A question for English as a second language people

[Sir Tavic]

This is a question for those who learned a different language before they learned English. When posting, in what manner do you write up your post? Do you think it up in one language and then write it in English? Or do you have enough mastery and comfort with English that you can think and write in English? Or do you do something completely different, like perhaps use an online translator? While I'm just an American who's only fluent in English, I think it's awesome how International this forum is.

[Veck]

I think up my posts in Brummy, then translate to English. The trouble is that I live in a community that primarily speaks a language different to English, so I'm not used to speaking it.

[Per]

Whenever I do something that requires english from me, like internet-going or talking to english people, I try to think in english so that it will be more natural to me. This mostly works out. If I every now and then come across anything I do not understand, I'll most likely use a translator. I guess my grammar is acceptable, but my vocabulary is not the greatest. Most grammar/spelling mistakes usually comes from me being careless, or in a hurry.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Think of it this way: Your grammar and spelling is a lot better than many native-English speakers here. (And on the internet in general)

[Generalno1]

My English is better than my Hindi, so it doesn't really matter much to me. I type and think in English.

[Dark Lord Cam]

I'm better with English than my native language.

[Jcnator]

I speek very fluently in English. I started to learn when I was 5 years old. Spanish was my first language (Hola! ).
When I speek and write in english is like my brain switch language and the words just flow naturally of me.

[Sir Tavic]

Cool. I'm especially impressed with those of you who also participate in the riddle threads, since that requires an excellent understanding of English. Other than when someone says otherwise or actually fills out their location in the UCP, I can't tell where they're from and whether they learned English first or later. Also, Veck: how different is Brummy from English, and do you ever accidentally have it slip through when you're typing?

[Dark Lord Cam]

I speek very fluently in English. I started to learn when I was 5 years old. Spanish was my first language (Hola! ).
When I speek and write in english is like my brain switch language and the words just flow naturally of me.

Donde es tu patria?

[Veck]

Well, sometimes I get the urge to type 'Ooroight mayt!? 'Ow ya dawin todayes?' but it's nothing major.

[POMC S117]

You speak like that? I always imagine a man's voice when I read that.

[Veck]

Of course I don't speak like that. I'm not some Aston tosser.

[POMC S117]

Aston tosser?

[Argonanza]

English pretty much comes naturally for me. My vocabulary does have its limitations, however. Like kitchen stuff, I don't know many words for kitchen stuff.

[The Tom]

I really shouldn't be commenting here because English is my first language and I speak it with what you might call an 'ordinary' accent, but I'm poking my head around the door to say that linguistically, language acquisition in terms of learning English is very interesting. It's one of the things I'd like to study if I make it to Melbourne university and therefore am able to do linguistics as a secondary course. So I'll be keeping tabs on this discussion, even though I have zilch to add to it.

[Sir Tavic]

Of course I don't speak like that. I'm not some Aston tosser.

I can't help but think of the Flight of the Conchords clip, when they inform the street vendor of the difference between Aussies and Kiwis. To everyone else it's a joke, but to Australians and New Zealanders, it's hard to believe anyone could mix them up because they are so different.

[Lindai]

Wheyis tha caaar?

I start off in binary then translate to English.

[Sir Tavic]

Wheyis tha caaar?

As ridiculous as it seems, my sister traveled around Scotland for a month with a bunch of Australians and one Kiwi, and apparently, almost whenever she (the kiwi) would say something, all the Aussies would laugh because of her accent. My sister claimed that after two weeks travelling with them, she could still barely tell the difference between the accents...

[OblivionDuruza]

Just on the Aussie, Kiwi thing, I literally struggle to see how people find our accents similar, even though my brain knows they probably are. Listening to a Kiwi, the sound is very different from what I'm used to listening to other Aussies.

[Sir Tavic]

Just on the Aussie, Kiwi thing, I literally struggle to see how people find our accents similar, even though my brain knows they probably are. Listening to a Kiwi, the sound is very different from what I'm used to listening to other Aussies.

I know, but most people aren't listening for a difference, and so they expect the accents to be the same. I imagine that many people, outside of America, have trouble differentiating between a New York and Boston accent. When you know what to listen for, it's completely obvious how different they are, but until you know, it's really tough to hear the special quirks. For me, I can more or less tell the difference between Australian and New Zealander accents, I just don't know which is which. But, as interesting as accents are, it's a little off-topic...

So, another question: Do all of you with English-as-a-second-language, do you ever have trouble with phrases used on hear that you don't understand? For example, if someone said kicked the bucket, instead of died, or anything like that?

[Jcnator]

I speek very fluently in English. I started to learn when I was 5 years old. Spanish was my first language (Hola! ).
When I speek and write in english is like my brain switch language and the words just flow naturally of me.

Donde es tu patria?

La misteriosa tierra de Peru. (the mysterious land of Peru)

The school I go too has a very strong english learning system. When I was in kinder everything was dictated in english. We couldn't understand nothing but it forced us to learn it

[ZombieMonkeyNZ]

...when they inform the street vendor of the difference between Aussies and Kiwis. To everyone else it's a joke, but to Australians and New Zealanders, it's hard to believe anyone could mix them up because they are so different.[/color]

Damn freakin' straight.

[MARS]

I'm adept enough to write everything without looking up anything. I may forget a word or two but that happens in every language.

[Avron the S'wit]

English is my first language, but when I am speaking or writing in Turkish I always think in Turkish. Sometimes I even think in Turkish when I am still in an English environment - and my Turkish isn't even fluent yet. I can only imagine what happens next.

...to say that linguistically, language acquisition in terms of learning English is very interesting.

It is, extremely. English is a peculiar language because there are lots of rules and exceptions that make it much more complicated. I know that beginning ESL students are always good at grasping the basics, but it is the more complex rules of grammar and morphology that trouble and stump advanced learners. Of course, it also depends on how old you are when you begin to learn and how determined you are to learn a language. Did you know that studies show that how well you do in sequential language acquisition (a language you learn after having fully developed your native language) has less to do with how smart you are or when you started to learn it than how determined you are to be an active part of the culture that speaks the language? Never underestimate the link between these two things!

When I am done with my PhD in language acquisition, this conversation will be much more exciting...for me, anyway.

[POMC S117]

Avron!

I find it odd how English is being taught over the world.

Avron, I get what you mean by English grammar being complex. You have past tense, past participial, their, they're and there and the i after e except before c that only works on certain words.