Question for non-Americans (and non-British)

[Panda]

Originally posted by sabo10
panda I agree that was a stupid thing that american said (there are stupid people all over) so why would everyone hate all americans because of one persons stupid statement? I agree with you, you hate me?

You know how the apple system works - one rotten spoils the whole bunch. Over here, we also have exploitative tabloids hwo just looove stories like this one. A patriotic Finn meeting the next American after reading such a piece of news will be at least somewhat biased.

Also, there's so many of you that we don't have a day without the 'stupid American did this and this' news. Of course we have our own idiots, but it's easier to point at somebody else.

Personally, I like to think I'm too old to judge all people from one country on the specimens I meet. Of course they influence my judgement to some degree, but I try to be open-minded.

I also think people use the 'hate' concept far too generously. 'Hate' for me is such a strong emotion that my stomach acids come up, my teeth shacke, I break into sweat, my entire body aches and can barely speak between growls. There are exactly two people who bring those reactions out of me, and neither of them is American.

 

[Vrylakas]

Hotdog Fish wrote:

In Canada (Bwhaha! you didn't exclude Canada!) about 93% Speak English to a certain extent (Newfangles's estimate is too high, I go to Quebec often and there are many people especially in northern Quebec who never bothered to learn English) also around 12.5% of Canadians can speak either Mandarin or Cantonese. And over 45% of Toronto (Canada's biggest and most obnoxious city! With a popluation rivaling that of some Provinces) where not born in Canada or who's parents where not born here.

I recall Brian Mulruney making a joke once; "Here in Canada we speak two languages, Chinese and Ukrainian."

In Poland the most popular foreign languages to learn are the usual English, German and French (in that order). There is also an old Polish tradition of orientalism, these recurring fads and fashions that center around anything Asian. Because of this I know a lot of Poles who are learning Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, etc.

Like most Eastern European countries the borders were designed by far-away politicians or their armies so there is a significant minority presence. This means that Belarussian, German, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian are all well-represented in the border areas, as well as a few smaller historic languages like Lemko and Kaszub. Yiddish, before WW II the 2nd or 3rd largest language spoken in Poland, is nearly dead. There is also a large Romani population, although most of them tend to be bilingual. My wife's family is from a border area (within a couple kilometers, actually) of the Czech border and everyone crosses the border regularly for local restaurants, gas, etc. but since Polish and Czech are so close it is rare for anyone to bother learning much of the others' language.

 

[sabo]

Originally posted by Panda


You know how the apple system works - one rotten spoils the whole bunch. Over here, we also have exploitative tabloids hwo just looove stories like this one. A patriotic Finn meeting the next American after reading such a piece of news will be at least somewhat biased.

Also, there's so many of you that we don't have a day without the 'stupid American did this and this' news. Of course we have our own idiots, but it's easier to point at somebody else.

Personally, I like to think I'm too old to judge all people from one country on the specimens I meet. Of course they influence my judgement to some degree, but I try to be open-minded.

I also think people use the 'hate' concept far too generously. 'Hate' for me is such a strong emotion that my stomach acids come up, my teeth shacke, I break into sweat, my entire body aches and can barely speak between growls. There are exactly two people who bring those reactions out of me, and neither of them is American.

Your a wise man panda, I wish more people would think like you. Over here's we make fun of Blondes and the Polish, why Poles?? I don't know,

 

[Grisu]

I don't know the official statistics for switzerland: the native tongue is distributed as follows:

63.9% German (or what we call german )
19.5% French
6.6% Italian
0.5% Rumantsch
9.5% various different languages (turkish, yugoslavian, albanian, etc.)

out of these I think that more than 95% speak at least one second language.

I think that about 70% or more speak or at least understand english passably. most swiss are open towards new foreign languages (like the scandinavians we don't dub movies in cinemas).

 

[basher]

Originally posted by funxus
Helsinki is called Helsingfors, and Turku is called Åbo. I wonder why?(

Hmm, it has something to do with our 700-year history as a part of Sweden...

Here's why: Swedish was the official language of both countries back then.

We also call Stockholm Tukholma and Uppsala has only one p in Finnish. Eg. in the northern part of Sweden Kiruna has two i's and Luleå and Umeå are called Luulaja and Uumaja.

Kungen är död.

 

[Toasty]

I'm from America. I know a scraping bit of French and Spanish. I could probably get by for a while in France.

I'm considering moving to a base in South Korea for the Military Band once I graduate, however I have no idea where I'd be able to learn Korean around here...

 

[mordhiem]

Originally posted by bobgote
They shouldn't be allowed in without english.

Umm, but then how can they learn English without living in an English speaking country Whip out a dictonary for some quick reading up whilst on the boat/truck/train that's taken them from whatever hell hole (no offence to people wo live in hell holes ) they came from?

 

[insurgent]

These are my estimates for Denmark:

95% able to communicate in English (large parts of pre-40's generations weren't taught English in schools)
80% able to communicate with Norwegians
40% able to communicate with Swedes
30% able to communicate in German
20% able to communicate with French

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

it depends on what 'speak' is supposed to mean.

In Germany, I guess about 70% think they know some English

20% do!

 

[funxus]

80% able to communicate with Norwegians
40% able to communicate with Swedes

This surprises me, is it your fault or our fault, you think? I think it's us being too lazy to even try to understand danish

Originally posted by basher
Kungen är död.

If you're aiming at Kent, it's one of their better songs If not, which one

 

[insurgent]

Originally posted by funxus
This surprises me, is it your fault or our fault, you think? I think it's us being too lazy to even try to understand danish

I think we're to blame. Danes have become very negligent when it comes to the Danish language. The words are usually not pronounced correctly or clearly, and nobody really bothers. This way, the language becomes difficult to understand for outsiders.
But I also think that Sweden and Denmark has developed very differently, and so have our languages. But in writing, I'd say most people understand each other, ikke sandt?

 

[Gwindor]

IN Estonia:

the ~ 1,5 million population is divided something like :

1 million estonians and about 400 000 russians + 50 000 ukrainians, belorussians etc.

Estonians :

Estonian - 99,9%
Russian - 60% and decreasing
English - 25-30% and increasing
Finnish - 20 %
German - 3-5%

Russians -

Russian - 99%
English - 12%
Estonian - 10%
Finnish - 1%

 

[Phantom Lord]

In Germany I'd say 60% of the total population (including old people as well as children) have had contact with the english language.

Maybe 20% should be able to communicate verbally and written on a satisfying level (eg are able to post in game forums).

I guess most of these people are at the age of 15-45. English is pretty easy to learn if you speak german. Both languages have several things in common, but english is not as complex as german. Today english is the first language you learn in school here, so most young people have at least a basic knowledge.

 

[heliogabalus]

Other languages in Germany (wild estimates!!!):

10% speak some form of Turkish.

10 - 15% speak Russian.

Maybe 5% speak Italian.

And there is a Danish minority in the northernmost province, the "South Sleswig Voter's Band", who have a guaranteed seat in the regional parliament. They speak German as well, of course.

How many people in this country have learned another than their native language I could not say. If anybody knows, I'd be interested to see the figures.

 

[Nahuixtelotzin]

My guess for Austria:

Decent English: 30%
Some English: 75%

 

[Vrylakas]

Nahuixtelotzin wrote:

My guess for Austria:

Decent English: 30%

Must be MUCH higher. Austria was the first German-speaking country I visited and I was excited to try out my creaky German - but I couldn't find anyone in Burgenland or Vienna who wouldn't speak English. The moment they heard a foreign accent they all resorted to English. I practiced more German in Hungary than in Austria...

Unless I just got unlucky and met the whole 30%...

 

[Caranamrta]

The 15-20% of the population can communicate in English - but only 5% passed the examination. I didn't too - i think it is visible. Other languages aren't widely known; German 7%, Russian 7%, French 3%, Serbish and Croatian 3%, Rumanian (sp?) 2%.

The most widespread minority languages are the Romani (3%), the German (2%), and the South Slavic language(s?) (2%). Others are under 1%. Near 100% of the minorities can speak more or less Hungarian.

 

[heikeott]

I have relatives in Germany and am originally from there. Most of my relatives can speak at least some English; they tell me they learn it in school. In Bavaria I think many more speak English because of tourists and the American military presence. I would have guessed about 65 - 75% of Germans younger than 40 speak at least some English.

I notice also that the Americans have their own names for some German cities, for example Cologne and Munich, those are not their names in Germany.

My mother and I came to the US when she was in her early 20's and I was almost 5. We both learned English very quickly and learned to speak it without any "German" accent. I think all the immigrants should have to learn English. I do not understand why I should need to learn a 3rd language to accomodate some immigrants who are not willing to learn the language of the country they want to live in. If they want to live in the US they should have to learn English just like my mother and I did!
(done ranting now, thanks for the opp.! )
Heike

 

[Aphex_Twin]

In Romania I guess about 80% of educated people speak English and about one third French.

Also, due to the recent invasion of spanish soap operas (telenovelas), a large section of people can now speak Spanish...

There is another thread just like this...
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=710465#post710465