Fun/interesting stories about language use
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
What will be next? Alo(ë) vera?
The conlanger formerly known as “the conlanger formerly known as Pole, the”.
If we don't study the mistakes of the future we're doomed to repeat them for the first time.
If we don't study the mistakes of the future we're doomed to repeat them for the first time.
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
Yes, that was on the motorway from Verviers to Trier, close to St. Vith. I couldn't take a photo though because I was driving the car...Viktor77 wrote:Should've taken a picture for me, I study that stuff. Just kidding but that is fascinating to know. Not to mention again entirely pointless. Can I guess you were near Eupen or Sankt Vith? Bilingual signs are only found in the Germanophone area, Brussels, and a handful of small border towns.Cedh wrote:I drove through the east of Belgium about a week ago and came across a road sign with "Luxemb(o)urg" on it. Seems they're using those brackets systematically...Viktor77 wrote:But it was how they tried to be economic that was positively ridiculous. I've used that mayo for weeks and I only noticed the "(n)" a few days ago. Even if you needed the extra n, and no one does, you'd likely read right over it anyway (which with two labels at least you would be less likely to). It's just ridiculous to the extreme.
Blog: audmanh.wordpress.com
Conlangs: Ronc Tyu | Buruya Nzaysa | Doayâu | Tmaśareʔ
Conlangs: Ronc Tyu | Buruya Nzaysa | Doayâu | Tmaśareʔ
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
I imagine that or Aloe(ë) Vera, perhaps. Quite idiotic....Pole, the wrote:What will be next? Alo(ë) vera?
Cedh, of course, I was only joking.
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
hahaha OK teSglod wrote:It was only a few years ago and the bloke was in his 60s so I'll be having your money.Yng wrote:How many years ago was this? I'd bet you any money he'll be dead now. In any case, monolinguals aren't generally the sort of people who make much use of public services - or, indeed, of motorways, in my experience.Sglod wrote: Not everyone is bilingual. My dad tried to buy a tractor from a bloke in Llanrwst, but he (the bloke, not my dad) was monolingual in Welsh. The bloke had to get his nephew round to translate.
I know a couple of ancient monolinguals too around the Trawsfynydd area - the sort of people who chase you with antique shotguns if you try and walk across their fields.
كان يا ما كان / يا صمت العشية / قمري هاجر في الصبح بعيدا / في العيون العسلية
tà yi póbo tsùtsùr ciivà dè!
short texts in Cuhbi
Risha Cuhbi grammar
tà yi póbo tsùtsùr ciivà dè!
short texts in Cuhbi
Risha Cuhbi grammar
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
Pretty sure my thesis advisor went to some particular town (or at least place...) in Wales (don't remember which) just a few years ago where everyone spoke Welsh and someone even told him that you'd have difficulty making yourself understood there if you spoke only English.
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
The sort of story everyone likes telling, but is rarely true. I mean, it's an exaggeration for narrative effect - I doubt there's anywhere in Wales where you'd actually struggle to make yourself understood (except with some old people in remote ish farming areas).Vijay wrote:Pretty sure my thesis advisor went to some particular town (or at least place...) in Wales (don't remember which) just a few years ago where everyone spoke Welsh and someone even told him that you'd have difficulty making yourself understood there if you spoke only English.
كان يا ما كان / يا صمت العشية / قمري هاجر في الصبح بعيدا / في العيون العسلية
tà yi póbo tsùtsùr ciivà dè!
short texts in Cuhbi
Risha Cuhbi grammar
tà yi póbo tsùtsùr ciivà dè!
short texts in Cuhbi
Risha Cuhbi grammar
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Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
When me and my family were driving through the Germanophone part of Belgium on our way to Germany, we passed bilingual signage with the French graffitoed out, so that they only read "Trier", say. Driving through Belgium was an interesting experience in and of itself, as my dad was rather confused at the letters on the road telling us that the road went to "Luik".. until he realised that that is the Flemish for "Liège".Cedh wrote:Yes, that was on the motorway from Verviers to Trier, close to St. Vith. I couldn't take a photo though because I was driving the car...Viktor77 wrote:Should've taken a picture for me, I study that stuff. Just kidding but that is fascinating to know. Not to mention again entirely pointless. Can I guess you were near Eupen or Sankt Vith? Bilingual signs are only found in the Germanophone area, Brussels, and a handful of small border towns.Cedh wrote:I drove through the east of Belgium about a week ago and came across a road sign with "Luxemb(o)urg" on it. Seems they're using those brackets systematically...Viktor77 wrote:But it was how they tried to be economic that was positively ridiculous. I've used that mayo for weeks and I only noticed the "(n)" a few days ago. Even if you needed the extra n, and no one does, you'd likely read right over it anyway (which with two labels at least you would be less likely to). It's just ridiculous to the extreme.
Re: Fun/interesting stories about language use
So is this thread supposed to be for stories about other people's use of language, or can it be about ourselves, too?
Well, okay, I guess there's at least one other thread for that in the L&L Museum. But I'm kind of confused about what the purpose of this thread is anyway.
Well, okay, I guess there's at least one other thread for that in the L&L Museum. But I'm kind of confused about what the purpose of this thread is anyway.