English

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Originally Posted by schmenke

I was just yanking your chain ;) . No worries :)
But, yes, your post was grammatically awkward. I normally wouldn't bother, but this is a thread about English grammar :p : .

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As long as I didn't shoot myself in the foot by being grammatically incorrect it'll do me :p :

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

While I may sometimes act as the unwanted grammar police on here, one thing that never ceases to impress me is the standard of English displayed by some non-native speakers of the language. I mean, the likes of studi... sorry, wiruwiru, jens and Eki demonstrate virtually perfect idiomatic English, and ioan, gadjo_dilo and many others aren't far behind — often, ahead of those who actually speak and write in English as their mother tongue. So, how did those of you with these skills come to pick them up? While I studied German at university and lived in Germany until last week, my command of that language is dreadful in comparison.

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I think it differers from country to country but if you look at the countries Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have
the highest % of English speaking population outside Britain and its former colonies. I think one of the reasons is that the native languages in these countries are
quite similar to English (since they are closely related as they are Germanic languages) are closely related to English (they're all Germanic languages) other reasons are that
in Sweden English are taught at school already from early grades.

In my case we started with English in 4th grade (at the age of 11) and for the rest of the reaming years which makes its 9 years
in total if you include Gymnasiet (high school). But i think they start even earlier nowdays. Subtitles tv-programs (which already have been mentioned)
is of course another major contributing factor.

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Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo

I dared to become the gadjo dilo of this community.

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ioan is the really dilo one though :p

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Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo

I'm considered an "asset" to this forum.

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sure beats being the forum ass :dozey:

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

While I may sometimes act as the unwanted grammar police on here, one thing that never ceases to impress me is the standard of English displayed by some non-native speakers of the language. I mean, the likes of studi... sorry, wiruwiru, jens and Eki demonstrate virtually perfect idiomatic English, and ioan, gadjo_dilo and many others aren't far behind — often, ahead of those who actually speak and write in English as their mother tongue. So, how did those of you with these skills come to pick them up? While I studied German at university and lived in Germany until last week, my command of that language is dreadful in comparison.

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Thanks. :)
To be honest, it just happened.
Most of my friends claim that my brain still works like a kids brain when it comes to learning new languages. This is their explanation for me being fluent in 5 languages. Funnily enough I chose to become engineer. :D

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Originally Posted by tfp

I must also compliment everyone on here who isn't from an english speaking country, many people, Juha Koo AFF NOT OldF and many, many others speak perfect english on here, I sometimes feel guilty because I cant really speak another language!

Or a bit of German parhaps...Er...Der blau und weiss VW auto is sehr schnell mit Sebastien Ogier....

Oh dear!! :p

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Well, I usually try not to speak while posting in here! ;)

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Originally Posted by wiruwiru

The short answer is: no. The long answer is: hell no.

I sometimes speak with quite a bit of improvisation, but when it comes to writing, I stick to the rules.

Innit, eh? ;)

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Some know the english language so well they even know slang!

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Originally Posted by ioan

Well, I usually try not to speak while posting in here! ;)

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:D :cool:
If anyone wants to learn more, here geordie dictionary

Baad is a good one. "I was baad with the drink this morning" :D

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Originally Posted by tfp

If anyone wants to learn more, here geordie dictionaryBaad is a good one. "I was baad with the drink this morning" :D

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That's pretty cool. Sounds a bit like Lullans.

I've always dreamt of learning a special type of English and then scaring people around me with some provincial British, or Scottish, or Irish, or Southern U.S. accent and idioms on top of my thick foreign accent. It hasn't happened so far, though. The only English speaking area where I stayed for a long time was Illinois and they don't have much of a special accent there.

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Originally Posted by Rudy Tamasz

I've always dreamt of learning a special type of English...

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Cockney rhyming slang is what we all should learn. :D ;)

[youtube]qr2XOhgSVoY[/youtube]

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Originally Posted by ioan

Thanks. :)
To be honest, it just happened.
Most of my friends claim that my brain still works like a kids brain when it comes to learning new languages. This is their explanation for me being fluent in 5 languages. Funnily enough I chose to become engineer. :D

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Do you speak german? If you do, you'll grow into my eyes.

My father was fluent in 7 languages. Funnily enough he chose to become a driver.

That's the things about learning languages really, you speak to some one and they are fluent in 8 languages, are they working for the UN? No, they are a minimum wage waiter in a restaurant...