Languages

[cynthia]

Of course you lot may be language experts, but I am far from it. Currently I'm working hard to get my French up to speed so I have a smattering of a second language, but after that I'm lost, despite an attempt to teach me German, French, Latin and a smattering of Greek whilst at school. Somehow it all went into the ears, churned around the brain and emerged as total rubbish the moment my mouth opened!

Have just discovered the following site:
http://babel.altavista.com
which is an excellent translation site. It can cope with web pages as well as translate your own script. Very handy for any necessary documentation. It copes well with straightforward words, but struggles with colloquialisms.

Hope someone finds this useful trivia!

 

[Guest]

On board babel

Wife can babble in 8 languages. Can be useful sometimes, but does anyone know a way of switching it off?

 

[ean_p]

Re: On board babel

take her out for a bloody good meal.......

 

[Guest]

Re: On board babel

Sorry, I should have added, I come from Scotland. Going out for meals is outside my budget.

You reckon she babbles 'cos she's not fed properly?

 

[ean_p]

Re: On board babel

mmmmmm I refuse to go any further down this road......

 

[ghostwriter]

this is a french translation of what you wrote , translated with one of these internet translators like babel :
Naturellement vous divisez en lots pouvez être des experts en matière de langue, mais je suis loin de lui. Actuellement je travaille dur pour obtenir mon français jusqu'à la vitesse ainsi j'ai smattering d'une deuxième langue, mais ensuite cela je suis perdu, en dépit d'une tentative d'enseigner moi allemand, français, le latin et smattering du Grec tandis qu'à l'école. Elle toute est entrée de façon ou d'autre dans les oreilles, a battu autour du cerveau et a émergé pendant que total des déchets le moment où ma bouche s'est ouvert !

trust me dear , if ever you start talking like that to anyone in france he'll at least have a big smirk on his face....keep practicing , best way is to start practice your French kissing , then apply that and all the rest will follow /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[heerenleed]

Love this one.....
I don't think anyone speaking French like this will get away with just getting a big smirk. more likely they put you in an asylum.








Peter o/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[cynthia]

Ah, but you should see how it turns out without Babel!!!!
Not too bad on translating web sites tho. At least I can get the general gist.

Trouble is all the French people I know want to practice their English, so the French never gets used.

Giving the kissing serious consideration!

 

[Joe_Cole]

And this is the French tranlated back into English!

Naturally you divide into batches can be experts as regards language, but I am far from him. Currently I work hard to obtain my French until speed thus I have smattering of a second language, but then that I am lost, in spite of an attempt to teach me German, French, Latin and smattering of the Greek while at the school. It all entered in way or of other in the ears, beat around the brain and emerged while total of waste the moment when my mouth opened!

Regards

Joe

 

[ccscott49]

Makes total sense to me. Whats wrong with it?

 

[heerenleed]

nothing

wrong with it. Convincing the French that there is nothing wrong with it is another matter....

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[ccscott49]

Re: nothing

I don't speak french, I was commenting on the English!

 

[heerenleed]

Re: nothing

i know. But they don't...

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[heerenleed]

kissing is best

If the French speak to you in their English, and you speak to them via your computer, you are sure nobody is going to understand a word. The kissing is definitely the best option. The only question is... will you ever get your engine serviced.....?

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[cynthia]

Re: kissing is best

Even the kissing is difficult - is it once to each cheek or do I indulge in a third? Do I kiss just close friends or should I embrace the rather tasty young lad in the local shop?

Not going to be too adventurouse today. Going down to the local beach bar to try enticing a group of nursery children in hallowe'en costumes to converse with me in French. They should be just a little in advance of me, but I'll struggle valiently! A few bags of bon-bons should pave the way, as well as ward of the 'tricks' bit.

 

[heerenleed]

Don\'t feed them..

the bags of bon bons are NOT a good idea, as they mean the end of any conversation. And if the Brits are rather reluctant to mingle with foreigners (stereotype of course, but I love tu use that one here) the French are very much worse, especially if your French sounds very British. So, by giving them their bon-bons the only reason for speaking to you will be gone.

I'd stick to kissing. And yes......especially the rather tasty young lads in local shops or on local beaches. If anything, it will start people talking. And listening is the first step to language knowledge.

I am not going to tell you where i got my languages....But then, you don't want to know, do you....

cheers

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[Joe_Cole]

Nothing at all.

It just seems to me that if Johnny Foreigner would speak English then there would be no problems.

Regards

Joe

 

[hylas]

Hi Cyntia..

If you want to write me in French.. I will be very pleased to correct your mistakes and I will also answer in French.. :0)

Fair winds and peaceful anchorages

Alain d'Hylas..