frogstudio Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 (edited) So the forum is in English because Americans are stupid. A bit out of topic, but could we all try not to refer to the States as America? America is a continent, not a country, and is much bigger. Calling the States or their inhabitants "Americans" is the same as calling Germany Europe.... :) Don't mean to be rude, but its something that just annoys me, being an Argentinian, and thus, also being an American. :) About the topic, we should start to lear mandarin... in a few years that will be the international language... but lets keep the forums in english for now. :) Edited October 20, 2008 by frogstudio Quote
Zorro Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 English is good to me, in europe most people DO speak French and probably German as well, but that doesn't go up for the Americans, Aussies, Canadians, Asians....and we want to be one happy and international community don't we? I know it says EURObricks, but read the reminder section and you see it is called an international community and I don't think they are just referring to the European countries. Quote
Sandy Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 English is good to me, in europe most people DO speak French and probably German as well, but that doesn't go up for the Americans, Aussies, Canadians, Asians.... That's a bold statement! Most Europeans do NOT speak French or German. Those languages are mostly spoken only in their own areas (French in France, Belgium and Switcherland, German in Germany and Switzcherland). Sure, the languages are taugh optionally in our schools in Finland as well, but still very few Finnish people can speak them fluently. On the other hand, most Finnish people can have a conversation in English. In languages, it's doesn't matter how many people talk it, it's how widely spread the language is that matters. English is the most international language, so deal with it. Quote
KimT Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Perhaps we should switch to Latin instead? Since most western languages derives from Latin (not counting Finnish or Hungarian, sry). Or how about Dutch..it's like a mix of all languages anyways Or how about Danish, the true LEGO language? ... maybe we should just keep it English and let it be as is Quote
Zorro Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 (edited) ......the languages are taugh optionally in our schools in Finland as well, but still very few Finnish people can speak them fluently I think most people in europe at least understand them. And I didn't say I was against using English, I am in favor to it . that's at least what I meant to say... Edited October 20, 2008 by zorro3999 Quote
Sandy Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) I think most people in europe at least understand them. Well, you think wrong. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but Europe has almost as many languages as it has countries. And most people aren't so well-educated that they would know any other language than their own and perhaps some English. What I'm trying to say is that you can't just go for example to Italy or Hungary speaking only German or French, and expect people to understand you. It just doesn't work that way. You'll honestly have much better chances to be understood with English no matter where in the world you travel to. You have to remember that Europe isn't just the countries in the middle, it reaches to the south, north and east as well, and they all have different language areas: Germanic, Romanic, Finno-Ugrian, Slavic and whatnot. This lecture was brought to you by the self-appointed Language Police, Sandy! Edited October 21, 2008 by Sandy Quote
Shadows Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Americans are still stupid. Just wanted to give you all the update. Carry on. Quote
Captain Zuloo Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Well, you think wrong. That's nothing new for Zorro! Americans are still stupid. Just wanted to give you all the update.Carry on. Not mean at all... Quote
Guss Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 I also think that English is the best language to makes everyone be able to post here.. I'm French and Lives in Switzerland ( and not Switzcherland sandy ^^ ), In Geneva, where the main language is supposed to be French, but there is a lot of people that don't speak French here ( Geneva = international organization like the U.N and all these kind of things... ) , they ALL speak English , well, a lot speak English like me, I mean like a 3year old retarded monkey, but the only way to communicate is the English Language, so I assume that for now, the 2nd language that the majority of peoples knows, is English, plus, even if, like me, you don't talk English very well, you are always understandable ^^ Americans are still stupid. a few post above : A bit out of topic, but could we all try not to refer to the States as America? America is a continent, not a country, and is much bigger. Calling the States or their inhabitants "Americans" is the same as calling Germany: Europe.... :) and Americans are not stupid, well... I think, I don't really know ^^ and I don't really care. English is good to me, in Europe most people DO speak French and probably German as well, I went to Italy and some people spoke French ( Italian and French languages are sometimes really close ) , but in every other country I went, nobody were speaking French ^^ and I went to some places in France where I didn't understand what they were saying...and they were supposed to talk in French ^^ I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but Europe has almost as many languages as it has countries. that's right, even if some languages are really close to each others^^ (cf : Italian/French ) Quote
Fluyt Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 A bit out of topic, but could we all try not to refer to the States as America? America is a continent, not a country, and is much bigger. Calling the States or their inhabitants "Americans" is the same as calling Germany Europe.... :) I think you'd have to convince a couple of 100 million people. A lot of U.S. inhabitants seem to think they are "America" (not just a part of it), but then again, judging by their geographical knowledge, I'm not surprised. But English is the most obvious choice for Eurobricks, since most people in the U.S. don't learn a second language (and thus expecting that the rest of the world will adapt to them instead of vice versa) and since most Europeans speak English (allthough in some countries people don't really like to speak English, like the French, but that kinda makes sense). At least in my experience. Quote
Guss Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (allthough in some countries people don't really like to speak English, like the French, but that kinda makes sense). French are lazy, so they don't want to have to think at what they're saying, so they don't want to talk in another language, I know what I'm talking about, I am French :P judging by their geographical knowledge, I'm not surprised. if you say it after seeing it : well.. I have to say that I agree.. but I don't think that all American are like that^^ Quote
Zorro Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) Well, you think wrong. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but Europe has almost as many languages as it has countries. And most people aren't so well-educated that they would know any other language than their own and perhaps some English. What I'm trying to say is that you can't just go for example to Italy or Hungary speaking only German or French, and expect people to understand you. It just doesn't work that way. You'll honestly have much better chances to be understood with English no matter where in the world you travel to. You have to remember that Europe isn't just the countries in the middle, it reaches to the south, north and east as well, and they all have different language areas: Germanic, Romanic, Finno-Ugrian, Slavic and whatnot. This lecture was brought to you by the self-appointed Language Police, Sandy! I am from Europe too (Belgium), have my bachelor in history, and speak both French and English so I am aware of the geographical layout of Europe .I was referring more to West-Europe anyway, and I am certain that in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Andorra, Monaco, Swiss, The Netherlands, Germany and Italy, French is being at least being understood, not spoken, at some level since in most of these countries it is a mandatory language at mid-school level. I also agree ENTIRELY with your statement that English has the better chanche of being understood by the local population, English is still the primary world language, only seconded by Chinese (most spoken language worldwide, but only understood in China: therefore only second). French is spoken by far less people on an international level then both of these, that is true, but let us not forget it is the intention of the European Commision to make French the secondary MANDATORY language in schools all over Europe (currently only English is obligatory by the EU). It is GERMAN BTW, that is the most widely spoken mother tongue of Europe. I am almost certain more then half the people living in West-Europe understand French. If you are referring to the entity of Europe in it's broadest sence, you have to include countries as Russia (Western parts), Romania and Turkey: making up about 40% of the European population, and how much people speak English down there, you think? Russia maybe a third or a fourth, but in Turkey only part of the youth and inhabitants of metropolitan area's I'm afraid. French would be totaly useless there, except for those living near the Syrian and Cylisian borders... I know for a fact exactly 48% of Europeans understand English if these countries are include (learned it in history class, for French this is still 31%, and German 26%) I just looked it up again as well. The given source in my book is (translated) the CIA study of human facts around the world. French also rules over English in some parts of the world: think of Africa. And again: I agreed with English being the primary language even in my previous posts, why do I have to defend French...Guss, that's your task! PS: sorry for my spelling mistakes. Had to type this in a rush. This lecture was brought to you by Zorro: "words of justice!" Edited October 21, 2008 by zorro3999 Quote
Guss Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Guss, that's your task! why me! consider that I'm Swiss now ^^ and if I have to defend something Swiss.. consider that I'm French ! ^^ ( I'm not a patriot... If I could , I'll have a "none" at the nationality line on my passport :P ) seriously, I don't even know why we're arguing since we all agree that English is the most suitable language for the forum ^^ Quote
Zorro Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) why me! consider that I'm Swiss now ^^ and if I have to defend something Swiss.. consider that I'm French ! ^^ ( I'm not a patriot... If I could , I'll have a "none" at the nationality line on my passport :P ) seriously, I don't even know why we're arguing since we all agree that English is the most suitable language for the forum ^^ Cause I told you to! Didn't you notice the smilie? This is a silly discussion indeed, but I cannot agree if people call me a wrong-thinker. (watch the smilies....) I also should have posted the defense of my arguments in my first post, but who could have know that dearest Sandy was going to lecture me (I am not saying she is wrong at all BTW)...reminds me to my time on high school...when the girls corrected me all the time as well. (no Zorro, that is not 20inches....maybe 2 or 3, but not 20... ) (no offense intended) Edited October 21, 2008 by zorro3999 Quote
Guss Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 and now you want to be corrected by your avatar... Quote
Captain Zuloo Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (no Zorro, that is not 20inches....maybe 2 or 3, but not 20... ) Yet his avatar is a woman... Quote
Zorro Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) Yet his avatar is a woman... That's my wife . I have said it more then once that there is a Mrs. Zorro .Well...wife...I'm not married to her...just together for a very long time. Edited October 21, 2008 by zorro3999 Quote
Captain Zuloo Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 That's my wife . I have said it more then once that there is a Mrs. Zorro .Well...wife...I'm not married to her...just together for a very long time. Well now you tell us! Not that it really matters. Is she into LEGO? Quote
Zorro Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) Well now you tell us! Not that it really matters. Is she into LEGO? Yes, Victoria likes Lego, but she only has few time because she has so much work in her inn. (she owns an inn where one can stay to sleep as well) If you have more questions about her please PM me. (so we won't disturb the other members in this topic) Edited October 21, 2008 by zorro3999 Quote
pr0visorak Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 Yes, Victoria likes Lego, but she only has few time because she has so much work in her inn. (she owns an inn where one can stay to sleep as well)If you have more questions about her please PM me. (so we won't disturb the other members in this topic) Agreed, lets stay on topic. In my preference, english is learnt all over the world. You may not know all of it but you can go quite far with just the basics. Quote
KimT Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 Americans are still stupid. Just wanted to give you all the update.Carry on. That comes as a complete shock... Just how stupid you are is to be seen after the upcoming election Quote
Shadows Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 That comes as a complete shock... Just how stupid you are is to be seen after the upcoming election The position we're in with the current one is proof enough. Quote
hollisbrick Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 The position we're in with the current one is proof enough. *cough*stock market*cough*crash*cough* Quote
Zepher Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 That comes as a complete shock... Just how stupid you are is to be seen after the upcoming election Which coice would prove that we're stupid? I'm always interested in what non-Americans think. Quote
Trexxen Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) To be honest both "sides" make little sense anymore. Why do we pledge to a single party and then follow them blindly? What is the reasoning behind limiting your options? Independence is what the nation was founded on, so I'm an independent! =P But that's getting a bit off topic, though I too would like to know what non-americans REALLY think of us, it's not on the subject here. English is one of the most understood languages over the developed world (Along with, if I recall correctly, French, German, Chinese, and Spanish), and most nations with a major economy will have English speaking residents. On top of that, Lego products are, if I recall correctly, FOR THE MOST PART done primarily in English; and this is a Lego site, so a bit of 2 and 2 makes 4 gives us the conclusion that most of the Lego fanbase at least knows SOME English. =P ~Trexxen Edited October 22, 2008 by Trexxen Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.