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Another reason Americans can't learn languages


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How can I Learn British Englsih from Hindi... | Bruce writes about Jamie(K) and Georgie "baby" Bush
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Another reason Americans can't learn languages #46 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 14:17 pm   Another reason Americans can't learn languages
 

.
Just a couple of observations...

Jamie used Bruce's own words. As I understand what Bruce wrote, he said that he was stating facts and didn't want to be too insulting, and then happily proceeded to write fallacies and insults.

Bruce suggested that "they" (Who is "they" supposed to be anyway? Bush? Bush and the people in his administration? English-speakers in California? Or possibly all Americans?) want to build a wall along the California/Mexico border because "they" don't want to learn or are afraid of learning Spanish. Sorry, but I agree that that is an utterly ridiculous suggestion. At best, it indicates a complete lack of cultural awareness and an enthusiastic willingness to spread misinformation.
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Another reason Americans can't learn languages #47 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 14:39 pm   Another reason Americans can't learn languages
 

Jamie (K) wrote:
...
Он хочeт стакан уотера
...
There's one situation in the computer universe, however, in which Russians don't transfer English. I had a book (which someone borrowed and never returned) called "Интернет для чайников". You're the only nation I know of that translates the word "dummies" into its own language in the famous series of computer books. In most languages they just use the English word "dummies" and don't translate it.

I guess the word dummy has a negative tinge to it (it suggests that a person is slightly mentally challenged, doent it). чайник doesnt have it (IMO). чайник means (again IMO) a newbie. Maybe that is the reason ?! They dont want to scare off or lose customers (who wants to be thought of as a dummy)
(But, again, who of "чайников" knows what dummy means if they buy books translated into Russian instead of serfing the internet for information on computers (which is usually in English - at least the most meaningful - I'm sick of BS in Russian which is often simply wrong) which experienced users usually do Smile )
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Another reason Americans can't learn languages #48 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 14:55 pm   Another reason Americans can't learn languages
 

Yankee wrote:
.
Just a couple of observations...

Jamie used Bruce's own words. As I understand what Bruce wrote, he said that he was stating facts and didn't want to be too insulting, and then happily proceeded to write fallacies and insults.


In other words, it was perfectly OK for Jamie to call Bruce "an oblivious moron"? You seem to be of the opinion that using this type of language made Jamie's argumentation even stronger and more convincing.
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Another reason Americans can't learn languages #49 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 15:15 pm   Another reason Americans can't learn languages
 

Hi Torsten

Well, I wouldn't say that telling someone that he/she is an "oblivious moron" is diplomatic or nice. I would say that it was Jamie's honest opinion about some of the garbage that had been spouted. How diplomatic should one be to someone who apparently sees no problem whatsoever in creating lies or spreading misinformation or stating falsehoods as fact?

Do you think Bruce's post was diplomatic? Well-informed? I don't.
.
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