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Simon Says
Acolyte
36 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Feb 2004 : 23:56:49
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First: Alaundo, you tireless (and some might say sensual) fellow. Thank you for your lightning-like response to Elaine's suggestion. What a great idea! Leave it to Elaine "The Innovatrix" Cunningham to streamline this message board. Great idea---great response time!
Second: In the E.C. thread, a discussion has recently begun between her and a gentleman who admitted English is not his first language.
I give an upright and noble salute to you, good sir, and to all those who frequent these message boards---as well as the message boards at WotC---who do not read English as your primary language. Take it from someone who's traveled: learning more than one language is not the easiest thing in the world. The fact that I continually read messages from people in Poland, Finland, Italy---you name the country, it has seemingly made an appearance---just blows me away.
Chalk it up to American hubris (personally I blame my British ancestors), but I never, ever believed the Forgotten Realms was such an international phenomenon. I'll never forget a GenCon I went to a number of years back, speaking with a gentleman from Spain and discovering he'd taught himself to read English JUST so he could better understand R.A. Salvatore's "Homeland" (I guess it was already reprinted and translated in Spanish?). Amazing.
The longer I linger on these boards, the more my eyes are opened.
And for those of you that don't know---learning the nuances of English ain't exactly a walk in the park (as E.C. pointed out). It amazes me that, throughout the world, more and more people are picking up the English language---largely due to mainstream media and music, I assume. I wonder if, one day, some bizarre "common tongue" form of English might not be the world standard.
(With the occasional "Hasta la vista" and "Konichi-wa" thrown in, naturally.)
In a sense, this is kinda sad. Again---English is a bizarre tongue. It would make sense for a simpler language (one that didn't have eighty uses for the word "butt") to become the world standard.
Ah, whatever happened to good ol' Latin?
So for all of you out there, scratching your heads as to why on earth "right" means "correct" and "left" means "liberal wierdo" (and to all the wrestling costume designers)---
---This Bud's For You.
Thank you for bringing our wide, wide world (it's the only one we've got) that much closer.
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And the trees were all kept equal - by hatchet, axe, and saw. --Peart |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 05:15:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Simon Says
Second: In the E.C. thread, a discussion has recently begun between her and a gentleman who admitted English is not his first language.
I give an upright and noble salute to you, good sir, and to all those who frequent these message boards---as well as the message boards at WotC---who do not read English as your primary language.
Take it from someone who coordinated and taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for a few years, if anyone on this board is reading/posting and English is not their primary language, big time congrats! You've already conquered the biggest hurdle most of my students had, having the confidence to utilize the language skills they were learning outside the classroom. Speaking another language can be terrifying as I recall when my military days had me in Germany and my limited Spanish skills had me attempting to communicate with newcomers to the ESL program when it came time to fill out paperwork. |
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Adrian Moonbow
Seeker
Denmark
64 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 06:48:11
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Well thank you! 
As you can see, I'm from Denmark. Danish is my first language and english is my second. That is why my grammar isn't that good.
You will be pleased to know that I'm a few years away from becoming a teacher, and that I am going to teach english. The reason for this is, amongst others, (surprise) my love for FR novels. |
"I would have wanted not to die.
I would have wanted never to grow up!"
-Quidam
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 11:41:49
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quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
[quote]Take it from someone who coordinated and taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for a few years, if anyone on this board is reading/posting and English is not their primary language, big time congrats! You've already conquered the biggest hurdle most of my students had, having the confidence to utilize the language skills they were learning outside the classroom. Speaking another language can be terrifying as I recall when my military days had me in Germany and my limited Spanish skills had me attempting to communicate with newcomers to the ESL program when it came time to fill out paperwork.
*whistles* You're an English teacher? I don't speak English as a native language, myself. |
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Crust
Learned Scribe
USA
273 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 12:51:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
*whistles* You're an English teacher? I don't speak English as a native language, myself.
I would have never guessed that had you not made it known. How long have you been speaking English? |
"That's right, hurl back views that force ye to think by name-calling - 'tis the grand old tradition, let it not down! Anything to keep from having to think, or - Mystra forfend - change thy own views!"
Narnra glowered at her father. "Just how am I to learn how to think? By being taught by you?"
"Some folk in the Realms would give their lives for the chance to learn at my feet," Elminster said mildly. "Several already have."
~from Elminster's Daughter, Ed Greenwood |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 13:41:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Crust
quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
*whistles* You're an English teacher? I don't speak English as a native language, myself.
I would have never guessed that had you not made it known. How long have you been speaking English?
So I've been told; thank you. :) It's my third language or thereabouts, depending on how technical you want to be.
I've been speaking English for... I don't know. Let's say three years, but I've never lived in a country whose population's first language is English. Besides, I find that non-native speakers tend to be a bit more self-conscious about their grammar and spelling than do the natives. Generalization, but true. |
Edited by - Winterfox on 13 Feb 2004 13:58:10 |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 15:44:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
*whistles* You're an English teacher? I don't speak English as a native language, myself.
Actually my primary job included training the English as a Second Language tutors that would go on to teach ESL students. But, when we didn't have tutors for a class, the students had me instructing. In the past, I've taught ESL, Basic Literacy, GED, etc.
Thanks for the whistle.  |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 15:48:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
So I've been told; thank you. :) It's my third language or thereabouts, depending on how technical you want to be.
What are the other languages? And your English language skills are wonderful based upon the communications I've seen. |
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Demonwise
Acolyte
29 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 16:43:12
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Well, I quess I am that gentleman?
Alas, barely a man. I am thirteen years old, thirteen cold summers and one hell of nasty autumns ;). Have been taught english for three years, now, and can gladly admit that it is my preferred.
Thanks for the salute ;). |
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Demonwise
Acolyte
29 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 16:46:06
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| Oh yeah, I am a Danish (Dane) too (not those you sadistic americans eat for breakfeast , that is). |
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Thysl
Seeker
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2004 : 22:08:42
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Ummmm, danish...
quote:
I've been speaking English for... I don't know. Let's say three years, but I've never lived in a country whose population's first language is English. Besides, I find that non-native speakers tend to be a bit more self-conscious about their grammar and spelling than do the natives. Generalization, but true.
Huh, who woulda thunk it? What, pray tell, is your native tongue, Winterfox?
Anyhoo, yeah, kudos! I took a year of Han dialect and can barely order a beer, ask where the bathroom is and, then, understand the answer... |
There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
--Carl Jung |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2004 : 04:07:56
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quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Actually my primary job included training the English as a Second Language tutors that would go on to teach ESL students. But, when we didn't have tutors for a class, the students had me instructing. In the past, I've taught ESL, Basic Literacy, GED, etc.
Thanks for the whistle.
Anyone who can be a teacher and not go insane deserves a whistle or two. *g*
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
What are the other languages? And your English language skills are wonderful based upon the communications I've seen.
Thai (native language) and Cantonese (native... kind of). I can also read and write katakana and hiragana, but I can't really speak Japanese. |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2004 : 04:14:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
Anyone who can be a teacher and not go insane deserves a whistle or two. *g*
Well, thank you. Wait a minute..."And not go insane?" You didn't tell me sanity was a requirement.
quote:
Thai (native language) and Cantonese (native... kind of). I can also read and write katakana and hiragana, but I can't really speak Japanese.
Now it's my turn. <Whistle> Whoa. |
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Adrian Moonbow
Seeker
Denmark
64 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 09:24:56
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quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Well, thank you. Wait a minute..."And not go insane?" You didn't tell me sanity was a requirement.
I thought insanity was a requirement.
Demonwise: Nice to know I'm not the only dane here!
quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
Besides, I find that non-native speakers tend to be a bit more self-conscious about their grammar and spelling than do the natives. Generalization, but true.
I agree. At least I feel the same way. You should see when I write in danish (or maybe not!)  |
"I would have wanted not to die.
I would have wanted never to grow up!"
-Quidam
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A Quick Salute
