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  3. Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

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  • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

    Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

    In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

    When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

    Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

    In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

    #offtopic

    amenonsen@flipping.rocksA This user is from outside of this forum
    amenonsen@flipping.rocksA This user is from outside of this forum
    amenonsen@flipping.rocks
    wrote last edited by
    #80

    @randahl There was a Swedish film festival in Delhi many years ago, and I remember some… consternation in the audience when the last frame said of some film said "SLUT" in big white letters on a black screen.

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • malaule@mastodon.socialM malaule@mastodon.social

      @randahl may be they need to learn danish

      swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.worldS This user is from outside of this forum
      swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.worldS This user is from outside of this forum
      swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.world
      wrote last edited by
      #81

      @MaLauLe @randahl Røv og ræv.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • naturemc@mastodon.onlineN naturemc@mastodon.online

        @dahukanna I have now mastered the French numbering system sufficiently to write cheques, but I always count in my head in German to save my brain for more important things. 🤭 Or I use the Belgian French ...

        @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

        dahukanna@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
        dahukanna@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
        dahukanna@mastodon.social
        wrote last edited by
        #82

        @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

        From practice and lived experience:
        - More than 100 - can count with no effort in English
        - less than 100 - can count with no effort in English and French.
        - less than 50 - can count with no effort in English, French, Danish and German.

        naturemc@mastodon.onlineN 1 Reply Last reply
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        • dahukanna@mastodon.socialD dahukanna@mastodon.social

          @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

          From practice and lived experience:
          - More than 100 - can count with no effort in English
          - less than 100 - can count with no effort in English and French.
          - less than 50 - can count with no effort in English, French, Danish and German.

          naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
          naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
          naturemc@mastodon.online
          wrote last edited by
          #83

          @dahukanna Great! @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

            Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

            In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

            When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

            Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

            In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

            #offtopic

            fixato@toot.catF This user is from outside of this forum
            fixato@toot.catF This user is from outside of this forum
            fixato@toot.cat
            wrote last edited by
            #84

            @randahl here in Norway you can get a divine massage: https://www.godmassasje.no

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • rayotron@mstdn.socialR rayotron@mstdn.social

              @randahl
              As an arthouse cinema projectionist I learned that Danish and Swedish films end with an insult. I don't think they're calling the whole audience sluts, just that one person in row three.

              tomminieminen@mastodontti.fiT This user is from outside of this forum
              tomminieminen@mastodontti.fiT This user is from outside of this forum
              tomminieminen@mastodontti.fi
              wrote last edited by
              #85

              @rayotron @randahl The Russians do that too. Their films end with Finnish word “koheli” (= madman, crazy person).

              rayotron@mstdn.socialR 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • fiee@literatur.socialF fiee@literatur.social

                @mad @randahl @rhempel
                No, no, that only hints at salted prices!
                (In German that means overly expensive, dunno if it works in English.)

                cppguy@infosec.spaceC This user is from outside of this forum
                cppguy@infosec.spaceC This user is from outside of this forum
                cppguy@infosec.space
                wrote last edited by
                #86

                @fiee @mad @randahl @rhempel

                A Frenchman I know always laughs when he visits the UK and sees the words "for sale". In French, "fort sale" (in which the T is silent) means "really dirty".

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                  Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                  In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                  When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                  Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                  In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                  #offtopic

                  hoare_spitall@mastodon.worldH This user is from outside of this forum
                  hoare_spitall@mastodon.worldH This user is from outside of this forum
                  hoare_spitall@mastodon.world
                  wrote last edited by
                  #87

                  @randahl But you must concede that English native speakers often have difficulty with their own language, let alone another one.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                    Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                    In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                    When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                    Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                    In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                    #offtopic

                    quantensalat@scicomm.xyzQ This user is from outside of this forum
                    quantensalat@scicomm.xyzQ This user is from outside of this forum
                    quantensalat@scicomm.xyz
                    wrote last edited by
                    #88

                    @randahl I fart @ Gods elevator

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                    • ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA ascherbaum@mastodon.social

                      @randahl You are on to something! 😉

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                      cppguy@infosec.spaceC This user is from outside of this forum
                      cppguy@infosec.spaceC This user is from outside of this forum
                      cppguy@infosec.space
                      wrote last edited by
                      #89

                      @ascherbaum @randahl

                      I'm guessing "Din" means "your" (like Middle English "thine") and this sign displays your current speed?

                      ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • cppguy@infosec.spaceC cppguy@infosec.space

                        @ascherbaum @randahl

                        I'm guessing "Din" means "your" (like Middle English "thine") and this sign displays your current speed?

                        ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                        ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                        ascherbaum@mastodon.social
                        wrote last edited by
                        #90

                        @CppGuy @randahl yes. But for English speaking people it is still somewhat funny.

                        cppguy@infosec.spaceC 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • tomminieminen@mastodontti.fiT tomminieminen@mastodontti.fi

                          @rayotron @randahl The Russians do that too. Their films end with Finnish word “koheli” (= madman, crazy person).

                          rayotron@mstdn.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
                          rayotron@mstdn.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
                          rayotron@mstdn.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #91

                          @tomminieminen @randahl

                          That's interesting! I guess if a filmmaker were half Russian, half Danish they would end their movie with "Crazy Slut".

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                          • pointysticksncoffee@wandering.shopP pointysticksncoffee@wandering.shop

                            @randahl @cookingroffa in The Netherlands, Nutricia, a producer of a wide variety of foodstuff, including baby food, confused English speakers with this gem. Translation: mama, this/that one, that one, that one… Please

                            Link Preview Image
                            praetor@mstdn.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                            praetor@mstdn.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                            praetor@mstdn.social
                            wrote last edited by
                            #92

                            @pointysticksncoffee @randahl @cookingroffa I'm an American, as you know, and I live in a VERY Latino apartment buildiing. And they think it's all strange that I know Norwegian, but not Spanish. It's fun. And I was outside cleaning pillows. Fluffing them. And my neighbor is like "What you doing?" And I said "Beating my pute", and he's like "WHAT?!", because puta in Spanish is whore, but in Norwegian (and i believe in Danish) pute mean pillow. Which has now become an inside joke of the complex.

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                            • gupperduck@mastodon.socialG gupperduck@mastodon.social

                              @randahl

                              Or the evergreen road signs "Fart kontrol" 🙂

                              mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                              mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                              mycrowgirl@flipping.rocks
                              wrote last edited by
                              #93

                              @Gupperduck and the German parking exit wishing drivers to have a „Gute Fahrt“. @randahl

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                              • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                #offtopic

                                dchest@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                dchest@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                dchest@mastodon.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #94

                                @randahl what about poor kittens? 🙂

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                                • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                  Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                  In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                  When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                  Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                  In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                  #offtopic

                                  cpultz@lincolnite.netC This user is from outside of this forum
                                  cpultz@lincolnite.netC This user is from outside of this forum
                                  cpultz@lincolnite.net
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #95

                                  @randahl

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                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • xeno@hexokina.seX xeno@hexokina.se

                                    @randahl@mastodon.social it might have been "Kan jeg sidde ned" that's another really goofy one

                                    energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                                    energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                                    energetic_nova@mastodon.social
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #96

                                    @xeno @randahl

                                    Yeah. Before trying to learn a language, I spend time listening to the sounds deciding if I can say them or if they are differentiated enough.

                                    So anyway, Japanese is the most friendly language to me because of the limited sounds. I attempted Hungarian for the challenge and I ran into all the word forms that were too inconsistent… and how much it felt like every single word was very unique… but no gender! Which made me quit French fastest despite friend thinking I was natural

                                    energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE energetic_nova@mastodon.social

                                      @xeno @randahl

                                      Yeah. Before trying to learn a language, I spend time listening to the sounds deciding if I can say them or if they are differentiated enough.

                                      So anyway, Japanese is the most friendly language to me because of the limited sounds. I attempted Hungarian for the challenge and I ran into all the word forms that were too inconsistent… and how much it felt like every single word was very unique… but no gender! Which made me quit French fastest despite friend thinking I was natural

                                      energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                                      energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                                      energetic_nova@mastodon.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #97

                                      @xeno @randahl

                                      My friend thought with very little coaching I sounded native saying the basic phrases. And she begged me to learn and… I really hate nasal sounds. And I hate gender.

                                      Online friends are lovely this way

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                        Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                        In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                        When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                        Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                        In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                        #offtopic

                                        mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                                        mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                                        mycrowgirl@flipping.rocks
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #98

                                        @randahl a silly French sign for young Germans is this one.

                                        In french it shows the roadway is closed to traffic “Sauf Bus” (except for busses).

                                        But in German “saufen” means to guzzle or chug, especially alcohol.

                                        So it kinda makes it look like the road is closed to the party bus. Cue giggling teens taking pictures while making fake disappointed faces and pointing at the sign.
                                        https://www.imago-images.de/bild/st/0052044897/s.jpg

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                          Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                          In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                          When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                          Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                          In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                          #offtopic

                                          yoh@hachyderm.ioY This user is from outside of this forum
                                          yoh@hachyderm.ioY This user is from outside of this forum
                                          yoh@hachyderm.io
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #99

                                          @randahl, är det inte i Svergie också?

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