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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

    tekguru@social.vivaldi.netT This user is from outside of this forum
    tekguru@social.vivaldi.netT This user is from outside of this forum
    tekguru@social.vivaldi.net
    wrote last edited by
    #64

    @randahl @czottmann That is totally awesome!

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • ahalam@social.vivaldi.netA ahalam@social.vivaldi.net

      @randahl I didn't know that Danish has so close to Dutch! 💀

      steltenpower@social.edu.nlS This user is from outside of this forum
      steltenpower@social.edu.nlS This user is from outside of this forum
      steltenpower@social.edu.nl
      wrote last edited by
      #65

      @ahalam @randahl I, Dutchman (mother tongue Dutch, reasonably decent English, some German), can make some sense of written Danish, but not from spoken Danish.

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

        @rhempel nowadays were have the opposite problem, as window signs will often say "Sale!", which is confusing to Danes, as that means "Halls!", as if there is some big rooms inside the building.

        mdione@en.osm.townM This user is from outside of this forum
        mdione@en.osm.townM This user is from outside of this forum
        mdione@en.osm.town
        wrote last edited by
        #66

        @randahl @rhempel in French, "sale" means dirty (feminine), but it can be used as short for "dirty whore".

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • caman@connectop.usC caman@connectop.us

          @randahl I love linguistic crossover words and phrases with different meanings! I remember my high school German class when our rather jaded teacher was ready to teach a room full of adolescents how to conjugate the verb fahren. He told us to go ahead and get the guffaws and belly laughs out of the way so we could continue our lesson. He was right.

          When visiting Denmark, I’ll take the stairs. I do wonder if those elevators go both to the basement and the top floor. Just don’t ever hit the down button.

          mdione@en.osm.townM This user is from outside of this forum
          mdione@en.osm.townM This user is from outside of this forum
          mdione@en.osm.town
          wrote last edited by
          #67

          @CAman @randahl so, the god lift takes to to heaven and hell? 🙂

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • lies_das@digitalcourage.socialL lies_das@digitalcourage.social

            @randahl
            english 'gift' means in german 'poison'

            me_@sueden.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
            me_@sueden.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
            me_@sueden.social
            wrote last edited by
            #68

            @lies_das @randahl And 'married' in Danish, Swedish and Norwegian...

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.orgB brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.org

              @CiaraNi @randahl Indeed. I worked for a very famous Danish brewery for some years and people obviously expected there to be a cupboard full of beer.

              ciarani@mastodon.greenC This user is from outside of this forum
              ciarani@mastodon.greenC This user is from outside of this forum
              ciarani@mastodon.green
              wrote last edited by
              #69

              @brianjohnson @randahl A reasonable expectation!

              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

                taatm@mathstodon.xyzT This user is from outside of this forum
                taatm@mathstodon.xyzT This user is from outside of this forum
                taatm@mathstodon.xyz
                wrote last edited by
                #70

                @randahl 🤣
                The people of the Netherlands of talk of ‘spread shit’ as it sounds in to English ears.

                Then they show you their spreadsheet.

                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

                  thepolishdispatch@mstdn.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
                  thepolishdispatch@mstdn.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
                  thepolishdispatch@mstdn.social
                  wrote last edited by
                  #71

                  @randahl oh, and counting. Don't forget the counting.

                  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

                    malaule@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                    malaule@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                    malaule@mastodon.social
                    wrote last edited by
                    #72

                    @randahl may be they need to learn danish

                    swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.worldS 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • caman@connectop.usC caman@connectop.us

                      @randahl I love linguistic crossover words and phrases with different meanings! I remember my high school German class when our rather jaded teacher was ready to teach a room full of adolescents how to conjugate the verb fahren. He told us to go ahead and get the guffaws and belly laughs out of the way so we could continue our lesson. He was right.

                      When visiting Denmark, I’ll take the stairs. I do wonder if those elevators go both to the basement and the top floor. Just don’t ever hit the down button.

                      dravyptak@mastodon.mlD This user is from outside of this forum
                      dravyptak@mastodon.mlD This user is from outside of this forum
                      dravyptak@mastodon.ml
                      wrote last edited by
                      #73

                      @CAman @randahl there might be a "stairway to Heaven" near the Gods Elevator 😄

                      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

                        projektionsyta@mastodon.nuP This user is from outside of this forum
                        projektionsyta@mastodon.nuP This user is from outside of this forum
                        projektionsyta@mastodon.nu
                        wrote last edited by
                        #74

                        @randahl

                        Reminds me of the British gentleman who stepped off the train somewhere in northern Sweden, and saw the sign Godsexpedition (=freight office). He asked "Where am I?" The answer was "Welcome, you're in Häll!"

                        Häll is, of course, pronounced "hell".

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • dahukanna@mastodon.socialD dahukanna@mastodon.social

                          @NatureMC

                          @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                          I’m learning Danish as an English and French speaker and the “half of score(20) or 2 hands plus a number” mental model took some time to get used to - 😬!

                          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
                          #75

                          @dahukanna It is interesting to observe that most people who work in the gastronomy sector often count in their native language, even if they are completely fluent in the other language.
                          @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                          dahukanna@mastodon.socialD 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

                            darkpaw@mstdn.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                            darkpaw@mstdn.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                            darkpaw@mstdn.social
                            wrote last edited by
                            #76

                            @randahl Ah, but Danish people have no idea what an English diaphragny on the fluffnivalve is.

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

                              @dahukanna It is interesting to observe that most people who work in the gastronomy sector often count in their native language, even if they are completely fluent in the other language.
                              @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
                              #77

                              @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl
                              Instinctual, no cognitive effort to recall and time-effective system 1 vs deliberate, brain cognitive effort required to recall and slower system 2.

                              naturemc@mastodon.onlineN 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • dahukanna@mastodon.socialD dahukanna@mastodon.social

                                @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl
                                Instinctual, no cognitive effort to recall and time-effective system 1 vs deliberate, brain cognitive effort required to recall and slower system 2.

                                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
                                #78

                                @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 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

                                  sarpau@mastodon.socialS This user is from outside of this forum
                                  sarpau@mastodon.socialS This user is from outside of this forum
                                  sarpau@mastodon.social
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #79

                                  @randahl Randahl I wonder why🙄

                                  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

                                    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
                                    0
                                    • 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
                                        0
                                        • 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

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