The more annoying thing is when people assume that we could speak in the language that we are learning fluently and perfectly even though we had just taken a few classes.
I remember that for Japanese, I decided on a sentence that I could then simply trot out when asked to play "performing seal". (It was "nano o ittara ii desu ka?", which I hope means "what would you like me to say?".)
Watashi no hobakurafuto wa unagi ga ippai desu. That's japanese for my hovercraft is full of eels. That's the standard phrase I use when someone asks me to say something in japanese.
"Je suis un peu etránge parce ce que mon sange est dans le sac." "Eres la persona más fea que nunca he visto en mi vida." "Ich bin eine minkehoffer mit gösse rot und weine mübbe laf."
Yes, I don't speak German, but for any non-German speaker I could probably say something convincing (I hope there's nothing rude and only gobbledigook in that "German" sentence, lol). The French sentence might not be correct, but it's passable to non-francophone ears. :P
I don't get it. If someone asked me to say something in the language that I'm learning (which is English, by the way), I wouldn't hesitate. This just means they're interested in other languages, and there's nothing wrong with it. Helping them doesn't make me a "circus clown", it just makes me a polite person >.>
I can certainly feel the frustration; I've been there, only the other way around; while I've lived abroad, mostly in English speaking countries, people often ask me to say something in my native language or usually something specific in my native language like "hello" or "good night". Then they try to repeat it and make fun of it. Like any form of curiosity this can be fun and interesting for the few first times, but 500th time is not fun anymore. It is not wrong, but can be annoying and definitely not fun.
Yes it is extremely annoying, I feel you. I have been asked to speak in Mandarin (my first language) so many times by my English speaking friends so that they could repeat it, and apparently, 'learn' the language. But almost always they would be like, 'ching chong ching chang'. And I always get annoyed by that. -.-
I actually have been on BOTH sides of this type of discourse :D. I'd be thrilled with a language I don't know, and someone would be thrilled with hearing my native language. I have a double standard.
Mein Luftkissenfahrzeug ist voller Aale.
ReplyDeleteThe more annoying thing is when people assume that we could speak in the language that we are learning fluently and perfectly even though we had just taken a few classes.
ReplyDelete"Oh, you started to learn [language]? Order our meal for us at this ethnic restaurant!"
DeleteI agree!
DeleteReally annoying!
DeleteHow about: "Oh, you started learning Arabic? Order our meal in this Iranian restaurant!"
DeleteHow about: "oh, you started learning Arabic? Order our meal in this Kurdish restaurant!" :P
DeleteI never know what to say, either.
ReplyDeleteI remember that for Japanese, I decided on a sentence that I could then simply trot out when asked to play "performing seal". (It was "nano o ittara ii desu ka?", which I hope means "what would you like me to say?".)
Watashi no hobakurafuto wa unagi ga ippai desu. That's japanese for my hovercraft is full of eels. That's the standard phrase I use when someone asks me to say something in japanese.
ReplyDeleteThat...that's beautiful.
DeleteIf in doubt, make it up. XD
ReplyDelete"Je suis un peu etránge parce ce que mon sange est dans le sac."
"Eres la persona más fea que nunca he visto en mi vida."
"Ich bin eine minkehoffer mit gösse rot und weine mübbe laf."
Yes, I don't speak German, but for any non-German speaker I could probably say something convincing (I hope there's nothing rude and only gobbledigook in that "German" sentence, lol). The French sentence might not be correct, but it's passable to non-francophone ears. :P
And as in the Spanish sentence, you can hide insults. ;)
DeleteI don't get it. If someone asked me to say something in the language that I'm learning (which is English, by the way), I wouldn't hesitate. This just means they're interested in other languages, and there's nothing wrong with it. Helping them doesn't make me a "circus clown", it just makes me a polite person >.>
ReplyDeleteTrue. We can all learn to be patient and tolerant... but by the 100th we can't help feeling a bit irritated :). Hence this is a comic :)
DeleteI can certainly feel the frustration; I've been there, only the other way around; while I've lived abroad, mostly in English speaking countries, people often ask me to say something in my native language or usually something specific in my native language like "hello" or "good night". Then they try to repeat it and make fun of it. Like any form of curiosity this can be fun and interesting for the few first times, but 500th time is not fun anymore. It is not wrong, but can be annoying and definitely not fun.
ReplyDeleteYes it is extremely annoying, I feel you. I have been asked to speak in Mandarin (my first language) so many times by my English speaking friends so that they could repeat it, and apparently, 'learn' the language. But almost always they would be like, 'ching chong ching chang'. And I always get annoyed by that. -.-
DeleteI actually have been on BOTH sides of this type of discourse :D. I'd be thrilled with a language I don't know, and someone would be thrilled with hearing my native language. I have a double standard.
ReplyDeleteI have to use this the next time someone ask me to say something in Chinese. XD
ReplyDeleteSay something in Swedish!
ReplyDelete"Jag vet inte, vad vill du mig säga?"
(I don't know, what do you want me to say?)
Cool! Say something else!
"Jag är inte en marionett, du håriga apa"
(I'm not a puppet, you hairy monkey)
Wow! Such a beautiful language!