Hammertime?
I've always wondered at what point the language someone thinks in changes. When you are 'fluent' in a second language does that actually mean you simply think in that language and require no translation to your original tongue to understand, or simply that the mental translation has becomes so fast that it is not noticeable? Maybe I just do not understand the definition of 'fluent' as everybody else does.
Anybody want to fill me in? I'm no linguist.
Anybody want to fill me in? I'm no linguist.
The shape of an eye in front of the ocean, digging for stones and throwing them against its window pane. Take it down dreamer, take it down deep. - Other Families
We can tell.Pochsy wrote:
I'm no linguist.
moar leik pokertimeNooBesT wrote:
Hammertime?
Xbone Stormsurgezz
Yes, you tend to think/dream in that language. Or the mental translation is so fast that it's not noticeable. Either way works. I'm fluent in a few languages, including pig latin.
Xbone Stormsurgezz
Come to talk of it, me and noobest are playingKmarion wrote:
moar leik pokertimeNooBesT wrote:
Hammertime?
main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg
And DU is losing fast.DeathUnlimited wrote:
Come to talk of it, me and noobest are playingKmarion wrote:
moar leik pokertimeNooBesT wrote:
Hammertime?
Hammer Time!
what table? .. wait where, fb?
Xbone Stormsurgezz
Milwaukee 5K_6
DU is raging now that I took his 500k. And now we stopped because DU doesn't have any money left.
DU is raging now that I took his 500k. And now we stopped because DU doesn't have any money left.
Last edited by NooBesT (2009-11-10 19:36:44)
My mother tongue is French, I learned English later in life. In my situation, my thoughts change language depending on the situation I'm in. Right now, I'm thinking in English. On a francophone forum, I think in French. Same thing for conversation--I just think in the language that I'm speaking. I need not translate, unless I'm playing with idioms, in which case I get really messed up.Pochsy wrote:
I've always wondered at what point the language someone thinks in changes. When you are 'fluent' in a second language does that actually mean you simply think in that language and require no translation to your original tongue to understand, or simply that the mental translation has becomes so fast that it is not noticeable? Maybe I just do not understand the definition of 'fluent' as everybody else does.
Anybody want to fill me in? I'm no linguist.
However, I'm told that this ability is rare; my mother, although bilingual, thinks in French and must translate. My father is like me, but only because his work environment is anglophone. I know three other people who have this capacity. All other biliguals or trilinguals I've met have to translate. The main problem is the way the language is taught: for instance, in Canada French is taught, but only at the written level. The school system trains kids to read French, to write some but not to speak. That is why most everyone has a terrible accent and has trouble with the finer aspects of grammar. As for me, I couldn't tell you anything about grammar--I do it by intuition. How? Growing up in the right environment from a very young age.
In summation, I'd say that you need to have a great wealth of experience from the day you are born in all the languages you use to be able to avoid translation. I'm learning German atm, and i'm finding it easier every week to think in the language; that's because I'm becoming more and more exposed to it--but I know I'll never speak it as naturally as I do my other two. Same with Polish and Spanish.
I like pie.
I wonder at what point you lose your accent totally and sound like a natural speaker. Your accent is fairly noticable but it is significantly better than most French-CanadiansTSI wrote:
My mother tongue is French, I learned English later in life. In my situation, my thoughts change language depending on the situation I'm in. Right now, I'm thinking in English. On a francophone forum, I think in French. Same thing for conversation--I just think in the language that I'm speaking. I need not translate, unless I'm playing with idioms, in which case I get really messed up.Pochsy wrote:
I've always wondered at what point the language someone thinks in changes. When you are 'fluent' in a second language does that actually mean you simply think in that language and require no translation to your original tongue to understand, or simply that the mental translation has becomes so fast that it is not noticeable? Maybe I just do not understand the definition of 'fluent' as everybody else does.
Anybody want to fill me in? I'm no linguist.
However, I'm told that this ability is rare; my mother, although bilingual, thinks in French and must translate. My father is like me, but only because his work environment is anglophone. I know three other people who have this capacity. All other biliguals or trilinguals I've met have to translate. The main problem is the way the language is taught: for instance, in Canada French is taught, but only at the written level. The school system trains kids to read French, to write some but not to speak. That is why most everyone has a terrible accent and has trouble with the finer aspects of grammar. As for me, I couldn't tell you anything about grammar--I do it by intuition. How? Growing up in the right environment from a very young age.
In summation, I'd say that you need to have a great wealth of experience from the day you are born in all the languages you use to be able to avoid translation. I'm learning German atm, and i'm finding it easier every week to think in the language; that's because I'm becoming more and more exposed to it--but I know I'll never speak it as naturally as I do my other two. Same with Polish and Spanish.
i remember asking TSI about Bordeaux wines - not so much the way he 'speaks' on the forum, as much as his avatar
Haha, thanks. It's funny you should say that; the last person to comment on my accent thought I was Australian. The fact of the matter is, I think you can totally lose it. There might be be a trace, but not always. As you say, I still have a bit of a French accent (considering I spent most of my childhood in France, I suppose it's to be expected). I could try to lose it (I had in 2006 after spending two years away from France), but I find I like it as is. And the women seem to prefer it too. Chances are, though, I never will.Winston_Churchill wrote:
I wonder at what point you lose your accent totally and sound like a natural speaker. Your accent is fairly noticable but it is significantly better than most French-CanadiansTSI wrote:
My mother tongue is French, I learned English later in life. In my situation, my thoughts change language depending on the situation I'm in. Right now, I'm thinking in English. On a francophone forum, I think in French. Same thing for conversation--I just think in the language that I'm speaking. I need not translate, unless I'm playing with idioms, in which case I get really messed up.Pochsy wrote:
I've always wondered at what point the language someone thinks in changes. When you are 'fluent' in a second language does that actually mean you simply think in that language and require no translation to your original tongue to understand, or simply that the mental translation has becomes so fast that it is not noticeable? Maybe I just do not understand the definition of 'fluent' as everybody else does.
Anybody want to fill me in? I'm no linguist.
However, I'm told that this ability is rare; my mother, although bilingual, thinks in French and must translate. My father is like me, but only because his work environment is anglophone. I know three other people who have this capacity. All other biliguals or trilinguals I've met have to translate. The main problem is the way the language is taught: for instance, in Canada French is taught, but only at the written level. The school system trains kids to read French, to write some but not to speak. That is why most everyone has a terrible accent and has trouble with the finer aspects of grammar. As for me, I couldn't tell you anything about grammar--I do it by intuition. How? Growing up in the right environment from a very young age.
In summation, I'd say that you need to have a great wealth of experience from the day you are born in all the languages you use to be able to avoid translation. I'm learning German atm, and i'm finding it easier every week to think in the language; that's because I'm becoming more and more exposed to it--but I know I'll never speak it as naturally as I do my other two. Same with Polish and Spanish.
@Burnzz--lol. One of my favourite jokes about France: our geography is very simple. France is divided into regions: Bordeaux, Champagne, Côtes-du-Rhône, Bourgogne, Muscadet, Alsace, Beaujolais, Languedoc et caetera
Last edited by TSI (2009-11-10 20:16:09)
I like pie.
What do they want from me now
Probably an update.. although they'd have you believe updates are never necessary with apple products.
Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial
Xbone Stormsurgezz
The ipod that I had in my car was my 16th birthday gift. I remember when I first received the ipod and the first song that I put in it; Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen. Today something bad has happened, my ipod, one of the most important devices in my life has finally died. It refuses to power up and will not connect to my computer. That ipod was like my brother for 3 years and now I have to get a new one.
The ipods from three years ago were shit and you know it.
It meant a lot to me.AussieReaper wrote:
The ipods from three years ago were shit and you know it.
Then apparently the ones from 6 years ago are still awsm cause my mini is still working great.AussieReaper wrote:
The ipods from three years ago were shit and you know it.
I've probably bought 5 iPods in my life. I stopped with the video one. It's still sitting in my drawer.
Apple has had a rough couple of months with the Zune HD and Droid releases.
Apple has had a rough couple of months with the Zune HD and Droid releases.
Xbone Stormsurgezz
I didn't know you had a small one, ebugs.ebug9 wrote:
Then apparently the ones from 6 years ago are still awsm cause my mini is still working great.AussieReaper wrote:
The ipods from three years ago were shit and you know it.
My classic still works..ebug9 wrote:
Then apparently the ones from 6 years ago are still awsm cause my mini is still working great.AussieReaper wrote:
The ipods from three years ago were shit and you know it.
Xbone Stormsurgezz