Help your fluency in a nifty way

[finlay]

嫌だ、飲みたくない。頭痛のないほうがいいんだよ。
Noo, I don't wanna. I'd rather, y'know, not have a headache

で、そんなに要らないけど、助かるだけから。そしたら、飲まないのは大変じゃないと思うけど。早く寝るために、自分に厳しくならないとなぁ〜
Like, I don't need them that much, they just help me. Like just not having them wouldn't be so terrible, I think. But in order to get to bed quickly, I need to be a bit more strict with myself.

だけども、もしかしたら、食とか、天気とかのせいであったことの可能性もあるから、気をつけようと思ってる
But then it might also be my diet or the weather, so I guess I should just watch out.

(Or my pillow, or my other meds, or the air con, or being at work all day, or just having less sleep than usual, like it's difficult to tell... but it'd be more convenient to pin it on one cause. Besides which I should really improve my diet. I've been slipping recently and just eating convenience store junk. It's not as bad in Japan as other countries... it's still not good)

[Imralu]

Sayansi inahitaji tujidhabihu.
Science requires us to make sacrifices.

Haha, lakini ninaelewa.
Haha, but I understand.

But in order to get to bed quickly, I need to be a bit more strict with myself.

Mimi pia, lakini inaonekana kadiri ninavyojitia nidhamu, ndivyo ninavyolala kitandani bila usingizi.
Me too, but it seems like the stricter I am with myself, the longer I lie awake sleeplessly in my bed.

Ninapata mauvimu ya kichwa nadra sana nisipokuwa mgonjwa au kuanzisha au kumaliza dawamfadhaiko.
I very rarely get headaches except for when I'm sick or starting or finishing antidepressants.

[hwhatting]

Жаль, что the Pole неактивный в каникулы, потому что я мог бы открыть различия между разными вариантами польского языка, если бы только он тоже вас исрпавлял. Я знаю только горожан и они только происходят из немногих городов Польши, поэтому все говорят так, как я и я не знаю, есть ли варианты польского.
It's a pity that the Pole is inactive on holiday because I could discover differences between various variants of Polish if only he also corrected you. I know only townsmen and they're from very few Polish towns so everybody speaks like me and I don't know if there are variants of Polish.

Ich habe Schwiergkeiten*1), um die Verbindung zu sehen, zwischen dem, was ich geschrieben hab und was du als Antwort darauf geschrieben hast.
I'm struggling to see the connexion between what I wrote and your response.

*1) Or: Es fällt mir schwer,

Ich habe gerade Halle, Deutschland, entdeckt. Mir gefällt derMarktplatz dieser Stadt mit seinem Roten Turm und der Frauenkirche sehr. Sie beherrschen den ganzen Platz mit ihrer beeindruckenden Höhe. Die ganze Stadt hat schöne Architektur. Ich würde gerne eines Tages Halle besuchen. Ich war einmal in Magdeburg, aber nur für ein paar Minuten zum Umsteigen.
I have just discovered Halle, Germany. I really like the market square of this city with its Roter Turm and Frauenkirche. They command the whole square with their impressive height. The whole city has beautiful architecture. I would like to one day visit Halle. I was once in Magdeburg but only for a couple minutes to change trains.

*2) gerne mögen is either liking to do something habitually or about a relationship with people.

Ich habe fast* alles verlernt.
I've forgotten almost everything.
*I know this can't be the right word, but I can't find any other translations for that sense of "almost".

It's the right word, totally idiomatic.

Я полечу завтра в Амстердам в честь дня рождения Друга, который решил вчера объявить, что мы с нём будем летать, произвольно, куда-нибудь в отпуск «на выходные», потому что ему «нужно» побывать в за границей. Короче говоря, выбрал Амстердам из-за гей-парада, «выходные» превратились в шестидневное путешествием, вылёт—уже завтра, у меня денег нет. Итак, какие достопримечательности нам абсолютно нельзя пропустить? Кто ещё раз побывал? Кто-то там живёт?

I’m flying to Amsterdam tomorrow for Friend’s birthday, who decided to announce yesterday that I’m going somewhere with him on an ad hoc holiday “for the weekend”, because he “needs” to go abroad. Long story short, he picked Amsterdam because of the pride parade, the “weekend” turned into a six-day trip, we leave tomorrow, and I have no money left. So, what sights can we absolutely not miss? Who else has been to Amsterdam? Does anyone live there?

I also don’t always agree with your choice of aspect, but as this is an area where I myself as a non-native speaker am not always sure whether I’m right, I won’t correct those instances.

Das deutschsprachige Bärentreffen war ein Erfolg. Schlussendlich haben wir uns nicht im DANK-Haus versammelt, sondern in einem Dachbiergarten in der Gegend. Wir haben vor, uns regelmäßig zu treffen, wahrscheinlich monatlich.
The German-speaking Bear get-together was a success. In the end we didn't meet in the DANK-Haus but in a rooftop Biergarten in the same neighbourhood. We're planning to meet regularly, probably monthly.

Zu meiner angenehmen Überraschung war ein Freund von mir aus Bonn dabei. Vielleicht hat er es als Spaß verstanden, als ich ihn zu "a beer and bad German" eingeladen hab. Wie dem auch sei, hat er gütigerweise mitgemacht und sogar unser allgemeines Sprachniveau gelobt.
I was pleasantly surprised that a friend of mine from Bonn joined us. Maybe he thought I was joking when I invited him along for "beer and bad German" but he played along anyway and even praised our overall level of fluency.

(Correcting the Ess-Zetts only a I'm correcting anyway. )

Frage es mich nicht, ich mag Amsterdam nicht gerne .
Dont' ask me, I'm not fond of Amsterdam .

Ich bin immer erstaunt, dass es so viele verschiedene Grupen gibt, in einer relativ kleinen Untersektion des Zusammenlebens*3).
I'm always surprised that there are so many different groups in a relatively small subsection of society.

*3) More exactly: Untergruppe der Gesellschaft

Es gab einmal eine Berliner Bärengruppe namens The Heavy Teddies. Ich war auf ihrer Western Party in*4) 1996 dabei (und habe immer noch das Beteiligungszertifikat für den Wettbewerb "Heavy Teddy Light"). Keine Ahnung, ob sie noch besteht.
There used to be a bear group in Berlin called "The Heavy Teddies. I attended their "Western Party" in 1996 (and still have the certificate of participation in their Contest for "Heavy Teddy Light"). No idea if it still exists.

*4) You'll find in before years, but it's still seen as "Denglish".

Итак, Амстердам меня не очень интересовал. Это - простой город. Каналы*5), конечно, и старые здания — приятны, но город всё равно ни так интересен, ни так красиво. Ну а что там твороится с велосипедами в Нидерландах? :о Очень испугалась! Не у пешеходов, хотящих перейти улицу (на переходах), право проезда? Я бы за это давала городу плохую оценку в целом, если бы музеи не были такие классные. Была в Рейксмузеуме, Эрмитаже на Амстеле, Королевском дворце. У Эрмитажа выставка «1917. Романовы и Революция», где видны, например, платья Александры Феодоровны (хочу! (а могли бы они мне подходить: она была короче меня только на 2-3 см, и в отражении я их примеряла)), прямо рядом с одным из штыков, которыми Романовых убили (не хочу). За такой контраст я дам Амстердаму семь из десяти. А парад—приятен, ничего особенного, но весело напиваться и напилась, по крайней мере. Аа, ну, и достигла тоже цели: бывать, в порядке появления, во всех местах в книге «Историк»: открывается книга дома у протагонистки на Раамграхте, и я туда дошла, решила, какой дом — её. Теперь только надо в Словению, Румынию, Турцию, …

Well, Amsterdam wasn’t so interesting. It’s “just” a city; obviously the canals and the old buildings are nice, but it’s still not very interesting or especially pretty. But what’s the deal with bikes in the Netherlands? :о It was so scary! Don’t pedestrians who want to cross the road (at zebras) have right of way? I’d have given the city a bad grade overall just for that if the museums hadn’t been so awesome. I went to the Rijksmuseum, the Hermitage Amsterdam, and the Royal Palace. The Hermitage has an exhibition “1917. Romanovs and Revolution”, where you can see, for example, some of Empress Alexandra’s gowns (want! (and I could have almost fit in them: she was only an inch shorter than me, and I tried them on in the reflection)), right next to one of the bayonets used to kill the Romanovs (don’t want). I give Amsterdam seven out of ten just for that contrast. The parade was nice, nothing special, but I did at least get pleasantly drunk. Oh, and I achieved a goal of mine: to visit, in order of appearance, all the places described in “The Historian”: the book opens at the protagonist’s house on the Raamgracht, so I went there and decided which house was hers. Now I only have to visit Slovenia, Romenia, Turkey, …

*5) канализация means "sewers"; I assume that's not what you found interesting.

Ah, also erleben die Niederländer Verkehrsrowdytum auf Fahrrädern, statt in Autos. Das ist sehr interessant.
Ah, so the Netherlanders experience road rage on bikes rather than in cars. That's very interesting.

a friend of mine from Bonn joined us

hwhatting ist mitgekommen? )
hwhatting came along? )

Ostatnim razem byłem w stanach sześć lat temu, więc to nie byłem ja.
J‘ai été aux Etats Unis la dernier fois il y a six ans, donc ça n’était pas moi.
De laatste keer dat ik in de staten was is zes jaren geleden, dus was dat niet ik.
The last time I was in the states is six years ago, so it wasn’t me. 

[finlay]

*5) канализация means "sewers"; I assume that's not what you found interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZWtg1m0orU

[linguoboy]

Ich möchte den Hans-Werner einen Freund nennen, aber leider sind wir immer noch nur Bekannte. Vielleicht eines Tages wird das sich ändern, wenn er wieder die USA besucht oder ich endlich mal wieder nach Europa reise und wir Brüderschaft in einem Lokal trinken.
I'd like to call Hans-Werner a friend but sadly we're still just acquaintances. Maybe that will change one day when he visits the USA again or I finally make a trip to Europe once more and we exchange vows of friendship in a pub.

Den fraglichen Bonner kenne ich seit 20 Jahren oder mehr, aber ich glaube nicht, dass wir bisher ein Gespräch auf Deutsch geführt haben. Mein Ex und ich haben uns sogar gefragt, ob er mit einem englischen (nicht amerikanischen!) Akzent reden würde nach so vielen Jahren im Ausland.
I've known the man in question for 20 years or more but I don't think we've ever conducted a conversation in German before. My ex and I were even wondering if he might speak with an English (not an American!) accent after so many years abroad.

[Imralu]

Nimekutana na mwanaZBB mmoja tu. Tumeongea Kijerumani tu.
I've only met one ZBBer. We've only spoken in German.

Mtu ninayeishi naye alinipika chakula cha jioni. Kilikuwa kizuri.
My flatmate cooked dinner for me. It was good.

Unazi ufe.
May Naziism die.

[Astraios]

*5) канализация means "sewers"; I assume that's not what you found interesting.

Ну, всё равно, грязная коричневая вода. :p И спасибо за помощь!
Well, it’s dirty brown water either way. :p And thanks for the help!


Я начала работать билетёршей в Тель-Авивском Камерном театре. Завтра поставят «Смешную девчонку» (на иврите), которое Друг отказывал наотрез посмотреть, потому что фильм 1968 года ему не понравился. А теперь я, в качестве билетёрши, могу смотреть все представления бесплатно, пока я на смену. И да, по той причине, главным образом, подала вообще заявку.

I started working as an usher at the Tel Aviv Chamber Theatre. Tomorrow they’re putting on “Funny Girl” (in Hebrew), which Friend had been categorically refusing to see because he didn’t like the 1968 movie. But now, as an usher, I can go in and watch all the performances for free, as long as I’m on a shift. And yes, that is the main reason I even applied.

[hwhatting]

@ finlay: very fitting, thanks for linking that!

Я начала работать билетёршей в Тель-Авивском Камерном театре. Завтра поставят «Смешную девчонку» (на иврите), которое Друг отказывался наотрез посмотреть, потому что фильм 1968 года ему не понравился. А теперь я, в качестве билетёрши, могу смотреть все представления бесплатно, пока я на смене. И да, по той причине, главным образом, подала вообще заявку.
I started working as an usher at the Tel Aviv Chamber Theatre. Tomorrow they’re putting on “Funny Girl” (in Hebrew), which Friend had been categorically refusing to see because he didn’t like the 1968 movie. But now, as an usher, I can go in and watch all the performances for free, as long as I’m on a shift. And yes, that is the main reason I even applied.

Congrats on the job!

Ich möchte den Hans-Werner einen Freund nennen, aber leider sind wir immer noch nur Bekannte. Vielleicht wird sich das eines Tages wird das sich ändern, wenn er wieder die USA besucht oder ich endlich mal wieder nach Europa reise und wir Brüderschaft in einem Lokal trinken.
I'd like to call Hans-Werner a friend but sadly we're still just acquaintances. Maybe that will change one day when he visits the USA again or I finally make a trip to Europe once more and we exchange vows of friendship in a pub.

Dobry pomysł!
Bon plan!
Goede Idee!
Great idea!

[Imralu]

Nililala siku nzima.
I slept for the whole day.

[Io]

>for

Is that a set expression or something? Or you can do other things for the whole day or night?

[Vijay]

You can do other things for the whole day or night, too. I would say you can also "not be rewarded/paid for the whole day/night" and that for cannot be dropped in this context without changing the meaning. (With for: I was doing something over a period of time that included an entire day or night but was never compensated for any portion of it. Without for: No one compensated me at any time that day or night).

[Imralu]

>for

Is that a set expression or something? Or you can do other things for the whole day or night?

For hutumiwa katika kundi la maneno yaliyofafanua urefu wa wakati, kwa mfano for two hours (yaani, kwa muda wa saa mbili). Najua, mtu anaweza kusema the whole day pia (yaani, siku nzima), lakini nadhani hiyo husikika kama jinsi Wamarekani wanavyoongea. Nilikuwa na hakika kwamba ni Kiingereza cha kawaida ... lakini sasa sijui. Kiingereza changu kimekuwa kigeni kidogo katika miaka minne iliyopita.
For is often used with time expressions that describe duration of time, like for two hours. I know you can also say just the whole day but I think it sounds like how Americans talk. I was feeling confident that this is normal English ... but now I don't know. My English has been getting a bit weird in the last four years.

Nimekuwa nikitazama "Rangi ya Machungwa ni Rangi Nyeusi Mpya".
I've been watching "Orange is the New Black."

[Imralu]

Ubongo! Niache nilale!
Brain! Let me sleep!

[finlay]

@ finlay: very fitting, thanks for linking that!

見なかったら、それは最近の一番大好きなテレビドラマなんです。ぜひ見てみてください。
If you haven't seen it, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is my favourite TV show of recent years. I highly recommend it

明日アメリカに行きます。でももう頭痛になっている。たぶんその言った薬のせいじゃなくても、どんなことのせいなのは全くわからないんだ。アレルギーか、他の薬か、仕事か、天気か？わかんねー
Tomorrow I'm going to America. But I have a headache again (now). Maybe it's not because of the medicine I mentioned before, but then I don't know what is causing it. Allergy, other meds, work, weather? No idea >_<

だけども、休日になっている！3週間でくだらない話は言わなくちゃいい。嬉しい〜
Anyway, it's my holiday now! I don't have to have stupid conversations for three weeks. I'm happy~

[Vijay]

അമേരിക്കയിൽ എവിടാണ് finlay പോകുന്നത്? ഇങ്ങോട്ട് വരുന്നില്ലെന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു.
[əˈmeːɾikʲejɪl ɛʋɪˈɖaːɳɯ fɪnˈleː ˈpoːwn̪n̪əd̪ɯ]? [iˈŋoːʈɯ ʋɛˈɾʊn̪n̪ɪllɛn̪n̪ɯ ɲaːn ʋɪɕʋɛsɪkʲʊn̪n̪u].
Where in America are you going? I doubt you'll be here.

[Imralu]

Kwa kawaida mtu anapoumwa na kichwa hajui sababu, sivyo?
Usually when someone has a headache, they don't know the reason, right?

[Viktor77]

Tomorrow I'm going to America.

On attend ton arrivée avec impatience!

We're excitedly awaiting your arrival!

[finlay]

അമേരിക്കയിൽ എവിടാണ് finlay പോകുന്നത്? ഇങ്ങോട്ട് വരുന്നില്ലെന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു.
[əˈmeːɾikʲejɪl ɛʋɪˈɖaːɳɯ fɪnˈleː ˈpoːwn̪n̪əd̪ɯ]? [iˈŋoːʈɯ ʋɛˈɾʊn̪n̪ɪllɛn̪n̪ɯ ɲaːn ʋɪɕʋɛsɪkʲʊn̪n̪u].
Where in America are you going? I doubt you'll be here.

ヴィクターさんの家
Viktor's house :p

[finlay]

Tomorrow I'm going to America.

On attend ton arrivée avec impatience!

We're excitedly awaiting your arrival!

よろしく〜〜〜
i'm excitedly awaiting to arrive!!!

[Vijay]

Kwa kawaida mtu anapoumwa na kichwa hajui sababu, sivyo?
Usually when someone has a headache, they don't know the reason, right?

Kwa kawaida nipoumwa na kichwa ninajua sababu: Sijala kitu chochote.
Usually, when I have a headache, I know the reason: I haven't eaten anything.

[linguoboy]

Für mich ist der Grund meistens Dehydrierung.
For me dehydration is usually the reason.

[jmcd]

Tha òl beachd-smaoin mhath. Bha ceann goirt orm an diugh. A-réir an òraid seo, tha dlùth-bheachd goireasach cuideachd.
Drinking's a good idea. I had a headache today. According to this talk, meditation is useful too.

Let's talk syntax for a moment: Gaelic is even stricter than English or French when it comes to not splitting a finite verb and its grammatical subject.

Tapadh lead. Cha robh fios agam.
Thank you. I didn't know.

Is mó an saothar a dheininn cúpla bliain ó shin. Bím ag cóstáil go bunúsach anois.
I was making more of an effort a couple years back. Now I'm basically coasting.

Nach e fileantach annad a-nis? Dè a rinn thu o chionn dà bliadhna?
So you are a fluent speaker by now? What did you do a couple of years back?

[Vijay]

(Tagalog)

Drinking's a good idea.

Pero kung iinom siya ng inuming alkohol, masasakit ang ulo niya, totoo ba?
But if he drinks an alcoholic beverage, his head will hurt, right?

[jmcd]

Tha sin ceart. Òl uisge. Na òl uisge beatha.
That's true. Drink water. Don't drink whisky.

[linguoboy]

"Ní ólaim uisce. Tá a fhios agat cad a dheineann éisc ann."
"I don't drink water. You know what fish do in it."