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Post by Slatkica on Nov 5, 2006 11:00:06 GMT 1
I was writing in Serbian because you write in American, which I find highly offensive! You are the confused person if you don't know that behaviour is spelled behavioUr, and aeroplane is the correct word for zrakoplov! Do you not like Americans? ;D
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Post by boris on Nov 5, 2006 11:53:55 GMT 1
Sorry, a typing error there - what Croats think is that a woman who sleeps around is a sleeper. And by the way Boris, how dare you critise us Brits when you can't write our language properly, it is behavioUr, don't forget the u. How would you like it if I wrote in Serbian? Mogu bre da pišem na lepom srpskom jeziku ako hoæeš!!! ;D
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Post by boris on Nov 5, 2006 11:54:19 GMT 1
Your Serbian is not very good!
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Post by capio on Nov 5, 2006 14:15:15 GMT 1
I know her and she is British, she is just a language expert, she speaks about 9 languages or something ridiculous like that. She is the one of only two native English speakers I have ever met who isn’t Croatian by blood who speaks fluent Croatian.
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Post by pocketvenus on Nov 5, 2006 14:45:56 GMT 1
Thank you Capio for coming to my defence and telling the truth! I do indeed speak 9 languages, and sorry for the typing error - computers and typing are not my forte. And Slatkica, I do not particularly like Americans, as they have totally ruined my mother tongue, bastardised it to the core, and their junk food, rubbish violent Hollywood films and gun "culture" have taken over our beautiful Europe. As a European and a linguist I find all this offensive. I am British, but my Dad was Norwegian, although he died when I was 5. However Croats with their stereotype mentality often think I'm making it up because I'm short and dark!
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Post by jackie chan on Nov 5, 2006 15:43:23 GMT 1
I must say this site has gotten a little tedious lately. What exactly is the point in bickering over peoples poor grasp of the english language ? It just seems rather petty and elitist. Besides as 'owl' points out, we all could point out each others mistakes untill the end of time. Where does it get you though ?
As for the themes in this thread I'm a British person who has lived in several foriegn countries and inevitably had to mingle with the 'expat' crowd. Singapore, Hong Kong, India. I came to loath the term expat because the majority of expats go to another place and expect it to be just like Britain. If it's not they'll constantly complain about it and set about trying to make the locals bend to their way of life rather than trying to adapt to the way of life of the country they are in. We need a golf course, let's teach these natives cricket. Why doesn't the local bakery sell sliced bread ? Why do these locals cook there own bean dishes and not have heinz tinned baked beans ? They don't do business like we do back home, they should change there ways. Stupid communists !
If you want to do business in a foriegn country then you should learn to do business there way. Do you really expect a whole nation to change just for the sake of a few British people selling real estate ? Why should Croatians abide by some British ideal of Proffesionalism. I'm sure there could be improvements in Croatia, after all it was a communist country at war only 12 years ago, but it's really a bit much that Croatians should have to but up with listening to a bunch of expats complaining about all the things that are 'just not like they are at home'. Wise up people. You are guests in someone elses country. Have some respect for gods sake. If you want to make a profit from Croatia you better be prepared to adapt. You are giving we British a bad name.
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Post by Carol on Nov 5, 2006 16:16:18 GMT 1
Kajmak, you make some good points, but I think you are missing some thing very basic... the complaints are being made by the Croats against the Brits. Take this thread for example: started by a Croat entitled "why many Croats do not like English", not "why many English do not like Croats". Should we put up with insults and ill-thought out assertions just because we are British?
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Post by Mirko on Nov 5, 2006 16:17:33 GMT 1
Thanks Kajmak, finally some wise words!
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Post by capio on Nov 5, 2006 16:49:21 GMT 1
Actually his words were nothing but nonsensical Middle English rhetoric.
Venus was so pro Croatia and Croatians last time I met her that I am surprised by her views, clearly her experiences have changed her mind. Simply by saying, respect this and when in Rome blah blah one neglects the variables of life that influence our opinions.
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Post by ludilousa on Nov 6, 2006 2:45:46 GMT 1
I was writing in Serbian because you write in American, which I find highly offensive! You are the confused person if you don't know that behaviour is spelled behavioUr, and aeroplane is the correct word for zrakoplov! you are an idiot. there is no such thing as "american" language. and how could americans bastardize "british english" when all languages are continually evolving every minute of every day. a real linguist would know that. or maybe you are just prejudiced. jel bre tako?
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Post by Sasha on Nov 6, 2006 10:10:52 GMT 1
IMO, it is reprehensible that Boris for just stating his views was attacked mercilessly by some Brits. Shame on you!
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Post by jill on Nov 6, 2006 10:59:24 GMT 1
Agreed Sasha.
By all means attack his arguments mercilessly if you will, but surely not his communication skills...I'm pretty sure he speaks and writes far better English than 95% of the readers of this site can speak or write Croatian.
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Post by pocketvenus on Nov 6, 2006 11:10:58 GMT 1
Jill, how is life in Italy? I've spent lots of time in Chioggia (provincia di Venezia) and I bet it's better weather where you are! And I DO speak Croatian, I've got a Masters in it, so I do have the right to comment!
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Post by jill on Nov 6, 2006 13:04:54 GMT 1
Dear Venus,
Life in Italy is fine....cold but fine.
Admittedly, if anyone has the right to comment on language matters, it would be you.
However, it seems a little 'below the belt' to attack Boris on his minor linguistic failings, when he is trying to put over a fairly complex point in a foreign language. IMHO he has managed to communicate his point very well, semantics, typing errors, lapses in vocabulary aside. The whole point of language is communication surely?
If we don't agree with what he is trying to communicate then we have the right to say so and say why...but not to attack him for his correct or incorrect use of English.
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Post by capio on Nov 6, 2006 14:46:23 GMT 1
Dear Venus, Life in Italy is fine....cold but fine. Surely it is warmer in Italy than in Zagreb? I spent 3 months in Vicenza in 2004 I remember driving from Zagreb where the snow was two foot deep by the time I got to the Slovenia -Italian border it was 25 degrees and Sunny. I was amazed I could drive a few hours and the climate was so different. Zagreb’s weather is pretty bad apart from 2-3 months in my opinion.
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