the language barrier

Pablo Escobar wrote:We haven't addressed the biggest language gulf between Scotland and England.

Very true! Normally I don't have a problem understanding Scottish accents, but there was one guy from Glasgow that I used to work with and I couldn't understand a word he said. The rest of the office (who were Italian) I understood perfectly!! :lol:

I went to night classes for conversational French and another for conversational Spanish. I can usually understand what is being said, but I have great difficulty in putting together in proper grammar what I actually want to say. E.g. my daughter got ripped off at the toilet stop in Bourg and when I went back with her, I had a real struggle trying to put into words that they'd given her change of 10 instead of 20. Got there eventually but it wasn't easy. I'd love it just to flow......... :(

Eljay,
That's odd, I have exactly the opposite problem. I can formulate sentences fine, as long as I know the vocab or have a dictionary, but I am really bad at understanding what French people are saying. And I can read French pretty well, but they speak too fast for me, and I can't separate out the words. I am best communicating by e-mail :lol:

Ally

I know what you mean Eljay. I'm the same in that I can understand most conversations, but get into a muddle when I try and reply. :(

AllyG wrote:Lynn,
Come and join me in my adult French classes. We always have a really good laugh - it's not at all like school, and my French is much better now.

Ally

Sounds good, though I think Wales may be a bit of a trek for me.... :D

Seriously though, language lessons are on my to do list when I get the time. I'd love to learn Italian (as Italy is my favourite place for holidays, summer or winter.) A friend tried to teach me the basics, but the only complete phrase I can remember is "Can I leave the door open please?" along with a load of chemistry terms (which I picked up when we tried to translate his thesis into English) which aren’t the most useful, on a ski holiday or otherwise.... :roll:

AllyG wrote:Eljay,
That's odd, I have exactly the opposite problem. I can formulate sentences fine, as long as I know the vocab or have a dictionary, but I am really bad at understanding what French people are saying. And I can read French pretty well, but they speak too fast for me, and I can't separate out the words. I am best communicating by e-mail :lol:

Ally

This one normally works for me

" Pourriez vous parler lentement pour satisfaire" :wink:

No language barrier difficulties in Switzerland, despite the fact they have four official languages as English is the default position for virtually everyone there! All the 'announciations' on the railways and aircraft are repeated in English as well. I try a bit of German, but it's just not needed! :)

Ian,
That's pretty impressive - future conditional I believe, but should there not be a 'me' in front of the 'satisfaire'?

I usually say something like 'Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement s'il vous plait?'. But they still rattle on incredibly fast.

Ally