Other Language Forums

[TomUK]

Something else that always interests me when abroad is the fact that, when German, Dutch, French people strike up a conversation with each other, in a restaurant for example, they invariably do so in English, so they probably see English as a useful second language. It is also common to see German, Dutch, French holiday makers ordering from Portuguese waiters/barmen in English, so presumably they don't bother to learn the language either.

[SAM SPARKLE]

When I lived in the Netherlands, one of my Dutch girlfriends who was a student at the time, used to work on the sightseeing boats in Amsterdam, she would do the commentary for the punters in several European languages, as she was not paid by the boats Captain, she relied purely on tips from the punters. She could, on a good day get upto 800 quid sterling, as this was back in the Eighties wasn’t a bad days pay.

[zhit]

The answers to your questions are frighteningly simple:

1. Are they just not bothered
- Of course we are.

2. Are the English the only ones crazy enough to care
- No. But it seems that some english people are very busy to tell their opinion to the rest of the world. A bet: I start a discussion at "Chitchat" about the colour of the pavement in CVO. At least 10 answers will be given - And there is always one 'joker' with a very funny or captious comment. At the end of the day the discussion has changed to the colour of the coat of the neighbour's dog... Don't feel compromised. Just look at this thread an you'll know what I mean: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19254

3. Is everyone just doing it in English

- Yes. The main problem is, that only the english forum is divided into different themes. The german forum for example doesn't offer the possibility to discuss subjects in different columns (You can find a - german - inquiry from "cisne" to the admin concerning that point in the foreign section of this forum). The conclusion is, that foreigners also discuss in the "normal" (=english) forum. This is not a problem: It's nearly impossible to meet a younger one (<50) from germany, the netherlands, belgium, austria or switzerland who is not able to write or speak in english. (You remarked it: I didn't mention the people from france... )

4. Do they all have their own sites and are we all missing out

- Yes, we have other sites, but not especially a site about Carvoeiro. You should check http://www.portugallierforum.de, for example. This is also an excellent website which contains a lot of information about Portugal and the algarve. Visitors can post and discuss their things on the board.

Best wishes from Germany!

[heini]

Sehr gute Antwort, Zhit. Ich hatte mir auch schon ueberlegt einen Kommentar abzugeben, aber Du hast den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen.
Spot on, Zhit. You hit the nail right on the head.

[HampshireRich]

The answers to your questions are frighteningly simple:

1. Are they just not bothered
- Of course we are.

2. Are the English the only ones crazy enough to care
- No. But it seems that some english people are very busy to tell their opinion to the rest of the world. A bet: I start a discussion at "Chitchat" about the colour of the pavement in CVO. At least 10 answers will be given - And there is always one 'joker' with a very funny or captious comment. At the end of the day the discussion has changed to the colour of the coat of the neighbour's dog... Don't feel compromised. Just look at this thread an you'll know what I mean: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19254

3. Is everyone just doing it in English

- Yes. The main problem is, that only the english forum is divided into different themes. The german forum for example doesn't offer the possibility to discuss subjects in different columns (You can find a - german - inquiry from "cisne" to the admin concerning that point in the foreign section of this forum). The conclusion is, that foreigners also discuss in the "normal" (=english) forum. This is not a problem: It's nearly impossible to meet a younger one (<50) from germany, the netherlands, belgium, austria or switzerland who is not able to write or speak in english. (You remarked it: I didn't mention the people from france... )

4. Do they all have their own sites and are we all missing out

- Yes, we have other sites, but not especially a site about Carvoeiro. You should check http://www.portugallierforum.de, for example. This is also an excellent website which contains a lot of information about Portugal and the algarve. Visitors can post and discuss their things on the board.

Best wishes from Germany!

Well thank you zhit - good to see other nationals are reading the "English" section of the forum. Just one little point though - Number 2 - do you really understand the English meaning of Chichat? - basically any topic can be discussed and anything can be said within a topic - like a normal conversation - people make jokes or wisecracks in any conversation and veer off topic at any time.

Anyway - you keep posting here!

[superbocker]

Yes, thanks Zhit. I knew you guys were out there.

Now everyone knows that the colour of most of the square is black with tyre rubber from the ridiculous road system down there

[roy4eyes]

Reading Heini's bilingual reply - should we give twice the space for comments in German ?

[kps]

yes roy

[Stevie-C]

The answers to your questions are frighteningly simple:

1. Are they just not bothered
- Of course we are.

2. Are the English the only ones crazy enough to care
- No. But it seems that some english people are very busy to tell their opinion to the rest of the world. A bet: I start a discussion at "Chitchat" about the colour of the pavement in CVO. At least 10 answers will be given - And there is always one 'joker' with a very funny or captious comment. At the end of the day the discussion has changed to the colour of the coat of the neighbour's dog... Don't feel compromised. Just look at this thread an you'll know what I mean: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19254

3. Is everyone just doing it in English

- Yes. The main problem is, that only the english forum is divided into different themes. The german forum for example doesn't offer the possibility to discuss subjects in different columns (You can find a - german - inquiry from "cisne" to the admin concerning that point in the foreign section of this forum). The conclusion is, that foreigners also discuss in the "normal" (=english) forum. This is not a problem: It's nearly impossible to meet a younger one (<50) from germany, the netherlands, belgium, austria or switzerland who is not able to write or speak in english. (You remarked it: I didn't mention the people from france... )

4. Do they all have their own sites and are we all missing out

- Yes, we have other sites, but not especially a site about Carvoeiro. You should check http://www.portugallierforum.de, for example. This is also an excellent website which contains a lot of information about Portugal and the algarve. Visitors can post and discuss their things on the board.

Best wishes from Germany!

Well thank you zhit - good to see other nationals are reading the "English" section of the forum. Just one little point though - Number 2 - do you really understand the English meaning of Chichat? - basically any topic can be discussed and anything can be said within a topic - like a normal conversation - people make jokes or wisecracks in any conversation and veer off topic at any time.

Anyway - you keep posting here!

As "another national" I have had to learn to speak English as well as my first language but I would like to know the meaning of Chichat

[zhit]

@Stevie-C:
Check this one: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chichat/? ... dir&slk=23

Welcome to Chi Chat, an online forum for stammerers in the Chichester (West Sussex, UK) area.

[Stevie-C]

@Stevie-C:
Check this one: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chichat/? ... dir&slk=23

Welcome to Chi Chat, an online forum for stammerers in the Chichester (West Sussex, UK) area.

ggggreat ssssite