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Previously on "We speak English because"

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  • cojak
    replied
    Originally posted by SueEllen View Post
    Oh I forgot about this guy.

    There is apparently hope for us all if we put in some effort

    BBC News - YouTuber Xiaomanyc from New York stuns speaking Welsh https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-6755889

    A New Yorker who has learned dozens of languages left Cardiff locals stunned after speaking to them in Welsh.

    Arieh Smith, 33, known as Xiaomanyc online, spent three weeks studying Welsh before flying across the Atlantic to chat with native speakers.

    He has amassed more than a billion views on YouTube documenting himself speaking languages across the globe.

    I’ll bet he didn’t use Duolingo, I’ve been trying to learn Scots Gaelic with it and I’m not really getting anywhere. It’s bloody hard

    Leave a comment:


  • Zigenare
    replied
    Originally posted by Dactylion View Post
    But more importantly!

    When did Nes-uls become Nes-lay

    I remember that annoying little blond speccy git in my childhood and he sang:

    "Nes-uls Milky-Bar"...
    Then sometime 90's? 00's they started with this Nes-lay b0llix!!

    What is the world coming to? It all went downhill form then!!! Blah Blah Gammon Gammon Boomer Boomer
    Probably the same twat who encourages the pronunciation of "Sarkozy" with a faux "French Accent"!

    Leave a comment:


  • SueEllen
    replied
    Oh I forgot about this guy.

    There is apparently hope for us all if we put in some effort

    BBC News - YouTuber Xiaomanyc from New York stuns speaking Welsh https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-6755889

    A New Yorker who has learned dozens of languages left Cardiff locals stunned after speaking to them in Welsh.

    Arieh Smith, 33, known as Xiaomanyc online, spent three weeks studying Welsh before flying across the Atlantic to chat with native speakers.

    He has amassed more than a billion views on YouTube documenting himself speaking languages across the globe.


    Leave a comment:


  • northernladuk
    replied
    Originally posted by Fraidycat View Post
    At the risk of getting banned again for posting an ancient videos.

    This a hilarious old pop video of Adriano Celentano recreating what non-English speakers hear when they hear english (or atleast 60s era english pop songs)
    Lucky for you you can't get banned for misusing the word hilarious.

    Leave a comment:


  • Fraidycat
    replied
    At the risk of getting banned again for posting an ancient videos.

    This a hilarious old pop video of Adriano Celentano recreating what non-English speakers hear when they hear english (or atleast 60s era english pop songs)

    Leave a comment:


  • NotAllThere
    replied
    One of my friends speaks 10 languages fluently. Well, he says 10, but he has admitted to being rubbish at Maths.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dactylion
    replied
    Originally posted by ladymuck View Post
    I am in awe of people who can communicate in more than one language and am always grateful to those who have learned English.
    I can communicate in many, many languages.

    Well in the sense that in every country I have ever visited I have made an attempt to learn how to say:
    Hello
    Thank you
    Please
    2 beers (please)

    And I have found smiling/gurning like an idiot and pointing at things helps too...

    Oh and the lingua franca thing where you meet the waiters eye, act out signing something on your hand and nod...
    meaning "Can I have the bill please"

    Leave a comment:


  • vetran
    replied
    We speak English because we don't have to speak any other languages. The Empire was ruled in English (including America) but more importantly the the worlds movies are made in Hollywood.

    Leave a comment:


  • NotAllThere
    replied
    I learned French to a high level at school and retained it. I picked up German over the past twenty years, with only some formal instruction.

    I've occasionally had to translated French to German and vice versa. Which is fun.

    The name Nestlé comes from the founder - Henri Nestlé. But he was born Heinrich Nestle, in Frankfurt. He changed his name when he moved to French speaking Switzerland.

    Leave a comment:


  • SueEllen
    replied
    So in the UK all kids should be taught Spanish and/or Chinese?

    Interestingly all my bi- and tri-lingual speaking family members learnt their other language(s) outside school. They have become fluent due to being placed in environments where people don't automatically speak English when they are around.

    I suppose I should put more effort into the languages I understand...

    Leave a comment:


  • ladymuck
    replied
    I've always been embarrassed by my lack of ability with languages. I did a smattering of French and German at school, taking German GCSE but that's when learning ended and I don't really feel like I learnt anything practical.

    In later life I've made attempts at Spanish and, more recently, Portuguese (European, not Brazilian) with very little success.

    I am in awe of people who can communicate in more than one language and am always grateful to those who have learned English.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dactylion
    replied
    But more importantly!

    When did Nes-uls become Nes-lay

    I remember that annoying little blond speccy git in my childhood and he sang:

    "Nes-uls Milky-Bar"...
    Then sometime 90's? 00's they started with this Nes-lay b0llix!!

    What is the world coming to? It all went downhill form then!!! Blah Blah Gammon Gammon Boomer Boomer

    Leave a comment:


  • eek
    replied
    Originally posted by cojak View Post

    That was the response after I apologised for only speaking English when in contract for Nestle in the 00’s. Everyone was content with speaking ‘neutral’ English.

    That’s why this comment piece from from the Guardian will never catch on.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...uistic-justice
    Oh I make a joke about it and blame my education because I simply never learnt or understood phonics so can't sound out words which make foreign languages impossible for me to say.

    I can understand French / German though which meant when I fly across Europe you had the English fool (I played to the stereotype because everyone loved it), which they could ignore by speaking German / French, occasionally interrupting (in English) to correct a misunderstanding...

    Leave a comment:


  • cojak
    started a topic We speak English because

    We speak English because

    We hate the French/Germans/Dutch/Italians//[insert nationality here] and wouldn’t dream of speaking their language like losers.
    That was the response after I apologised for only speaking English when in contract for Nestle in the 00’s. Everyone was content with speaking ‘neutral’ English.

    That’s why this comment piece from from the Guardian will never catch on.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...uistic-justice

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