I say things that my Irish / German parents said so I don't expect anyone to understand.   😃

bs

ありがとう！第二言語はここで使う機会がないけど。。。😅

Thx and greetings from germany from someone who speaks german, polish and english

7 hours ago, AnkH said:

Thanks for those kind words, greetings from Switzerland (german speaking part, close to the french speaking part). Being capable to communicate in more than one language is something really rewarding, especially if you visit a country and being able to speak their language. Opens doors 😉

I visited Switzerland (Bern/Zurich/Interlaken etc.) about 20 years ago -- mostly the German-speaking part.  But I remember being a bit surprised to hear "Merci" in the German-speaking areas.  I kept expecting "Danke".  Maybe it was just the people I was around, or maybe they were from the French-speaking area.

1 hour ago, scotchegg said:

ありがとう！第二言語はここで使う機会がないけど。。。😅

Thank google for google translate

37 minutes ago, Mace said:

I visited Switzerland (Bern/Zurich/Interlaken etc.) about 20 years ago -- mostly the German-speaking part.  But I remember being a bit surprised to hear "Merci" in the German-speaking areas.  I kept expecting "Danke".  Maybe it was just the people I was around, or maybe they were from the French-speaking area.

At least you did not hear "You`re Welcome!".

My experience in Germany was it was better to stick to English.   If I asked for a coffee in English they just made it and handed it to me, if I asked for Einen Kaffee bitte it started a long conversation as to what type  of coffee, how big how black etc.

46 minutes ago, harrry said:

My experience in Germany was it was better to stick to English.   If I asked for a coffee in English they just made it and handed it to me, if I asked for Einen Kaffee bitte it started a long conversation as to what type  of coffee, how big how black etc.

My experience of Secondary School German left me too traumatized to use articles. I’d have to go through my tables and choose a case before I could speak; “Ein, Eine, Einem, Einen, Einer, Eines….’

4 hours ago, scotchegg said:

ありがとう！第二言語はここで使う機会がないけど。。。😅

I used an online translation website, and the above says, "Thank you! I haven't had a chance to use my second language here."

You are so kind, thank you. What a forum to learing English, you can even acquire some aviation knowledge here.

谢谢你以及所有的论坛参与者们，每次回帖都像交作业，反复斟酌。

Thanks David from Switzerland, the French speaking part of it. The happy country with four languages.

Actually, we have a fifth one: English.

That's when we can't understand each other... and advertising.

Edited December 13, 20214 yr by Bernard Ducret

It's a nice thought, thank you! 🙂

We also owe you (native speakers) a lot. 90% of my English skills come from Internet forums and music, only recently from work... school and university don't teach much!

Thank you for the thank you!

Will give it back as my English has much improved (from my point of view) over the last 15 years here!

 

A bit of downside is, that spoken english is not as easy as it should be for me and I note that I have a big vocabulary in aviation terminology, but lack very much in normal smalltalk 😉 

 

13 hours ago, David Mills said:

So I just want to say "Thank You" to all you non-native English-speaking simmers, who communicate so graciously in a second language for the benefit of all in this forum. My hat's off to you.

Thank you for your kind message, from Paris (France). Sometimes, it required for me to read your messages carefully, I mean "you" as all native english-speakers, but it's a cool way to improve, see different perspectives and discover things out of my safe zone.

 

Edited December 13, 20214 yr by vbazillio

5 hours ago, Mace said:

I visited Switzerland (Bern/Zurich/Interlaken etc.) about 20 years ago -- mostly the German-speaking part.  But I remember being a bit surprised to hear "Merci" in the German-speaking areas.  I kept expecting "Danke".  Maybe it was just the people I was around, or maybe they were from the French-speaking area.

No, they were not necessarily from the French speaking area. Depending on where you are, the Swiss people use more or less words that originate from French in their daily language. Be aware that the people in the German speaking part do not actually talk German, but Swiss German, a dialect most Germans not even understand. Here in Berne where I am from, as we have French parts even in our Canton, we have quiet a huge number of French words we use in the daily dialect language: Merci, Trottoir, Guidon, Perron, Fauxpas, Portemonnaie, Bijoux and and and, almost endless. That is also why many people from Berne are pretty capable in French language as well. The further east you go in Switzerland, the closer the dialect is to proper German and the less French words you find in it. Language is really a funny thing in Switzerland, as we combine four official national languages and more than 20 Swiss German dialects in such a small country, always amazed if I think about it.