Well, then it becomes very evident - and the Dane then switches seemlessly into perfect English … just like the Swedes.
(or maybe 
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Things you'd like to say, but can't
- Thread starter Stig-OT-Dump
- Start date
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(or maybe )
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
There were lots of Norwegians on my degree course. They could all speak and write perfect English. There were many more British students who could *not* (probably despite A* results in GCSE English ...?Well, then it becomes very evident - and the Dane then switches seemlessly into perfect English … just like the Swedes.
).The Norwegians were as miffed as I was at having to sit through weeks of compulsory remedial English for those inadequate native speakers ...
bikingdad90
Guru
"I am leaving your company to go and work for someone else"
Oh wait, I did say that. I start in November but working my notice is proving to be tedious and boring.
Oh wait, I did say that. I start in November but working my notice is proving to be tedious and boring.
KEEF
Veteran
- Location
- BURNOPFIELD
I like country and Western Music................oops I've said it.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Only after a little speech "Oh you are English, you want me to speak English, you don't look English*, I thought you were a Dane &c" which I take as a backhanded compliment...Well, then it becomes very evident - and the Dane then switches seemlessly into perfect English … just like the Swedes.
*arriving on a bike probably confuses them.
So here's the thing. The folks I work with; Danes and Swedes. They speak English really well. Their English comprehension though, of spoken colloquial English, as what she is spoke, is not anywhere as good (and they won't ever say so or admit they don't understand me or other ex-pat colleagues), you have to go slow, and careful, and avoid idioms, metaphors, similes, &c, and their written English... not fit for purpose.There were lots of Norwegians on my degree course. They could all speak and write perfect English. There were many more British students who could *not* (probably despite A* results in GCSE English ...?
The Norwegians were as miffed as I was at having to sit through weeks of compulsory remedial English for those inadequate native speakers ...
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Ah, you are probably right there ... I only ever heard them talking about course work, which was in very formal English. 'Look out of the window, it is raining cats and dogs' would likely have caused a stir!
I used to use "Jeg snakker bar litt norsk" in SVG. That and "To øl takk, min venn vil betale", obvs.
Maverick Goose
A jumped up pantry boy, who never knew his place
- Location
- A champagne supernova in the sky
I talked to a stranger on the Tube on Friday.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Min venn approach wouldn't work in cph. No buying rounds here, each buys their own on a tab and you settle individually at the end of the evening.
Norwegian seems to be an RP version of Danish, or Danish is a mumbled version of Norwegian. It all changed in the 50's and 60's, I'm told, and it may not entirely be a wind-up, that young people here watching old Danish movies from before the war literally cannot understand what is being said half the time. And are mesmerised by people opening their mouths and enunciating. Danish has the weirdest phonetics, half the letters in a word are redundant from a pronunciation pov, words spelt and pronounced the same have utterly different meanings depending on context and it seems easier for an udlænding to learn to speak it by remaining determinedly illiterate.
Mad Doug Biker
Just a damaged guy.
- Location
- Craggy Island
I just rely on the subtitles....
Mad Doug Biker
Just a damaged guy.
- Location
- Craggy Island
And you got out alive??!!
Seriously though, I have done the same - I use the excuse that I'm not local
classic33
Leg End Member
They all moved to the other end of the carriage when I did that.And you got out alive??!!
Seriously though, I have done the same - I use the excuse that I'm not local
SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
Your panpipe music is shoot. I'm in an office at work, and all I can hear is you. fark of you farking farks
Edit; to let you know, my office is near a busy shopping area
Edit; to let you know, my office is near a busy shopping area
machew
Veteran
Don't you mean you like both kinds of music country and western.
Excellent Blues Brothers reference, kudos.
