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Post by houpla on Feb 9, 2023 9:34:49 GMT 1
We all need a bit of help with translation from time to time, especially as Mangetout found recently, when something doesn't translate literally. This takes the biscuit, though....(lifted from FB) Thanks for this. We will be unable to read this in French, neither will a lot of our friends. Most of us have decided to leave it until around early May. Perhaps someone with the time and language skills will be able to translate it for us.
Err....sure, and if you leave your address, someone will be around to wipe your bottom, too.  |
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 1,787
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Post by Aardvark on Feb 9, 2023 11:09:52 GMT 1
Not a very charitable attitude, but you are entitled to your opinion.
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curtis
Member
Charente Maritime
Posts: 406 
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Post by curtis on Feb 9, 2023 11:29:14 GMT 1
I have some sympathy for those that never had any language lessons at school. But, so many make little effort and stay in an english bubble with everything as if they never left the UK. TV,newspapers,food,friends.However, others have to translate or keep them informed. Small rant over.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,488
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Post by exile on Feb 9, 2023 12:03:46 GMT 1
Before we all prejudge:
OH never had lessons at school. She speaks French very badly.
But she has become progressively more and more deaf to the point that even with hearing aids she often mishears English.
However, she does have some command of written French- not brilliant but she can follow news items and this would seem to be a written message. what happened to Google translate? I know it is far from perfect but it usually gets you close.
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Post by pcpa on Feb 9, 2023 12:22:05 GMT 1
Whats the problem?
By early May he/she and most of their friends will be fluent in French.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 6,898
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Post by suein56 on Feb 9, 2023 12:25:15 GMT 1
Whats the problem? By early May he/she and most of their friends will be fluent in French.Yeah right .. I should coco. |
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Nifty
Member
Posts: 4,237
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Post by Nifty on Feb 9, 2023 13:13:11 GMT 1
Before we all prejudge: OH never had lessons at school. She speaks French very badly. But she has become progressively more and more deaf to the point that even with hearing aids she often mishears English. However, she does have some command of written French- not brilliant but she can follow news items and this would seem to be a written message. what happened to Google translate? I know it is far from perfect but it usually gets you close. Just because the op was referring to Sharron or Tracy from Essex. |
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Post by woolybanana on Feb 9, 2023 13:37:11 GMT 1
Are Sharon and Tracy similar to the greased lumpkins who appear on Love Island?
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Post by ForumUser2 on Feb 9, 2023 15:11:53 GMT 1
I think there is a case to be made for having a natural ability at languages. For the rest of us it's a question of working at it. Undoubtedly there is no substitute for being in a position where you have to speak the local language, where there is no option. That's what happened with us and we learned very quickly because we had to.
Now, both my sisters-in-law are fluent in French and Spanish - both through immersion rather than rote learning. Interestingly they are both superb musicians, one unable to read music but can reproduce any composition on the piano totally by ear. I wonder if this ear for music is an advantage when learning a language? As well as having the confidence to just get stuck in and learn from the inevitable errors.
One of the sisters toyed with taking a job in Germany when we lived there. She spoke not a word of German. I asked her how long she thought it would take her to gain similar fluency in German as she has in French and Spanish. She reckoned 6 months. I have no reason the disbelieve her. Wouldn't it be great to have that confidence.
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Post by mangetout on Feb 9, 2023 17:59:55 GMT 1
Whats the problem? By early May he/she and most of their friends will be fluent in French.Yeah right .. I should coco. I haven't heard that expression for decades. Takes me back. What part of the UK do you come from? |
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 6,898
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Post by suein56 on Feb 9, 2023 18:47:12 GMT 1
Yeah right .. I should coco. I haven't heard that expression for decades. Takes me back. What part of the UK do you come from?Born in Lancs then moved all over UK ending up in London, then Lincolnshire via Notts. You couldn't make it up  |
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Post by houpla on Feb 9, 2023 19:00:54 GMT 1
Not a very charitable attitude, but you are entitled to your opinion. I'm sorry, A, and you might be surprised to learn that I do have a lot of sympathy for anyone who has tried to learn a foreign language but couldn't. But in the context of a group run by volunteers who give an awful lot of their time to providing accurate, up-to-date information on very complex matters, it struck me as particularly crass. Living as I do in an area crawling with Brits who expect to be nannied and spoon-fed by those who have made the effort, I've come to the conclusion that most of them are just plain lazy. |
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Post by pcpa on Feb 9, 2023 19:47:50 GMT 1
I have recently moved to your area and when people hear my accent they think they have to speak English, when I say I speak French and would prefer to speak in France the majority are completely gobsmacked.
It seems that so few can speak French that most businesses and tradespeople have to make the effort or lose a very large proportion of customers, even the girl who operates the weighbridge at the scrapyard speaks English and was probably employed because of that.
It is a great surprise to me that so many are able to speak English to as in 17 years in my own area I only met two people who could and one was my French teacher.
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Post by pcpa on Feb 9, 2023 19:53:28 GMT 1
Living as I do in an area crawling with Brits who expect to be nannied and spoon-fed by those who have made the effort, I've come to the conclusion that most of them are just plain lazy. Only because they have the (lazy) choice, anywhere else they would have to shape up or ship out, in my old area most shipped out within a few years. All those years ago I read a serious and not tongue in cheek posting on a forum asking for an English speaking whatever and they said "unfortunately I seem to have moved to a non English speaking village, I thought it was ridiculous and hilarious in equal measure and thought what on earth were they expecting? Now I realise that they had probably holidayed in this area before househunting and really did think that everyone spoke English. Many do but they sure ain't happy about having to do so. |
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Nifty
Member
Posts: 4,237
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Post by Nifty on Feb 9, 2023 20:50:06 GMT 1
Are Sharon and Tracy similar to the greased lumpkins who appear on Love Island? I have never heard of Love Island. Where is that? |
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