I took Spanish for three years in high school. Latin for a half year, mostly to boost my SAT scores (Nate Silver's new fave metric[?]). Language doesn't stick with you much if there's no cultural immersion or social imperative. Or if I'm dumb. How unfortunate that all is. I'm still half-fluent, Lo hablo mas que a poco, que huevos por un guero, no? Lo se. But what use is it, how can I prove I'm better than google on the internet without cultural knowledge? I have almost none. (edit2: well... actually that might not quite register in European dialects of Spanish.. so... I dunno. It is a Mexican-style Spanish that I know, or more acutely, Tex-Mex) So while I was doing my best "perdon" in the Toulouse subways with all my luggage, in rush hour (thanks academic advisor)... you know what? We will finish this one in person some day. I might be in Paris in April but I doubt it. Sorry demure, things are... yeah. I will be back over in the Schengen someday. I know your Eurorail, and I have already schnitzel'd at the Ratskeller (and I'm a little glad that's over with). Uh but I think these next few years? I'm busy, but I age at half the normal rate on account of the fed-common-pot (FCP) adrenochrome we share; as fed contract perks. See you in 4 or two years Edit: I know they say it's hard when you're older (with no adrenochrome, I think?), but I know I can eventually reach some actual polyglot status. It's probably two decades out or so, but if the world would chill? Who knows.
-May I have some of that tofu? You can take my fries. -"Joey doesn't share food!" -The fuck's a Dżołej? (pronounced it back in an exaggerated Polish accent to emphasize my confusion) Oh, the looks of all those people suddenly realizing Friends wasn't as timeless as they thought back in the day. You make a great point regarding culture, but knowing the language is still a great tool to recognize your horizon of familiarity. It's also a way to expose yourself to it, should you want to. As to proving you're better than google, believe me, it has a long way to go vis-a-vis word choice. Usually not to the level of confusing "forgive me father for I have sinned" with "spank me daddy I've been naughty," but note my use of 'usually' there.how can I prove I'm better than google on the internet without cultural knowledge?
There might be some truth to the possibility that american culture is dora the explorer'd a li'l bit, for me. More than ever. And the emerging elements are increasingly less fascinating. I found myself defending weeaboos the other day because I was like "well..? I mean I kinda get it, at this point. Kinda, though". "Tic-a-tac-a" is an offensive move I know in futbol (it's the "give and go" in american basketball offense), but yeah I got an antenna to watch the worldcup via digital radio broadcast TV on Telemundo because when the american announcers react to a goal, it's literally "and there it is, peter, into the back of the net, for the argentinians, once again, Messi" vs. "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL", like yeah I went and got an antenna for that second option! Hell yeah. No regerts. I'm in the minority here, actually. City and county wide. Oh no (/s). Just like with veen, it is more fun to banter with you or other europeans than many of the people I'm supposed to be culturally identically to in God's yt America or whatever we're doing now.You make a great point regarding culture, but knowing the language is still a great tool to recognize your horizon of familiarity. It's also a way to expose yourself to it, should you want to.