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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

    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

                          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

                            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
                            0
                            • 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
                                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

                                  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
                                  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

                                    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

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA ascherbaum@mastodon.social

                                      @randahl You are on to something! 😉

                                      Link Preview Image
                                      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
                                      0
                                      • 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
                                        0
                                        • 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".

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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