]

grammatically correct?

Melania Trump: "As you may know by now, when you attack him he will punch back 10 times harder," she said in her thick eastern European accent. "No matter who you are, a man or a woman, he treats everyone equal. He's a fighter and if you elect him to be your president he will fight for you and for our country."
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/04/politics/melania-trump-donald-trump-wisconsin/

Her husband and his campaign emphasize her fluency in 4-5 languages. If so, someone tell Melania the referenced statements above should recognize an adverb and not substitute an adjective. (Not "he treats everyone equal". It should be "equally".)

34 replies

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Highlight:

Does speaking a second language "fluently" demand you can speak it [View all] no_hypocrisy Apr 2016 OP

You speak correct. immoderate Apr 2016 #1

I seen what you did there! DawgHouse Apr 2016 #8

What did there? I missed. Glassunion Apr 2016 #10

Most people aren't gramatically correct when speaking their first language. hughee99 Apr 2016 #2

This. mehneh Apr 2016 #3

Teabaggers?? They are demanding amnety for their poor linguistic skills!! madinmaryland Apr 2016 #6

Yeah, it's JUST the teabaggers. hughee99 Apr 2016 #13

You meant to say "There are" grammar nazis on DU. 11 Bravo Apr 2016 #25

Excellent point. hughee99 Apr 2016 #27

It does for the dictionary definition of "fluent" Kelvin Mace Apr 2016 #4

She already does. And most native speakers wouldn't be considered fluent if you shadowandblossom Apr 2016 #14

"Accurate" in my view would mean grammatically and idiomatically. Kelvin Mace Apr 2016 #22

I don't think many native speakers will meet your criteria. (even advanced ones don't always.) shadowandblossom Apr 2016 #23

... shadowandblossom Apr 2016 #24

yep 840high Apr 2016 #28

Many people do not speak accurately, whatever language they use :) Albertoo Apr 2016 #32

Good lord, who gives a shit? Brickbat Apr 2016 #5

One who speaks 3 languages is called trilingual GOLGO 13 Apr 2016 #7

There's more truth to that than I'd like. shadowandblossom Apr 2016 #15

Do you mean grammatically correctly? rock Apr 2016 #9

She is not "fluent." Her accent is thick as molasses and her use of expressive vernacular is off. MADem Apr 2016 #11

This is petty. shadowandblossom Apr 2016 #12

She speaks two more languages than most Americans do mainer Apr 2016 #16

Same here. I think she is 840high Apr 2016 #29

Everybody makes grammatical errors. It's a question of "more or less," not Cal33 Apr 2016 #17

How many languages do you speak? linuxman Apr 2016 #18

She could afford a language coach mainstreetonce Apr 2016 #19

Unless if Melania have some anything of interesting to be said, I are much not care struggle4progress Apr 2016 #20

That's petty and pathetic. Codeine Apr 2016 #21

I speak one language... lame54 Apr 2016 #26

There are other issues to criticize Android3.14 Apr 2016 #30

think different Mosby Apr 2016 #31

To a language teacher "fluent" simply means being able to talk fast Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2016 #33

Fluency is a myth. LostOne4Ever Apr 2016 #34