What do you look like?

[Sarastro]

I'm a sucker for all things British

I adore the way the British speak. 0:)

[Lilas Pastia]

Ha ha of course I meant that I came home from Inverness to Burlington Vermont with a right lovely, blizzard-y Christmas!

Burlington is my favourite US place  . The whole Champlain area, actually. But ol' Burlington is so special! About 2 hours drive from where I live.

[M forever]

I adore the way the British speak. 0:)

They just do that to annoy the Americans. They don't really speak like that when they are among themselves.

[knight66]

They just do that to annoy the Americans. They don't really speak like that when they are among themselves.

Truth.

Mike

[Sarastro]

They just do that to annoy the Americans. They don't really speak like that when they are among themselves.

So...among themselves they just speak like the Americans?  No way, there is still a difference!

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Truth.

Mike

Dang, so I emulate the British for nothing??

[PSmith08]

They just do that to annoy the Americans. They don't really speak like that when they are among themselves.

I knew it!

What's next? Europeans of many nationalities can speak English, but prefer to use their mother tongues, unless some poor American shows him- or herself to be completely inept and helpless?

[Sarastro]

What's next? Europeans of many nationalities can speak English, but prefer to use their mother tongues, unless some poor American shows him- or herself to be completely inept and helpless?

I knew it...and I even knew why.

[Sarastro]

And what language does Harry Potter speak? Is it big-city-British or village-British, or just showing off?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I knew it!

What's next? Europeans of many nationalities can speak English, but prefer to use their mother tongues, unless some poor American shows him- or herself to be completely inept and helpless?

I think that's rather civilised of them...

[Sarastro]

What's next? Europeans of many nationalities can speak English, but prefer to use their mother tongues, unless some poor American shows him- or herself to be completely inept and helpless?

Actually, northern Italians can speak German (Austrian), but only when it's profitable for them, in other cases they pretend not to understand. 

[PSmith08]

Actually, northern Italians can speak German (Austrian), but only when it's profitable for them, in other cases they pretend not to understand. 

Italians knowing some other language is of no help to me, as I picked up just enough Italian to be able to do really basic things like get a sandwich, a beer, a room, a train ticket, or any of that other stuff that one should do. There's still a lot of pointing and smiling, but I can get my message across. The same goes for French and German. I have a knack for being able to learn just enough of a language to be obviously an American tourist.

Then the pity kicks in, and the English comes out.

[Sarastro]

Italians knowing some other language is of no help to me, as I picked up just enough Italian to be able to do really basic things like get a sandwich, a beer, a room, a train ticket, or any of that other stuff that one should do. There's still a lot of pointing and smiling, but I can get my message across. The same goes for French and German. I have a knack for being able to learn just enough of a language to be obviously an American tourist.

Then the pity kicks in, and the English comes out.

Not pity, I think. Trying to speak their language flatters them.

I'd love to learn German and Italian...but some time later I think. Now I must count derivatives and limits, atomic masses. And learn English to have an ability to speak almost as a native one.

[PSmith08]

Not pity, I think. Trying to speak their language flatters them.

Well, it's meeting them halfway. Also, I find that, when I have dealt with foreign tourists and students at my school, they make an effort to speak English. Despite my suspicions, I am not so arrogant as to assume that everyone really does speak English.

I'd love to learn German and Italian...but some time later I think. Now I must count derivatives and limits, atomic masses. And learn English to have an ability to speak almost as a native one.

Hey, calculus. Before I got off into the wild and weird world of linear algebra, abstract algebra, and number theory, I had a couple of semesters of calc. It's not bad, especially when you ponder what comes after it.

[Sarastro]

linear algebra, abstract algebra, and number theory

I studied it in high school in Russia. And it went without question, but here I feel doubtful if I'm doing right. Anyway, it's useful, it helps to understand the world, changes the way of thinking. I wonder if I would have ever come to opera without studying in physics-and-mathematics lyceum.

[Sarastro]

Nevertheless, I never take mathematics in music, as I know some try to do.

[M forever]

I'd love to learn German and Italian...but some time later I think. Now I must count derivatives and limits, atomic masses. And learn English to have an ability to speak almost as a native one.

Remember, you live in California, so you probably speak English better already than a lot of the natives here. If you want to blend in more, just say "uh" and "like" and "you know" all the time.

Example:

Californese

"Uh...you know...like yesterday, I was like going...uh...you know, to that...uh...kinda like medical place cause I was like coughing all the time and shit...uh...and they kinda gave me like those pills."

English tranlsation

"Yesterday I went to the doctor because I had a cold and I got a prescription."

[Sarastro]

Remember, you live in California, so you probably speak English better already than a lot of the natives here.

Uh, you know, my English teacher kinda told me like kinda same, you know. 

But I seriously need to expand my vocabulary and enhance my speaking skills. And sometimes I feel confused when I want to say something that implies on some hidden meaning and people cannot understand, especially the Mexicans and they think I've gone mad or do not speak English very good. That's kinda nasty  because it is not nice to make language easier and duller, when you can learn more interesting things and complexes. My teacher told me that some constructions, for example "lest" or "but for' are not even in use, that worries me. 
I can only say for myself that I need to learn, learn and learn.


PS: And it always matters for me to whom I speak. Because sometimes I feel myself petrified and make a lot of mistakes talking to one person, while with the other words would flow out from my mouth. 

[longears]

Lest you take the word of a fool for sooth:  "But for the grace of God, there go we all."

[M forever]

And sometimes I feel confused when I want to say something that implies on some hidden meaning and people cannot understand, especially the Mexicans and they think I've gone mad or do not speak English very good.

That's because a lot of the Mexicans don't speak English "very good" (or rather, very well).

PS: And it always matters for me to whom I speak. Because sometimes I feel myself petrified and make a lot of mistakes talking to one person, while with the other words would flow out from my mouth. 

That's just normal. I still have that sometimes after having lived here for almost 5 years. With some people, I can speak very fluently, with some people, I also kinda...uh...like freeze up and stuff. That's because a lot of people don't actually listen to you when you speak, no matter if you are a local or a foreigner. They just don't really listen. So when they speak to another local, they kind of get the idea, but when they speak to a foreigner who sounds different, they just don't understand what you are saying. That makes you feel as if you can't speak properly anymore, but it's not always your fault.

I have had situations where I talked to my boss about very complicated technical and other issues for 3h on the phone, no problem, then I call another number to order a pizza and it takes a long time to make the idiot on the other end understand what I want because he just doesn't listen properly. One thing gets on my nverves incredibly that a lot of people do here, especially Hispanic people: they always repeat what you said as a question. At first I thought that was because they have trouble understanding me, but then I noticed they always do that. It's an attitude and insecurity thing. Instead of paying attention to the people they speak to, they rather don't listen and think and just repeat what you said before it sinks into their brain. You will find that if you don't confirm what they asked back and just look t them, after a moment, they will actually understand you. Because they heard you, they just didn't listen.

Example:

I went to a lunch place in LA with colleagues, one of those places where they take your order, give you a number and then call it when the order is done. We placed our orders, got the numbers, but my number wasn't called even after all their stuff had been put on the counter. I go and look and there is a dish there which looks exactly like what I had ordered. Maybe the numbers just got confused? So I go to the counter guy, *point at the tray* and

Me: This is not my number, but that's exactly what I ordered.
Idiot: So what did you order?
Me: Exactly that.
Idiot: What do you mean, exactly that?
Me: That's what I ordered, but the number doesn't match my receipt.
Idiot: But it's what you ordered?
Me: Yes.
Idiot: And the number is different?
Me: Yes.
Idiot: What's your number?
Me: 134.
Idiot: 134?
Me: Yes.
Idiot (looks at the number on the tray): This is 137. What's your number again?
Me: 134.
Idiot: 134?
Me: Yes.
Idiot (pauses for a moment, looks at the number on the tray again) That's a different number.
Me: I know. That's what I said. But this is what I ordered.
Idiot: This is what you ordered?
Me: Yes.
Idiot (doesn't know what to say; but it looks like he is trying to think)
Me (aloud, to the other people waiting there): Does anyone have #137?
The other people waiting there (silent)
Me: OK, then I'll just take that.
Idiot: You wanna take that instead?
Me: Not instead. This is what I ordered.
Idiot: You ordered this?
Me (walking off with the tray)