Going to Europe this summer?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:39 pm

Just print out this handy list of phrases; it has all you really need to know. If you're not in France, Spain or Germany, don't worry; it's common knowledge that everyone in Europe understands Spanish.

http://www.zompist.com/phrases.html

"Parlo italiano come un cameriere di un ristorante cinese."

Tubaryan12 · Post by **Tubaryan12** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:54 pm

makes me want to travel to try some of them out!

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:30 pm

This is my favorite:

I understand your language perfectly.
Je parle franÃ§ais comme une vache espagnole.
Hablo espaÃ±ol como un gringo borracho.
Ich sprechen deutsch wie italienisch FuÃŸballtrainer

But what does a Spanish cow have to do with it? (other than song lyrics)

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:22 am

Alaska is part of the United States...

Prove it......

Chuck"who has a dear friend who is 100% Inuit Eskimo"Jackson

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:44 pm

schlepporello wrote:... will be in Canada a couple of times ... Also, how soon into my trip will I be required to exchange my American money for Alaskan money?

Ha, ha. Here is what is not so funny. If you go into Canada and only have U.S. money, they will be glad to take at a $1 to $1 exchange rate.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:49 pm

I really like this one:

Where is the Cathedral?
Gde banya?
Mi scusi, la cellula del partito?
Hvor er den lokale bodega?
Hoe kom ik bij de hoeren?

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:39 pm

They could have at least used the polite forms in German. Every thing uses the familiar form of You. Rude, obnoxious, or insulting things are funnier when said politely:)

I would very much like to meet you again when you are sober.
Ich wÃ¼rde dich sehr gerne wieder treffen, wen du nÃ¼chtern bist.

I think

Ich wÃ¼rde Sie sehr gerne wieder treffen, wen Sie nÃ¼chtern sind.

Is much more effective.

Doesn't Spanish have similar polite forms of address? Would the effect be the same?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:50 pm

ThomasDodd wrote:They could have at least used the polite forms in German. Every thing uses the familiar form of You. Rude, obnoxious, or insulting things are funnier when said politely:)

I would very much like to meet you again when you are sober.
Ich wÃ¼rde dich sehr gerne wieder treffen, wen du nÃ¼chtern bist.
I think
Ich wÃ¼rde Sie sehr gerne wieder treffen, wen Sie nÃ¼chtern sind.
Is much more effective.

Doesn't Spanish have similar polite forms of address? Would the effect be the same?

Yes, as do many other languages. However, I get the picture of a couple of people who have been tippling for some time and the relationship has long since gotten to the level of besotted "dutzen".

corbasse · Post by **corbasse** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:00 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:
ThomasDodd wrote:They could have at least used the polite forms in German. Every thing uses the familiar form of You. Rude, obnoxious, or insulting things are funnier when said politely:)

I would very much like to meet you again when you are sober.
Ich wÃ¼rde dich sehr gerne wieder treffen, wen du nÃ¼chtern bist.
I think
Ich wÃ¼rde Sie sehr gerne wieder treffen, wen Sie nÃ¼chtern sind.
Is much more effective.

Doesn't Spanish have similar polite forms of address? Would the effect be the same?
Yes, as do many other languages. However, I get the picture of a couple of people who have been tippling for some time and the relationship has long since gotten to the level of besotted "dutzen".

The Frech translation uses tu as well, although only in the argot (=slang) sentences. But then it would've looked really silly if they had used vous.

It's quite common nowadays in Germany and France for the younger generations to use the informal form, even with strangers.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:59 pm

schlepporello wrote:That reminds me. I'm going to Alaska next month and will be in Canada a couple of times in the course of my trip. Can anyone recommend a good Canadian phrase book I could use so I can properly bridge the language barrier there?

Speaking Canadian is easy:
Take the A train = Take the train, Eh?