Ich spreche kaum Deustch

[alias_sqbr]

Mum just rang asking if I was up to her picking me up to go visit Grandad. The answer was, sadly, no, but we had a nice conversation, and I'm glad she at least asked so that hopefully soonish we can organise it, I haven't seen him in ages(*). She's learning German at TAFE at the moment and really enjoying it, and it was so much fun being reminded of all the "Guten Tag, mein Name ist.." stuff, and explaining how to say "Ein tausend, zwei hundert, vier und dreizig" (1234). By the end of year twelve German had become this frustrating and depressing chore, I love the language but I'm just not that good at it. And after 13 years(!) I've forgotten most of it and always feel a sad little twinge when I see German stuff and have no idea what it says. But I still know more than mum :)

nb the title of this post means "I speak very little German". At least, that's what I think it means...

(*)Though at this point I doubt he remembers who I am to miss me :(

Comments

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

I know how to say "I don't know Mandarin" in Mandarin! :)

[alias_sqbr]

Has this ever come in handy? :)

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

I use it all the time now that I'm living in Singapore again. :P

[alias_sqbr]

Good point, I imagine my very little German would have more of a chance of being useful if I ever went to a German speaking country! (That sentence looks stupidly obvious now that I type it)

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is that Singapore is supposed to be an English speaking country. :P

[alias_sqbr]

Yes, but you're a LOT more multilingual than we are. Isn't Mandarin one of the official languages?

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

One of them yes. But when you see a Malay or an Indian speaking Mandarin you realise how pervasive it's use is. Also, it makes me feel bad :(

[alias_sqbr]

You are still way more multilingual than I am! (Admittedly, we Anglo Australians don't tend to set a very high bar to surpass :))

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

Oh I don't debate that the country is multilingual - my issue is that one shouldn't have to speak mandarin to get anywhere, which is often the case.

[alias_sqbr]

Ah. Yeah, that makes sense.