Sunday, September 19, 2010

The girl who collected words

Last night I met a Japanese girl who knew how to say “I love you” in multiple languages.

“I used to collect 'I love yous',” she explained.

Then, if somebody said it to her in another language, she'd be able to understand and reciprocate.

She's since given up. Having had no opportunity to make use of her collection, she deemed it useless.

6 comments:

  1. I like this.

    I also like your blog. You're so secretive. I had no idea you'd published so many posts in the last week!

    Consider me a proper stalker now.

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  2. Haha - that's cute :) I'd love to learn multiple second languages, but still haven't gotten around to it.

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  3. That's sad!

    I collect random phrases in other languages. I know how to say 'I am a coconut tree' in Indonesian. And 'I am the moon' in French.

    By the way, this blog post writing thing is much harder than I remembered!

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  4. I do this! I collect phrases along the lines of "Do you speak English?" and "I don't understand".

    I can say "Do you speak English?", "I don't understand", or "I don't speak ..." in: English, Russian, German, French, Italian, and Mandarin so far.

    Among other phrases in most of those. Languages are my favourite hobby, I just wish I knew at least one language other than English fluently.

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  5. Japh, although I'm impressed with the usefulness of your phrases, they're far too practical to compare with the romance of collecting "I love yous"! Em, however, is on the right track.

    Soph, stalk away, and tell me if it becomes self-obsessed.

    Amy, perhaps teaching multiple children English will have to do.

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  6. Well, I do also know a single phrase in Danish, which translates to: "Red porridge with cream". Not especially useful, but apparently it amuses the Danes greatly to hear foreigners try to say it.

    Also, my useful phrases can still lead to adventure... I got stopped in an airport in Belarus by security because I told a woman that I don't speak Russian, in Russian. Had to empty my entire case out and everything.

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