This site makes extensive use of JavaScript.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser.
Classic Theme
Thottbot Theme
Drop by and say hi! (Recycle Bin)
Post Reply
Return to board index
Post by
MyTie
What would happen if I moved to a country, by myself, and I didn't speak the language?
Depends on the country.
Norway
Post by
ElhonnaDS
There is no standard spoken Norwegian and a wide range of dialects is used even in public broadcasting, and there are even two standard ways of writing it, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Norwegians learn both at school. The two varieties are very close and mutually intelligible with the two other Scandinavian languages, Danish and Swedish. Of the two standard ways of writing it, Bokmål is by far the more common form of writing in most of the country, through Nynorsk is prevalaent in Western Norway.
Sami is a minority language which has official status in some Northern regions. Road signs and other public information is then provided in both Norwegian and Sami (note that Norwegian and Sami place names may differ, maps will typically use the Norwegian name). Sami is related to Finnish, but not to Scandinavian languages. Almost all Norwegians speak English, and unless you approach someone really old and isolated you should have no trouble whatsoever getting around in English; 91% of the population can speak English, making Norway one of the most English proficient countries on the planet where English is not an official language.
German and French are spoken by some workers in the tourism industry. However, this does not mean you will actually get by in these languages, and English is what you should stick to if you don't speak the local language or another Nordic language.
Foreign films and television programmes are generally shown in their original language with subtitles. Only children's programmes are dubbed into Norwegian.
Post by
Interest
It's for kids!
Post by
MyTie
There is no standard spoken Norwegian and a wide range of dialects is used even in public broadcasting, and there are even two standard ways of writing it, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Norwegians learn both at school. The two varieties are very close and mutually intelligible with the two other Scandinavian languages, Danish and Swedish. Of the two standard ways of writing it, Bokmål is by far the more common form of writing in most of the country, through Nynorsk is prevalaent in Western Norway.
Sami is a minority language which has official status in some Northern regions. Road signs and other public information is then provided in both Norwegian and Sami (note that Norwegian and Sami place names may differ, maps will typically use the Norwegian name). Sami is related to Finnish, but not to Scandinavian languages. Almost all Norwegians speak English, and unless you approach someone really old and isolated you should have no trouble whatsoever getting around in English; 91% of the population can speak English, making Norway one of the most English proficient countries on the planet where English is not an official language.
German and French are spoken by some workers in the tourism industry. However, this does not mean you will actually get by in these languages, and English is what you should stick to if you don't speak the local language or another Nordic language.
Foreign films and television programmes are generally shown in their original language with subtitles. Only children's programmes are dubbed into Norwegian.
Dang...
Do that thing only for portugal.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
English is spoken in many tourist areas, but it is far from ubiquitous. Portuguese youths are taught English in school, and are also exposed to American and British films and television shows with the original English soundtrack and Portuguese subtitles, so while shy, most younger people would have at least a basic grasp of English. To improve your chances of being understood, speak slowly and stick to simple phrases. In fact, you are very likely to find more English spoken in Portugal than in the likes of Spain or France. In the main tourist areas you will almost always find someone who can speak the main European languages. Hotel personnel are required to speak English, even if sketchily. French has almost disappeared as a second language, except possibly among older people. German or Italian speakers are rare. Approximately 32% of Portuguese people can speak and understand English, while 24% can speak and understand French. Despite Spanish being mutually intelligible in a sense that most Portuguese understand it written and/or spoken, only 9% of the Portuguese population can speak it fluently. If you're a Spanish speaker, chances are you'll understand each other very well without an interpreter for the most part.
Portuguese people are of generally excellent humor when they are talking with someone who cannot speak their language. This means that all types of shop owners, sales-folk, and people curious about you will take time to try to carve out any means of communication, often with funny and unexpected results. Helping a foreigner is considered a pleasant and rewarding occasion and experience. If you attempt to speak correct Portuguese, especially if slightly beyond the trivial, with locals, you will be treated with respect and often the locals will apologize for how "difficult" it is to learn Portuguese, or how "hard" the language is, and will almost adopt you. This might encourage travelers to learn the very basics of Portuguese, such as daily greetings and the routine "please-thank you" exchanges.
In Miranda do Douro, a town in the North East, and its vicinity some people speak a regional language called Mirandese, in addition to Portuguese, although rarely in front of people they do not know.
Foreign television programmes are almost always shown in their original language with subtitles. Only children's programmes are dubbed into Portuguese.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
More great kid witticisms
Post by
MyTie
That sounds like so much fun.
Post by
Interest
More great kid witticisms
Wow luls.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
I can hear crickets in the off-topic forum.
Post by
Adamsm
Jumbo sized crickets.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
Jumbo sized crickets.
8 inches long.
I think I will name him Garus
Post by
Azazel
What would happen if I moved to a country, by myself, and I didn't speak the language?
Depends on the country.
Norway
Shouldn't be too bad. They should be pretty friendly up there + English is mandatory so..
Post by
MyTie
What would happen if I moved to a country, by myself, and I didn't speak the language?
Depends on the country.
Norway
Shouldn't be too bad. They should be pretty friendly up there + English is mandatory so..
I would love to go to a European country that does not speak English, and not speak their language. It just sounds... adventurous.
Post by
MyTie
My 3 year old son just informed me that his grandma is a jedi. Why is my mother in law so much cooler than me?
Post by
ElhonnaDS
It is estimated that almost 30% of humans can speak English (over two billion). English is the most spoken language on the planet, counting first, second, third, etc. language speakers. It is the official language of over 50 countries and it is a language of business and marketing world wide
It's harder than you think to find a place where no one speaks any English. Between countries for whom it is an official/native language, former British colonies and territories where it is still widely spoken, and the number of people who choose it as a second or third language because of how much it is used in the international business and political community, it's becoming a very universal language.
Post by
baradiel
Another bad day of Call of duty mothern warfare 3....
Post by
Thror
English is spoken in many tourist areas, but it is far from ubiquitous. Portuguese youths are taught English in school, and are also exposed to American and British films and television shows with the original English soundtrack and Portuguese subtitles, so while shy, most younger people would have at least a basic grasp of English. To improve your chances of being understood, speak slowly and stick to simple phrases. In fact, you are very likely to find more English spoken in Portugal than in the likes of Spain or France. In the main tourist areas you will almost always find someone who can speak the main European languages. Hotel personnel are required to speak English, even if sketchily. French has almost disappeared as a second language, except possibly among older people. German or Italian speakers are rare. Approximately 32% of Portuguese people can speak and understand English, while 24% can speak and understand French. Despite Spanish being mutually intelligible in a sense that most Portuguese understand it written and/or spoken, only 9% of the Portuguese population can speak it fluently. If you're a Spanish speaker, chances are you'll understand each other very well without an interpreter for the most part.
Portuguese people are of generally excellent humor when they are talking with someone who cannot speak their language. This means that all types of shop owners, sales-folk, and people curious about you will take time to try to carve out any means of communication, often with funny and unexpected results. Helping a foreigner is considered a pleasant and rewarding occasion and experience. If you attempt to speak correct Portuguese, especially if slightly beyond the trivial, with locals, you will be treated with respect and often the locals will apologize for how "difficult" it is to learn Portuguese, or how "hard" the language is, and will almost adopt you. This might encourage travelers to learn the very basics of Portuguese, such as daily greetings and the routine "please-thank you" exchanges.
In Miranda do Douro, a town in the North East, and its vicinity some people speak a regional language called Mirandese, in addition to Portuguese, although rarely in front of people they do not know.
Foreign television programmes are almost always shown in their original language with subtitles. Only children's programmes are dubbed into Portuguese.
Hm. Wikitravel doesn't seem to have a nice guide like this for my language. What a shame.
Post by
MyTie
It is estimated that almost 30% of humans can speak English (over two billion). English is the most spoken language on the planet, counting first, second, third, etc. language speakers. It is the official language of over 50 countries and it is a language of business and marketing world wide
It's harder than you think to find a place where no one speaks any English. Between countries for whom it is an official/native language, former British colonies and territories where it is still widely spoken, and the number of people who choose it as a second or third language because of how much it is used in the international business and political community, it's becoming a very universal language.
Then, I need a second, uncommon language, like Mandarian Chinese, and then go to Germany, and pretend I don't know English. What fun! I could make a bunch of friends through tedious work on the massive communication barrier. After months of work, and frustration, I could be like, "oh by the way I speak english trolololo".
Post by
Thror
You would need to be a very special persion to pull that off. In order to get someone to the point where he is willing to work on the language barrier, you would... either have to be really special or give him no other way than to do it (like be his boss, room mate or stranded together on an island).
Post by
MyTie
So, get some heavy whipping cream, irish cream creamer (non alcoholic), ice cubes, sugar, cold brewed coffee, vinilla.
Put the creamer, ice, coffee, and vanilla and sugar (to taste) in a martini shaker. Shake it for a few minutes, and strain into a glass. Beat the cream with some sugar with electric beaters until very thick, almost buttery consistency. Top your glass with a big clump of that cream, and enjoy.... Anyone want pics?
Post Reply
You are not logged in. Please
log in
to post a reply or
register
if you don't already have an account.