DACA DELUSION: Kirsten Gillibrand Says ‘Chain Migration’ is a ‘RACIST SLUR’

[TBoneTX 46,113]

And, perhaps the crowning anecdote.

One time, I royally freaked out over something.

In reaction, Mrs. T-B. said, "Don't go aysheep!"

I burst out laughing.

She did, too, after I explained.

It's still funny around here.

[Boiler 46,086]

41 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

A year or so after marriage, I came home, and this dialogue ensued:

Mrs. T-B.:  I bought you cheap.
T-B.:  What did you say?
Mrs. T-B.:  I bought you cheap.
T-B.:  You bought me cheap?  What the dickens does THAT mean?  I'm not that cheap.  And don't let Immigration hear you say that.
Mrs. T-B. [frustrated]:  Cheap, CHEAP!  I bought you CHEAP!

Upon further investigation, she had gone to the store and bought me a bag of potato cheaps, si man.

Crisps?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

6 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Mrs. T-B. had studied English but got rusty at it, because in Ecu there was no chance to practice.

Soon after she got here, we signed her up for free English classes.

Without exception, all her Spanish-people classmates were envious because she was married to a gringo and could practice at home.

 

In addition, it's not clear to me that some people's limited English is because of their unwillingness to learn it.

In the various Spanish-people supermarkets, I've asked the clerks & butchers (in Spanish) whether they speak English.

If they say "yes" or "a little," I say, "Me, too!" and usually get a laugh (or, better, a startled look).

If they say "no" or "not much," I say, "Yo tampoco" ("nor do I") and continue in my pidgin Spanish.

At the "yo tampoco," I usually see them visibly relax, and some even smile.

This indicates to me that they're insecure about their inability, wish that things were different, and want to be accepted.

Their quandary is probably not knowing how best to change things to their benefit.

Not sure what this is called in the Hispanic cultures, but in the Asian cultures, it is referred to as “being nosebleed in English”.  People are embarrassed at their lack of English ability, even when you are in THEIR country, and speaking THEIR language so poorly.  Even though they likely speak more languages much better than I do.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

5 hours ago, Boiler said:

Crisps?

Chips, si man.  Cheaps and deeps are good, no?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

5 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

And, perhaps the crowning anecdote.

One time, I royally freaked out over something.

In reaction, Mrs. T-B. said, "Don't go aysheep!"

I burst out laughing.

She did, too, after I explained.

It's still funny around here.

A cute one I still love is when my wife says things like “I’ll gonna”, or “you’ll gonna”.  As in “You’ll gonna go to the store for me?”  Or... “I’ll gonna kill you when you fall asleep!”

 

High tech comes out like “fetch”.

Dandelion was “dan-dee-lee-yon” for a long time.  Miss that one!

Squirrel was “squee-rl”.

Baby still sounds like “Vaby”.

 

So endearing...

[Boiler 46,086]

11 minutes ago, IDWAF said:

Chips, si man.  Cheaps and deeps are good, no?

Yes they are:

 

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

Yes they are:

 

Ahh, now I see the problem.  You NO si, man.   No si. You sprechen Sie a muy different language. 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

31 minutes ago, IDWAF said:

Not sure what this is called in the Hispanic cultures, but in the Asian cultures, it is referred to as “being nosebleed in English”.  People are embarrassed at their lack of English ability, even when you are in THEIR country, and speaking THEIR language so poorly.  Even though they likely speak more languages much better than I do.

That has always amazed me. Not speaking good English is almost a stigma there. 

[Dashinka 24,786]

20 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Yes they are:

 

Just need a little gravy and cheese, then you will be Canadian.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

33 minutes ago, IDWAF said:

Not sure what this is called in the Hispanic cultures, but in the Asian cultures, it is referred to as “being nosebleed in English”.  People are embarrassed at their lack of English ability, even when you are in THEIR country, and speaking THEIR language so poorly.  Even though they likely speak more languages much better than I do.

Yeah it's nosebleeding trying to speak English. Honestly my wife laughs when people try to speak a FULL English conversation with they don't have a complete grasp of it yet. You see this a lot on the Filipino shows interviews or QandA's that people will try to appear smarter than they are by speaking English when answering a question or doing a interview. But they end up looking like fools and being laughed at by other Filipinos because they mess up a word or a phrase.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

4 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

That has always amazed me. Not speaking good English is almost a stigma there. 

What also amazes me in the Filipino culture is you can hear people literally sing a complete song in English with no issues at all and it's very good, but when you talk to them they can't really understand you.

[AshMarty 360]

52 minutes ago, IDWAF said:

Not sure what this is called in the Hispanic cultures, but in the Asian cultures, it is referred to as “being nosebleed in English”.  People are embarrassed at their lack of English ability, even when you are in THEIR country, and speaking THEIR language so poorly.  Even though they likely speak more languages much better than I do.

I work with a lot of different patients from different cultures/countries. I find this to be especially true with my Arabic speaking patients. I will work with them daily for two weeks with an interpreter present only to find out that they speak English fairly well but they are often nervous to speak to me using it. I believe they are a little embarrassed but also nervous I will over estimate their knowledge of the English language. I have also had this experience with two patients from China.  Ironically we see more UAE patients then any other nationality (other than USCs). 

 

It is always a surprising to work with someone for weeks only to have them speak almost perfect English to you one day when the interpreter is running late. Haha.. Happens pretty often. 

 

Edited February 9, 2018 by AshMarty

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

24 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

What also amazes me in the Filipino culture is you can hear people literally sing a complete song in English with no issues at all and it's very good, but when you talk to them they can't really understand you.

That also.. My nephew does that. Also on TV when they talk some in English and some in Tagalog 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

7 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

That also.. My nephew does that. Also on TV when they talk some in English and some in Tagalog 

That is so common with Tagalog speaking people though especially the younger generation. They have name for it called  "Taglish" which means a mixture of Tagalog and English.

[yuna628 9,712]

8 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Mrs. T-B. had studied English but got rusty at it, because in Ecu there was no chance to practice.

Soon after she got here, we signed her up for free English classes.

Without exception, all her Spanish-people classmates were envious because she was married to a gringo and could practice at home.

 

In addition, it's not clear to me that some people's limited English is because of their unwillingness to learn it.

In the various Spanish-people supermarkets, I've asked the clerks & butchers (in Spanish) whether they speak English.

If they say "yes" or "a little," I say, "Me, too!" and usually get a laugh (or, better, a startled look).

If they say "no" or "not much," I say, "Yo tampoco" ("nor do I") and continue in my pidgin Spanish.

At the "yo tampoco," I usually see them visibly relax, and some even smile.

This indicates to me that they're insecure about their inability, wish that things were different, and want to be accepted.

Their quandary is probably not knowing how best to change things to their benefit.

That's why I'd just like a little less hostility towards those who don't speak English as fast as some or as well as some would like it. The anger of some is disturbingly palpable in some places. While I do feel that people should speak and have some understanding of English, it does not offend me in any way if their grasp of it isn't the best so long as they have made some effort. But that won't matter to some people, who will just view someone in a single moment not speaking English or a jumbled mix and suddenly fly into a rage as if they are solely responsible for all of their personal problems and wrongs.