We've heard a-lot about you, and you most certainly deserve a thread of honour for yourself.
Sorry about spelling and marks' mistakes in Arabic. I've only finished my third year of studies.
Yours, وَحِد مِن رَفِيقُكَ
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Osama lurks on Hatrack?
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
I've never understood why you do this so often. I mean, a lot of people here speak another language but you don't see them constantly posting in it. If it's a private message for someone, why not E-mail it? Why is it better as a public thing that most can't reply to?
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
Welcome to Hatrack
--j_k
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bob the Lawyer: I've never understood why you do this so often.
He's showing off. Duh. Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Clearly I understood that Tante, I was just trying to be polite.
Way to ruin it for me, doofus Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
It is rather annoying. This is an english forum, so keep it english!
Unless of course you're going to give us all lessons (or translate everything you say in the language so we can figure it out), in which case keep it up.
But if you're just gonna post something in a language that 95+% of the forum cannot understand, and probably about 25% can't even display in their browsers, what the heck is the point?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
But I want to write in Japanese...
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I seem to remember a Norwegian/Swedish thread a while back...
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
Just curious, how'd you get the new characters, HS?
--j_k
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
quote:It is rather annoying. This is an english forum, so keep it english!
Unless of course you're going to give us all lessons (or translate everything you say in the language so we can figure it out), in which case keep it up.
I don't think foreign language threads are really imposing upon anyone's rights. Some people are interested in foreign language and have every right to discuss in and about languages.
If we start whining about people posting things that we can't understand, then I move to ban all threads on computer games. I don't understand what they mean and it makes me feel bad. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Doofus?!! You cut me. To the quick.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
私たちはアラビア語を話しません。ここに日本語が話しました。
[ June 30, 2005, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
実は、アラビア語は興味が別にありません。ごめん、ね。ここに日本語かアラビア語が分かる人が多いはずじゃないから、英語を使い ましょうね。
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I have got to practice my Japanese. I can only understand about half of the second sentense...
Posted by Exploding Monkey (Member # 7612) on :
I like catfood.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
quote:If we start whining about people posting things that we can't understand, then I move to ban all threads on computer games. I don't understand what they mean and it makes me feel bad. [Razz]
The thing about this though, is that if you asked we'd be more than happy to explain everything for those of you less literate. And in no time you'd understand it.
When you post in another language like that you're essentially cutting out everyone who doesn't understand the language. Its exclusive, its rather rude, and things like that have ALWAYS pissed me off to no end.
Now if you do stuff to allow those of us who don't understand the language to understand what you are saying, and maybe even start to learn the language then I'm all for it. I think it'd kick ass to have a whole bunch of foriegn language threads with translations and such so we could start to learn the languages.
But if you don't tranlate and just jabber on... yeah, you're cutting the rest of us out. Take it to e-mail if you want to do that with out letting the rest of us in on the joke...
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
アルコンさん、話しすぎます。アルコンさんはうるさいですね。
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I don't know that I agree, Alcon--or at least, I don't know that I agree entirely. This thread definitely has a "look at me, I'm so smart" kind of feel to it (although it's possible that my having seen Jonathan in action in previous threads colors my interpretation of his behavior in this one) that is a bit tiresome, and part of the reason that it serves as an ego-plumper for him is its exclusionary feel.
On the other hand, there are definitely valid reasons for having a thread that is in a language other than English. These include people whose first language isn't English wanting to communicate with a greater degree of sophistication than they are capable of commanding in English (necessarily, their audience is going to be smaller than it would be if the post were in English, but I can see how that trade off would be worth it in certain circumstances) and people who want an opportunity to hone their skills in a second language by reading and composing posts in that language.
I'm sure there are other reasons that I'd see as valid, but I'm tired, and those are the only two that are leaping to mind.
[ July 01, 2005, 12:25 AM: Message edited by: Noemon ]
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
quote:On the other hand, there are definitely valid reasons for having a thread that is in a language other than English. These include people whose first language isn't English wanting to communicate with a greater degree of sophistication than they are capable of commanding in English (necessarily, their audience is going to be smaller than it would be if the post were in English, but I can see how that trade off would be worth it in certain circumstances) and people who want an opportunity to hone their skills in a second language by reading and composing posts in that language.
See in both these cases though it would be easy enough to cut the rest of us in by including translations, even rough ones, of their posts in english. And as a trade off we could start to learn their language.
Well, in the first case it would obviously be better if there was someone as good at english as their language to translate the posts for us. But still. Since obviously people who post on and read this forum know SOME english. Then they should be able to translate what they write in other languages, even roughly. Not only would that allow the rest of us to follow the conversation and therefore wouldn't be exclusive (which is what I really object to), it would allow us to get some practice learning the language too.
Oh and to you speaking other languages and not kindly translating for the rest of us: Ustedes tienen los cerebros de los monos rabioscos! Ustedes eran patos!
(Translation: You all have the brains of rabid monkies! You're all ducks!)
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Alcon, people who post "don't post like this or that cause it annoys me" posts have always seemed quite misguided to me, to say the very least.
In other words, don't do that cause it annoys me. Okay? Thanks! Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
If only Babel Fish translated Arabic. At least it got the Japanese.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
what? there was japanese? wow my computer just has a bunch of question marks.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
quote:Alcon, people who post "don't post like this or that cause it annoys me" posts have always seemed quite misguided to me, to say the very least.
In other words, don't do that cause it annoys me. Okay? Thanks! [Wink]
So what of the grammar nazi's who are always yelling at people for one grammar mistake or another that drives em up the wall huh?
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Neko wa doko desu ka?
That's the extent of my Nihongo thus far. Well, that and aisu kurimu o kudasai. That's all you really need, ne?
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
quote:So what of the grammar nazi's
*resists*
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
quote:The thing about this though, is that if you asked we'd be more than happy to explain everything for those of you less literate. And in no time you'd understand it.
When you post in another language like that you're essentially cutting out everyone who doesn't understand the language.
So ask. People who talk computers don't automatically "translate" everything they say, but you claim that if we asked them to, they would. So if you want to know what we're saying, just ask.
For the record, what I said was, "Actually, I don't have much interest in Arabic. Sorry. There's no reason to think there are a lot of people here who speak Japanese or Arabic, so let's use English."
I certainly would have no problem with a rule that said, "If you post in a language other than English, you must supply a translation if asked." That would certainly cut out a lot of the private conversations.
Of course, it's possible to lie about what you said. But if it's a relatively well-known language like Spanish, Japanese, or (around here) Hebrew, you just may get caught, and then you'd be in real trouble. Just my two yen. (One yen is equal to about one cent.)
Posted by Grisha (Member # 6871) on :
quote:Originally posted by kojabu: what? there was japanese? wow my computer just has a bunch of question marks.
ditto
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Does this forum have some means of sending private messages between members? I'm on another forum where it helps out at times.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Wow... you guys are making a really big deal of this. If it bothers you, don't open the thread. It's pretty simple. I can't understand the Arabic, I opened the thread, I thought "hey, that's pretty cool," and now I'm leaving. Lots of people on the forums like to show off what they've learned, and what they can do, and for everyone else it's been "ooh!" and "aaah!" or "that's so awesome!" I don't see why this is any different.
Posted by Fahim (Member # 5482) on :
Hey HS Sorry to join the party so late In fact, I probably wouldn't have known of this thread at all if my wife hadn't pointed it out and said "I think this was meant for you" I'm not really a regular habitue of the boards despite my sudden burst of activity on one thread
Thanks for the thread and for making it in Arabic but my Arabic's really, really rusty and you obviously know more Arabic than I do I can read it but most of the time I have no idea what I'm reading and while I do know enough to get the gist of stuff it's mostly guesswork since the kind of Arabic I spoke for the brief time I spent in Saudi Arabia was more along the lines of pidgin Arabic
To dispel curiosity and to lay all the commotion to rest, here's what HS said as I understood it (hopefully, he doesn't mind me raising the veil of mystery ):
The topic title was my name and then he went on to say "Fahim my friend, <not sure of words perhaps, "I am learning"> Arabic. I am Jewish <not sure of word>. <Not sure perhaps, "Do you"> have/understand Arabic?"
So there you have it - as far as I can make it out that is
[ July 01, 2005, 08:07 AM: Message edited by: Fahim ]
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Hey Alcon, you might want to untwist your panties.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
I think jebus should write something in Irish.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I could write something in Alien. Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I'm going to write something in Deseret.
Ha. No I'm not.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
okay
Posted by Fahim (Member # 5482) on :
Incidentally, about all that hoopla over HS showing off his skills, why shouldn't he? We've all been proud of our accomplishments at one time or another and I don't see why he shouldn't be proud of what he's achieved. In fact, he makes me feel ashamed that I can't understand what he wrote, better Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
We fear that which we don't understand.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Vedi? Non capite quello che scrivo qua-- alora, avete paura.
Conigli. Siete tutti conigli nella faccia della mia potera tremenda!
MUAHAAA!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So, honey, does that mean you're going to take up improving your Arabic?
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Non ho paura di Lei, Scott R.
Posted by Haloed Silhouette (Member # 8062) on :
quote: In fact, he makes me feel ashamed that I can't understand what he wrote
Probably because my Arabic is so bad it isn't correct.
ETA:
quote: Fahim my friend, <not sure of words perhaps, "I am learning"> Arabic. I am Jewish <not sure of word>. <Not sure perhaps, "Do you"> have/understand Arabic?
Actually:
Fahim, friend, I do not understand Arabic (I'm a Jew from Jerusalem), [therefore] why [should I speak] in Arabic?
I'm using vocabulary of 7th grade, or 1st grade for natives...
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
How does anyone read Arabic? It's so TINY.... (at least it is above!)
K'Pla!
Posted by Fahim (Member # 5482) on :
I hit CTRL+ in FireFox and it becomes bigger so that I can read it Posted by Haloed Silhouette (Member # 8062) on :
quote: How does anyone read Arabic?
Very simple, you copy it into a word-processor that supports Unicode, and Zoom In.
I myself can't read what it wrote, but I inserted the right symbols from Micro$oft® Office Word 2003. It's awful in this size.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Or you just increase the text size in your browser.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
>>Non ho paura di Lei, Scott R.
Si, che c'e l'hai. Vedi la forma di 'Lei?' Hai paura di ofendermi, cosi' usi la forma che dimostra rispetto.
Oppure, sei un missionario appena ritornato.
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
quote: Fahim, friend, I do not understand Arabic (I'm a Jew from Jerusalem), [therefore] why [should I speak] in Arabic?
I'm using vocabulary of 7th grade, or 1st grade for natives...
See...I thought that it said:
Fahim, I do not understand Arabic (I'm a Jew from Palestine), why then should I speak Arabic?
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
quote:Originally posted by Scott R: >>Non ho paura di Lei, Scott R.
Si, che c'e l'hai. Vedi la forma di 'Lei?' Hai paura di ofendermi, cosi' usi la forma che dimostra rispetto.
Oppure, sei un missionario appena ritornato.
Si, ma ho imparato che devo usare Lei quando non conoscere una persona e penso che non Lei conosco. (Non mi ricordo il subjuntive).
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
>>quando non conoscere una persona e penso che non Lei conosco.
Non e' cosi' piu. Si puo' usare il familiare 'tu.' Se la persona e' vecchia, or e' una persone di autorita,' forse sarebbe meglio di dargli il 'Lei,' ma non e' considerata maleducato se non lo fai.
Il subbietivo! Eh, non me recordo ne'anche usarlo. Ti capisco, communque. Quanti anni sei stato a casa?
Devi parlare con Dante (un altro membro qua); lui conosce bene l'Italiano.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Ti spacha la faccia!
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Ehi, 'spaccare.'
io spacco. tu spacchi. lui/lei/Lei spacca noi spacchiamo voi spacchiate loro spaccano.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I'm going to feel terrible if I did that wrong.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
But I got faccia right? I can never quite figure out those weird Italian Cs that make like five diffferent sounds.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Oh, and that was future tense. So would it be io spacca?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I found that when I speak it, I'm able to do so intuitively; when I tried to write it down, I got muddled.
So I googled it.
spacchero' spaccherai spacchera' spaccheremo spaccherete spaccheranno
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
quote: Quanti anni sei stato a casa?
How many years have I been at home? Er? Non capisco... Ho studiato italiano solo per tre semestre all'universita di Cornell, e poi sono andata a Roma per il semestre scorso ma ci non ho dovuto parlare, scrivere, o leggere italiano molto (tutte delle mie classe erano in inglese).
Posted by Jay (Member # 5786) on :
I think FBI is watching this thread.....
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
No Such Agency is watching this thread. Please continue your conversation...
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Bwa ha ha ha!
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
Christians in action would also like to encourage the continuation of this thread...
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Ho capito addesso. Pensavo che fossi un missionario ritornato, ed e' per quello che mi dava del 'Lei.' Nella mia missione, dovevamo dare il 'Lei' a tutti trane i bambini.
Era una regola un po stupidina, ma!
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Consider it like the puzzle/code threads. These are very global languages being used. If you're curious, take the time to try and figure it out.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Il problemma con i lingui che non usano il alfabeto romano e' sono molto difficile tradurre.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
00101101 00101101 01101010 01011111 01101011
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
悲劇は目蓋を下ろした優しき鬱
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
Isthay eadthray isay amelay.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
igpay atinlay!
Posted by Beanny (Member # 7109) on :
Mmmmrrrfff rrrrggggg *grunts* *picks nose* *hits someone with a club*
Now, someone guess what I've learned!
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
I couldn't make it out very well either. But I've very excited to see how many people sort of know arabic.
All I can say is no one got flack for posting in the Latin motto thread.
Though the instructions for the thread were in English. I don't like it when the thread title is in, say, french. I know there are a lot more french speakers here, but no one, I'll wager, who only speaks French which would be the main reason justifying it.
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
No such Agency... Such is our middle name.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
quote: All I can say is no one got flack for posting in the Latin motto thread.
The first post in the latin thread was translated, and then when asked, other people translated theirs.
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
Everything in the D.C. metro area is choked with foreign languages and acronyms. You become used to not knowing what anything means...
![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Sorry to join the party so late