Non-primary English Speakers (EASL)

Thanks for the answers!!! It was just what I was looking for. I would LOVE to work on my german...and spanish, come to think of it. Maybe one of the bi or tri speakers could start a baby thred?


Randi- I never thought about the difficulty you might have with Phred's posts. I, too, totally adore the way he writes..especially when it is about the prayer line going up to God. His writing really forces you to 'hear' the english, since it so phonetical.

Thanks again, and I give this thred over to anyone now that my questions have been answered.


Really, how many different ways is there to say, "Meow"??? He he he..

Meow ?? Here , my cats speak Dutch kitty-talk . So "meow" is here "MIAUW" ...;) . When they are hungry , it is "miauw-auw" , and when they are happy welcoming me home , it is "mwauw !!" (which means : Hi , glad you are home, what's for dinner ?)

cats , who could live without them ...:rolleyes: :eek:

I was in a program that began Spanish lessons in the 5th grade (age 10.) I continued it through high school (with a year off for Latin) and spent a summer of intense study in Mexico.

It has been VERY helpful to me in my career -- including allowing me a two year assignment back in Mexico. It has given me the edge in the job market.

As a consequence I am in AWE of those on Pettalk who participate in other than their native language. I KNOW what an accomplishment it is! I would far rather speak than write Spanish (mistakes go away quicker!) And to joke and write poetry! AWESOME is truly applicable to these people.

(And I work soooo hard never to be political on here but this time I can't contol myself....

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We have many, many Mexican immigrants that refuse to learn the language

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It is "who" refuse ....by the way. It is also these people who perform back-breaking, filthy, minimum wage work that no native born American is willing to perform.)

I'm bilingual (English and French). Like nsweezie said, a lot of Canadians are bilingual, especially the eastern provinces.

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Originally posted by Ann



Not really moreso than other countries, but ignorant YUP.

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I second that. :D

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We have many, many Mexican immigrants that refuse to learn the language
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It is "who" refuse ....by the way. It is also these people who perform back-breaking, filthy, minimum wage work that no native born American is willing to perform.

I didn't mean anything bad by this. Of course I value those from other countries, especialy those I live so closely with. It is sad that these people are basically made to take all the "lowly" jobs, its terrible, but others do do them as well, mentally challanged people for one. There are so many more Mexican immigrants who are doing very well.

What I was referring to above has been based on my experience in living in Southern California for 24 years. It was in no way rude or ethnocentric.

For example, the child that I advocate for has a mother who refuses-literally refuses-to learn the language she needs, to understand what she is being charged with in court. She utterly refuses to learn the language that would be somewhat important to know if you are in the court system. Her daughter ("my child"), has told me that her parents refuse to speak/learn/understand Engish. I don't think it is meant to be offensive, they just don't need to learn it. California has enabled them not to have to learn the language, just like Soledad was talking about.

I don't mind at all that her family doesn't speak the language, what I DO mind is when they act like they can't understand words like "Is Cristina OK???" After she's been taken to a hospital just because I'm the "enemy". :mad:

Anyway, off the subject, sorry about that. Just wanted to clear that up.

I am fluent in English, Arabic, and French. I learned Arabic from my father, English from my Mother, and was schooled in French up until I went to college. I went to school in Lebanon where there is a huge emphasis on foriegn languages. Arabic was the basic language that was taught. When you started school, your parents choose which language they want you schooled in: English or French. All your sciences, math, and social studies are taught in that langauge. When you are in the 6th grade, you pick up the other language as a foriegn language. My mom and dad chose for me to learn French early on since I was being taught English at school by my mother.

My cousins all speak English very fluently. They have an accent, but can speak and understand the language just like any other English speaking person. It took lots of practice and studying for them to get that way, just like our ESL Pet Talkers!!

You know what upsets me, though? Americans who only speak English but despite only having to master one language, have no ability to speak properly or write with correct spelling or grammar.

We all make mistakes from time to time, but I'm talking about the especially egregious errors. You know, like having basic subject-verb agreement?

I'm glad to hear people have a good opinion of American's in general. Sometimes I hear my friends talk about how anyone who comes to this country should learn our language, and I think they are insane!

I would think that one of the hardest parts of learning english, or participating in an primarily english speaking forum, such as this, would be understanding the slang. And I am sure that is true in any language, but some of the phrases we commonly use, taken literally probally seem very odd :)

Soledad,

I totally agree!!! That has to be one of my biggest pet pieves, especially the spoken word. My in-laws are notorious for this one...they say things like mashmellow (marshmellow), libary (library), flustrated (frustrated) and ice-box (I know, but they are native Californians!). It annoys me to no end because I can't say anything. ;)

At work, there is a person who referred to the song her son sang in his school holiday play as singing in "Jewish"! I can't even say how much it bothered me after I told her it was most likely the "Hebrew" language, she kept saying her son was singing in "Jewish"!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

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Originally posted by Randi

When I first saw Phred's posts, I was a bit confused, but I soon got used to his writing, and enjoy it immensely now! :D Very talented!

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I am a native English speaker and I had no idea!!! Now I am in awe of the effort he puts into his posts :)

I try to avoid slang and sarcasm in my posts as it is harder to interpret and easier to offend using the written word than in real life. The funny thing is that Americans (generally speaking) find my humour harder to understand than the Europeans.

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Originally posted by NoahsMommy
[COLOR=teal]Soledad,
...they say things like mashmellow (marshmellow), libary (library),

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He he he...I say Libary!!!! I don't know why, but I do. I know it is wrong, but, I just got into the habit.

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Originally posted by Miss Meow

The funny thing is that Americans (generally speaking) find my humour harder to understand than the Europeans.

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Maybe....uhm,...it might be that.....YOU AREN'T FUNNY????

hah hahahahahahahahah I am, though, aren't I?:D :p :D :p :eek: :eek: :eek:

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Originally posted by Cataholic

Maybe....uhm,...it might be that.....YOU AREN'T FUNNY????

hah hahahahahahahahah I am, though, aren't I?:D :p :D :p :eek: :eek: :eek:

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I knew there was a reason!

Oh yeah, bag of fun, you are!!! :D

Well, I'm a native English speaker, so I don't quite fit the category. However, I also speak French, having taking it in school for many years. I also know some Spanish, although I learned it informally, not in a classroom setting.

I have noticed, in traveling, that English is spoken very widely in many countries by many people. I don't think it is so much that Americans "expect" people in other countries to speak English, so much as we just notice that they do, and - obviously - prefer to converse with them English if we can.

If people in other countries learn English, and teach it as a basic part of their school curiculum, this is nothing Americans have "expected" or "demanded."

My personal opinion is that if I moved to Germany or Holland or Pakistan to live, I should learn the language and not expect the citizens of that country to make exceptions and go out of their way for me, just so that I could continue to speak English. If I'm on a week's vacation, however, I think it's different. Tourists who travel a lot cannot possibly learn every language fluently for every country they visit. (I do always learn how to ask where the restrooms are, though. ;) )

I feel the same way about people who come to America ... if they are coming to visit, of course they are going to speak their native tongue and we'll get by with translators and hand signs. :) But if they are moving here to live, they should learn English.

And I agree - poor grammar, sentence structure and very bad spelling drive me crazy! I have to bite my tongue (or cross my fingers, whichever the case may be) to keep from constantly correcting them! I always wonder how these people manage to get through school without even learning the basics!! I know I make some errors, everyone does ... but some people's speech and writing are simply horrible!