Resentment towards English?
- Thread starter Phlegmak
- Start date
Shadylookin
master debater
well I don't like it because I can't go to foreign countries and make fun of people in English cause there is a good chance they can understand me, but it would be nice in case i really needed to communicate with them.
I worked in the Netherlands for a Summer as a dock hand. My employers made me speak Dutch, so I resent Dutch. Although if I don't go back to the U.S. this Summer, I'd probably go back to the job. Maybe in Copenheagen though to try something different.
Cheezy the Wiz
Socialist In A Hurry
See, that makes sense. You learn the language of the country you're in. It's just common courtesy.
It would more lingually beautiful, Russian is a wonderful language.
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
Actually, I consider it's a great chance to be born in a non-English speaking country. And the reason is rather simple, you have a stronger chance to learn a second language in such a case than if you're born in an English speaking country.
The big problem I've felt from most English speaking people, and this not only in the US but also in the UK or in Australia, is that they have often strong difficulties to imagine a culture different than theirs. This isn't specific to them, it's a common trait of people speaking only one language, but as there are more in English speaking country, the phenomenon is stronger in those.
The best of course is those speaking several languages, such as my boyfriend. He speaks fluently German, Chinese and French, and he can handle a general conversation in Italian and English. Speaking different languages is a great thing to understand better this world.
The big problem I've felt from most English speaking people, and this not only in the US but also in the UK or in Australia, is that they have often strong difficulties to imagine a culture different than theirs. This isn't specific to them, it's a common trait of people speaking only one language, but as there are more in English speaking country, the phenomenon is stronger in those.
The best of course is those speaking several languages, such as my boyfriend. He speaks fluently German, Chinese and French, and he can handle a general conversation in Italian and English. Speaking different languages is a great thing to understand better this world.
Stolen Rutters
Deity
It is actually a problem for me trying to keep up on the spanish I learned at University. I work at a Mexican company and all of my foreign coworkers are trying very hard to learn English so they prefer talking in my language.
It's more valuable for my coworkers to pick up English so I oblige. You get a nice pay increase if you are a Mexican who speaks English well. Almost everyone who came from Mexico up to the Michigan location I work (on the three year visa) went back as a manager.
Oh, back to topic. Yes, I can understand how people assume everyone else already knows what they know. That can come across a patronizing and offensive.
It's more valuable for my coworkers to pick up English so I oblige. You get a nice pay increase if you are a Mexican who speaks English well. Almost everyone who came from Mexico up to the Michigan location I work (on the three year visa) went back as a manager.
Oh, back to topic. Yes, I can understand how people assume everyone else already knows what they know. That can come across a patronizing and offensive.
boarder
King
No...I'm part Maori, not much but I could call myself Maori if I wanted and Im personally glad that the english came here and did what they did, buggered if I want to be like a Fiji or some backward place, english is the most spoken language I think and therefore im glad I learned it and am fluent in it.
Bast
Protector of Cats
I think French and German should be given the same importance in the world.
I'm not comfortable with just English hegemony.
I'm not comfortable with just English hegemony.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
Sure, I resent the limeys!
But seriously, it would be nice to know a few more languages in case I do get the opportunity to travel; between myself and Cleopatra, we know three languages, but we'll be kinda on our own if/when we have the chance to see Italy...
But seriously, it would be nice to know a few more languages in case I do get the opportunity to travel; between myself and Cleopatra, we know three languages, but we'll be kinda on our own if/when we have the chance to see Italy...
I actually prefer English over Norwegian. The english seems simpler to me and it's easier for me to write down what i really think in english.
But when i was 4 i spent 18 months in Saudi-Arabia and when i was 10 i spent 3 months in Australia so ive had to speak a lot of english.
But when i was 4 i spent 18 months in Saudi-Arabia and when i was 10 i spent 3 months in Australia so ive had to speak a lot of english.
AL_DA_GREAT
amour absinthe révolution
I resent english. No language should dominate.
Ziggy Stardust
Absolutely Sane
I like English and don't mind having to use it, but the universal language in the future will be Binary, not English.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Not only Czech... also Balkanic and Jewish... it's a common thing all over Southeastern or just eastern Europe...
Almost all Central and Eastern Europeans are cynical nihilists, that's why they love black humour. But Czechs are a bit special.
We don't fight (in last, say, 200 years) in any war we could lose. Polish, Romanians and others are much more stubborn. Polish would fight even if it was clear they're gonna be totally defeated, like they did in 1939. Romanians were prepared to fight the Soviets during the Cold War - after our Warsaw Pact brothers saved us from the counter-revolutionary elements threatening to destroy the socialist way of life in Czechoslovakia, and Romania refused to take part in this farce, Soviets conducted a big military exercise near the Romanian border, with obvious intent to "liberate" Romania as well. They gave up because they feared you'd actually fight back against them.
So, we "fight" with humour. Reinhard Heydrich, after he was appointed Reichs governor in the Protectorate Böhmen und Mähren, called Czechs "laughing beasts". The more you try to crush them, the more they laugh at you
Tycho Brahe
Emperor
I dont resent english, but your attitude I resent.
Theres so much snobbism going on, that english (or rather american like it sounds in the action-movies & rap-lyrics) is soooo mutch cooler then whatever local language. Where I live its danish.
I hate that so many danes think they speak THE international language because they know a little english. Nobody cares about german or french or spanish.
I think its great that most danes can speak more than danish. But I wish they/we would broaden our horizon even more.
Your not a cosmopolitan because you try to look like a second rate imitated american.
yeah, like Winner said, there's some language-nationalists who resent the english.
I'm a bit borderline myself, I have to admit. For example, if there's a good german word, I'd prefer it over an "Anglizismus", especially if many people use it the wrong way.
And I really dislike these adolescent pseudo-words (like replacing the german prefix "ge" with "gay", or replace "wen" with "wayne").
But I have no problem with english words entereng the german realm. If there's no appropriate german word, I'll happily use the english one (like many words from the it-area).
As a language I feel absolutely no resentment towards english, in fact I believe it's a pretty cool language
btw, I heard a nearly identical joke like the one winner posted in german, except that it's in Cologne and the guy that drinks is dutch
I'm a bit borderline myself, I have to admit. For example, if there's a good german word, I'd prefer it over an "Anglizismus", especially if many people use it the wrong way.
And I really dislike these adolescent pseudo-words (like replacing the german prefix "ge" with "gay", or replace "wen" with "wayne").
But I have no problem with english words entereng the german realm. If there's no appropriate german word, I'll happily use the english one (like many words from the it-area).
As a language I feel absolutely no resentment towards english, in fact I believe it's a pretty cool language
btw, I heard a nearly identical joke like the one winner posted in german, except that it's in Cologne and the guy that drinks is dutch
Winner
Diverse in Unity
You're totally wrong. I don't use the English words to show I can speak some English or just because I want to sound cosmopolitan or whatever you say. I use the English words where they fit better than the Czech alternatives.
Czech is sometimes clumsy and sounds stupid. English is more descriptive language.
Anyway, you just said exactly what the "language purists" like to say.
Ziggy Stardust
Absolutely Sane
Hey, I agree with Winner. I need a beer now
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Funny, "Anglizismus" exists in Czech too, as "Anglicismus". So I guess the Czech word describing a term derived from English comes from German
btw, I heard a nearly identical joke like the one winner posted in german, except that it's in Cologne and the guy that drinks is dutch
Another example of a trans-national joke. I'd like to know where it came from, since people obviously use it all over Europe to make fun of the less popular nations/ethnicities
so "Anglicismus" is a "Germanicismus"?Funny, "Anglizismus" exists in Czech too, as "Anglicismus". So I guess the Czech word describing a term derived from English comes from German
it's joke-globalism
