L is for Language

L is for Language

Ok, I know what I said about knowing when to stop but…

So, language, a subject which I have already ranted on far too much. As a result I will keep this relatively short and sweet.

It is without arrogance or an ego I say that I have done very well at picking up this language malarkey, and thoroughly enjoyed myself doing so, however there have been a few moments at which I have faltered. Firstly, however I will give my top five tips for learning a language:

1. Admit, from the beginning, you are going to look stupid. Only then, without inhibition, can you fully learn.
2. Immerse yourself in the language so completely that through sheer bombardment you cannot fail to pick up some words (e.g. have the TV/radio on all the time)
3. Go into a bar, get drunk, talk to people
4. Take a lover/mistress of the correct nationality
5. Always try. People will correct mistakes.

There we go, see, this blog has been educational yet again. I will, however leave you with my greatest language cock-up:

In the Ambasciatori Palace there is a beautiful receptionist who had been having a bit of a hard time at home and I wanted to say to her “Smile, it’s not the end of the world.” I had this worked out as “Scorisa, non é finito del mundo”. Now my problem was that I had forgotten the word for smile and thought it was ‘scorisa’ instead of the correct ‘sorisa’. This normally wouldn’t be that disastrous except the translation for ‘scorisa’? Well, er…it literally translates as ‘fart’.

So, now, think of me going up to someone who is looking a little bit sad and essentially saying “Fart, it’s not the end of the world…”. No wonder she smiled…only 3 days later when someone explained what I was saying did I realise it was not for the reason intended.

That’ll do chaps, until next time.

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