Ceci n'est pas une endive - Tag - English - Comments

Of intended puns and other language barriers - Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:21:04 +0100

Yes - I have experienced this. At home with my wife (german) and me (English) and kids (bilingual Americans) we speak Denglisch so we all get each other's jokes. Out of the house though with german friends I will get that stare (z.B. "wir sagen nicht 'lass uns die Straße schlagen' wenn wir losgehen wollen"). Actually that's a slightly different type of wortspiel - one where you have to speak both languages to get it. Those are more fun too.
Gotta make myself on the socks now. Bye.

Empathy, Culture and the Words You Use - Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:14:53 +0100

Wow, really excellent point. I'd never thought of it that way. Love your blog, btw.

Of intended puns and other language barriers - Nemo

Nemo — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:11:34 +0200

I just made this mistake myself with a non-native English speaker like me: I was in proofreading mindset and I didn't get the pun in an ungrammatical sentence. I felt stupid because I should know the author well enough to get it.

How Speaking Too Many Languages Is Limiting - notafish

notafish — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:28:30 +0200

@Eugene I think you have a point, with the kids, I've come to this conclusion too, but it really only is true for a bit of my not writing. ;)

@Patricio I saw this when not too long ago, you explained a word you used in a Facebook status (the one about the basketball player). :)

How Speaking Too Many Languages Is Limiting - Patricio

Patricio — Sun, 05 May 2013 16:50:28 +0200

True. I realize that I've stopped tweetting because of the different audiences (in languages and in interests). And sometimes, when I update my Facebook status in plain Argentinian Spanish, I fear the risk of misunderstandings.

How Speaking Too Many Languages Is Limiting - Eugene Eric Kim

Eugene Eric Kim — Sun, 05 May 2013 16:36:34 +0200

I get what you're saying. Classic paradox of choice. Options can be paralyzing. So I'm glad you're going to just work through it and write, even if that means I won't be able to understand all of it!

That said, I can't help but think that having two kids might also have had something to do with your lower output. :-)

Empathy, Culture and the Words You Use - notafish

notafish — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:15:01 +0100

No, I haven't, but looking it up really quick, this seems interessant, I'll look into it. Thanks :)

Empathy, Culture and the Words You Use - Mark

Mark — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:47:49 +0100

Yes. Very good points. Have you seen Simon Baron Cohen's research?

Mark

Truly multilingual - PrincessH

PrincessH — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:37:43 +0200

Maybe she won't think anything of it before your asking, because
till that point, it's just her normal way to be.

(Princess who needs to study some grammar and tenses !)