I genuinely hate how English is becoming a sort of de facto global language. Just more cultural imperialism. But it's very nice to be able to communicate with comrades from around the world, it might be my favorite aspect of this site. So I do appreciate you all taking effort to think something in your native language, translate it in your head, then type it up in English. Hopefully in FALGSC we'll get our universal translators, too.

For real, learning languages is hard. I had 2 years of Spanish in high school and didn't do too well, something in my brain just didn't click. But maybe you need to use another language a lot to really learn it? I lived in Germany for just two months and by the end I found myself kinda picking up things.

:soviet-heart:

  • unperson [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    think something in your native language, translate it in your head, then type it up in English

    Ha you would be surprised how often a thought comes out in whatever language and I can't remember how to translate it back to my native language to speak it out. I end up like :biden-troll: 'you know, the thing'.

    I suck at translating.

    • Gucci_Minh [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Or the code switching where I'll talk to my parents or other Chinese Canadians and just substitute random english words for Chinese and vice versa to make this incomprehensible sentence that only a very specific subset of people can even parse.

      EDIT: Is this how Singaporeans live every day?

      • unperson [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        I've been to Singapore and yes, they're impossible to understand unless you speak English, Malay and Tamil. The Chinese keep more to themselves.