help for a new resident from the Netherlands

Is there anybody out there fluent in Dutch who would be willing to help a new resident from the Netherlands?

This morning I'm engaged in my usual meander-and-mosey and I run into a very charming newly-minted avie who only speaks Dutch. I am completely bereft of any knowledge of that language, but I figured, well, the Netherlands is next door to Germany, right? So I tried out some of my wretched German, but as most of what I can recall is either military commands and drinking songs (it's a long story) that wasn't much help.

In fact I think it may have confused the poor thing even more.

So, at my friend Mr. Chadbourne's suggestion (Alex tells me he knows a little Dutch but it's not the exact vocabluarly that would be appropriate in this situation), I put SL in a window and went to a free translator site to get some things translated to cut and paste into the chat box in-world.

Note to self: you apparently get what you pay for with free online translators--if the quality of the translation that I got when I put the other person's chat into it is any indication, this unfortunate soul is probably wondering even now why I sugested that they "seek the pen of my uncle within the chicken nose like it is 1999."

But seriously, this person seemed very nice and very confused, but was very eager to try to figure things out. If anyone out there has some faciltiy in that language and would like to help, give me an IM in-world, and I will try to get you and this person together.

Last time I checked english was required in dutch schools.....

Doesn't mean people will be fluent or even comfortable with that language.

A few of the exchange students I spoke with still had problems sorting make and do. "I am making homework," for example. Besides, I learned French in high school... and now, all I can remember is how to insult people in French.

I took 8 years of it and I only remember the swear words. They are some great swear words though, no?

Ah, fascinating.

I would approach with the utmost of care - there is a minute chance that you have encountered one of the Pennsylvania Dutch, or possibly, even one of the Amish?

I think the Amish are woefully underrepresented in the metaverse.

Yeah but Chris given time back in the environment surrounded by zee french you would find yourself remembering a lot of the language skills you thought lost.

10 bucks says this guy will get along fine on his own once he immerses in the biomass ; )

Surely that's all you need.

(Pardon s'il vous etes francais) I am a francophile really it was just too much of a temptation!!

Sigh. I don't speak French, but I had it in school.

Anyway, if this person is sincere about learning SL (and won't waste too many hours of my time) feel free to have him/her contact me and I will see if I can help at all get him/her aquinted with the SL software.

That's because make and do are very similar in dutch, maken and doen. That just makes it too easy to directly translate what we use in dutch in english, especially when you speak, which results in these sorts of mistakes.

If you still need help IM me in world and I will help you.

Anyone else speak Dutch here? ^.^

I'm from the Netherlands myself, and there's a good number of Dutch people here on SL.

Welcom op second Life, ik hoop dat iedereen hier een geweldige tijd heeft en het erg naar zijn zin heeft! Kom gerust een keer langs bij onze club, de GYC, te vinden via het Search systeem... Maar let op: het is wel een adult club, gericht op bisexuele- en homofiele furs, hoewel iedereen welckom is, man of vrouw en alles daartussenin. ^.^

for all you English: You are also very welcome at the GYC ^.^ *beware: adult content*

Roseann: if more problems arise, or should you need more help with Dutch or Geman, I am very glad to help out new residents find their way. Just send me an IM

Mr. Bunyip and Miss Flora,
thank you for your kind offers of assistance, I will indeed contact you in-world and do my utmost to get this individual in touch with you. It's always pleasant to get a bit of help when one is new, especially when there are some speed bumps on the road to communciation.

Even if they took required English courses in school....well from my own experience, I can sympathize having taken two years of French in high school and two years of German in college (both a looooooong time ago) and at present, off the top of my head, I can sing La Marseillaise and Drei Lillien, and do the manual of arms with German commands, and not much else. But as someone helpfully pointed out, with use, it does come back to you--Yes I am sure that with time and contact, the individual in question will develope an ability to get by in English.

Still doesn't mean a little guidance and encouragment from someone who speaks the same lingo wouldn't be a nice thing to offer.

And Mr. Cassidy as well, thank you...sorry I overlooked your offer of help in the previous post.

Better late then never.... if I can be of any assistence, jusy howler....

I'm dutch myself and almost fluent in italian also(at least orally), though the latter was not required i guess....

greetings / groeten,

Anawak...

I'm Belgian...

So my first language is : Dutch (also 2 types of flemmish dialect)
2nd : english
3rd : french

And I understand deutch.
But I can only speak one correct line...wich can get me banned because it's vulgair.
LOL

And spanish , just counting till ten and simple words. (that seem to resemble to french and english)

For some reason people seem to teach me insulting and vulgair lines.
They're taking advantage of the fact that i'm willingly to learn other languages.

I'm Dutch myself.
R/W English
Understand German, can write a little
Understand a few words French, but speaking only a very very little

Me too. But from the other side.

Languages: French then English then Nederlands.

Wendel

wow nice...not many people from wallonië can speak anything besides french.

I'm originaly from 'Oost-Vlaanderen' but i live in West-Vlaanderen' now.

Yeah the dialect diffirence is quite intresting.

When i speak my dialect no one will be able to understand me besides the people from my own town (and around).

I can also speak fluetly my bf's dialect. But it doesn't fit me well.

/me fails to see why people who don't speak any english at all start a SL....

Good luck anyway!

Because it is hyped in the media as something cool, and they see and read about other dutchies on SL.

Playing SL would be great opportunity to learn/improve your English while having fun at the same time !

An RL friend of mine joined SL with real bad english skills. And I mean real bad. He wasn't exactly what you would call a teacher's dream at school.

His English is now really good compared to what it was. Spelling is ok, and he is able to be understood without problems.

Strange what they are able to learn if the desire to pixel-shag those girls is strong enough