Carrie
Regular Member
Original Member
I moved from Oregon to Kiruna in Sept. 2001. I think I'm adjusted. Sorta.
Posts: 79
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Post by Carrie on Nov 5, 2002 5:39:11 GMT -5
I've been noticing that I'm using Swedish ways of speaking when I try to say something in English, and it just makes me laugh. I'm going to list the ones that are common for me, and wonder if anyone else would be willing to share how Swedish is changing your English abilities.
I keep talking about getting children instead of having children. When I first moved here I thought there was lots of adoption b/c of this phrase.
I no longer make appointments. These days I book times.
I'm working on getting a driving card instead of a driver's liscense. At least I can spell card!
I find that I'm not "supposed" to do things. Instead I'm "meant" to do things.
I don't buy things anymore, instead I shop them. This one bugs me the most b/c it is so wrong sounding.
My mom said when I was home that I said "ja" instead of yes all the time, but I've never noticed myself doing it.
I know there are more, but I can't think of any.
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Post by Carolyn on Nov 5, 2002 9:34:22 GMT -5
I also shop some groceries, but I've gotten into a lot of Swinglish.
For instance, I tell Anders those jeans are smutsig. And mutter fy fan when I do something wrong. Coffee has become kaffe. And I've been away from Sweden now for a year.
Then again, I read the papers every day in Swedish so ...
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Post by Natooke on Nov 5, 2002 10:22:30 GMT -5
To my surprise, the day I was asked what Slingar was in English ... I knew I was in trouble  when I had to stop and think real hard  |
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Brandy
Regular Member
There are 3 kind of people in life, those who do, those who watch and those who ask what happened.
Posts: 215
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Post by Brandy on Nov 5, 2002 10:25:30 GMT -5
Carrie I had to laugh! I don't know what language I'm speaking half the time, so I do what you do plus say the swedish word with an american accent, say the american word with a swedish accent, or have no clue what something is called in English and draw a complete blank! Language overload! Friends in the states saay I speak with an accent now. When we had moved back to the states for a couple of years, and people asked Where do you come from, I'd answer Massachusetts. They'd say, Oh I thought you were from somewhere in Europe and spoke English really well! So Carrie, All I can say is I hope your brain handles language overload better than mine did!  |
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Post by Carolyn on Nov 5, 2002 10:47:54 GMT -5
What I think is really marvelous is that having learned Swedish, however imperfectly, we have all gotten 3 languages for the price of one. On eBay, I just recently bought a few books on embroidery and weaving from a lady in Oslo, Norway and asked her to mail them to Sweden (on their way, Sandy), since they're cheaper to post there and saves me having to pack and ship them BACK to Sweden. Anyway, she just assumed that since I was having them mailed to Sweden, I was a Swede and she started writing to me in Norwegian, since she was more comfortable with that.
I have been reading all of her e-mails and although I had to ask Anders for a word or two, I DID understand what she was saying, so I also have an understanding now of Norwegian.
And when we were in Denmark last year, I could read all the notice boards and stuff and so I have an understanding of Danish too, although I don't think I'll EVER understand the spoken Danish.
So now, ladies, when anybody asks you what languages you understand, you can also list Norwegian and Danish if you really want to (just make sure that person is not fluent either, hehehe)
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Post by LadyDuff on Nov 5, 2002 15:17:20 GMT -5
Oh I know what you mean! I have three languages so, thats a real mix!!! we have swengspanish at home! LOL
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Brandy
Regular Member
There are 3 kind of people in life, those who do, those who watch and those who ask what happened.
Posts: 215
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Post by Brandy on Nov 7, 2002 15:04:40 GMT -5
Did you notice the post in "Dry Air"? It says to look at a catalogue "on side 40". ;D I had to look twice - I read it as sida fyrtio...!  You aren't alone! We are all doing it and even reading it where it needs it! ;D |
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Post by Sabeine on Nov 12, 2002 5:40:42 GMT -5
You know what embarrasing? The other day we had an American lady come into the store. She walks up to me for help, and asks if I speak English. I tell her yes. Out of my mouth comes some contorted British English. And I was phrasing things weird. She then asks me if I am English and out of embarrasment I say yes. I couldn't tell her that I was American and that this odd accent came out of no where. I don't mean this as an insult to English people in any way, it was just funny for me to start speaking this way. My co-worker standing right next to me looked at me like a sprouted a second head, then she asks "what was that all about?"
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Post by Carolyn on Nov 12, 2002 8:42:56 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity, do you and Anders speak English or Swedish at home?
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Post by Sabeine on Nov 12, 2002 9:40:38 GMT -5
It's about 50/50.
How about you guys?
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Post by Carolyn on Nov 12, 2002 10:02:57 GMT -5
Well, most of the rude stuff is in Swedish, about 90 percent! We tend to speak Swinglish. I toss in words like smutsig and a lot of times, Anders talks in Swedish to me and I answer in English. It's funny, but I have no problems at all being out in public and talking to total strangers, but around Anders, I get very self-conscious about speaking Swedish. Although now that it's getting closer to moving back, we've decided to sit down and night and I'll read him some pages out of some of my Swedish lesson books so he can help me with pronunciation and stuff. |
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Post by LadyDuff on Nov 15, 2002 18:13:24 GMT -5
Well, we speak English to each other all the time. I think it is so funny when we are out since we speak English to each other and Swedish to everyone else!! Sometimes I can imagine that people do not really know what to say or what language to use when speaking to us.... About speaking English to others. I can switch between British and Nort American sounding English, so it is very funny for others I guess!  My English was originally British/Irish, but has become more and more Canadian/North American, but it depends, sometimes I can say a word in a more NA sound and the next sounding really British!! LOL, I hope that made sense!! |
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Post by Natooke on Nov 16, 2002 5:07:15 GMT -5
I had posted under the wrong subject  and wanted to put a huge X over it but now I see I could delete it ... I think I'm losing my mind |
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country
New Member
Seize the Day - somebody has to do it!
Posts: 12
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Post by country on Dec 3, 2002 11:49:23 GMT -5
I went deep down into Swedish and for many years hardly ever spoke English at all. My first wife hated America and everything about me that was American (yes, we divorced finally), so we only spoke Swedish - except for my kids, with whom I only spoke English. After almost 30 years of deep-down Swedishness I was asked to help start a new International High School where everything would be taught in English. No problemo, I thought. That was back in August of 99. I found that my "flow" of English was not what I thought it was, and at times a Swedish word would pop out, much to my consternation, and others mirth. Nowadays I am back up to speed again in English, but I have (as some of you have said above) noticed how I have some Swedishisms that are difficult to get rid of. My English does not sound anything like it used to when I grew up in North Carolina  Some Americans think I am Canadian. |
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Post by Natooke on Dec 3, 2002 13:48:36 GMT -5
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when I had to stop and think real hard 
My English was originally British/Irish, but has become more and more Canadian/North American, but it depends, sometimes I can say a word in a more NA sound and the next sounding really British!! LOL, I hope that made sense!!
and wanted to put a huge X over it but now I see I could delete it ... 