any cunning linguists? - Page 4

sexobon · 08-02-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lola Bunny

Now that the thread has strayed, my post will seem boring and off topic. Just to add to the original question of the thread, I learned French and Chinese but lost most of it from years and years of lack of use. I now can only speak English and Vietnamese fluently.

One of my French instructors was from Vietnamese aristocracy. Her father was an Ambassador and she went to school in France. Another instructor, who was from France, had a husband who was a soldier killed in Vietnam. Small world.

Urbane Guerrilla · 08-03-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Ugh. . . I hated being called 'barmaid' when I bartended. No one called the male bartender 'barbutler.'

Though etymologically, maybe they should.

Sundae · 08-04-2011, 04:26 AM

A butler is FAR above a maid!

Urbane Guerrilla · 08-05-2011, 09:16 PM

Butler <-- M Fr. botellier, the guy who handles the bottled goods -- his duties about serving milord's table seem to have started out as something like a sommelier's.

monster · 08-13-2011, 07:11 PM

English, French and a little German. In general I find Americans to be far more obsessive aabout their manners -sending notes to thank people for thank you notes sent for gifts that were given inperson and thanks said at the time..... but yes, ordering is different. I always thought I'd never say "can I get....", or "I'll take a...." but I do. I aleways say thank you, though. "May I have...." tends to throw waitstaff off balance and then you have to go through 10 painful minutes of how they love your accent and where are you from and how they're saving to go to England......

limey · 08-14-2011, 02:59 AM

English (Br), Russian (fluent), French (better than it ought to be after years of neglect).
But then I do work as a translator of Russian.

08-05-2011, 09:16 PM	#49
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Butler <-- M Fr. botellier, the guy who handles the bottled goods -- his duties about serving milord's table seem to have started out as something like a sommelier's. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

08-13-2011, 07:11 PM	#50
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	English, French and a little German. In general I find Americans to be far more obsessive aabout their manners -sending notes to thank people for thank you notes sent for gifts that were given inperson and thanks said at the time..... but yes, ordering is different. I always thought I'd never say "can I get....", or "I'll take a...." but I do. I aleways say thank you, though. "May I have...." tends to throw waitstaff off balance and then you have to go through 10 painful minutes of how they love your accent and where are you from and how they're saving to go to England...... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

08-14-2011, 02:59 AM	#51
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	English (Br), Russian (fluent), French (better than it ought to be after years of neglect). But then I do work as a translator of Russian. __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

08-04-2011, 04:26 AM	#48
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	A butler is FAR above a maid!

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