I know this is a fairly old vid, but its probably one of the most interesting and relevant (to me) I've seen in a while! I never thought I'd meet anyone more culturally confused than myself! I'm 17, English, Swiss, Iranian, and living in the US. It's funny how well I relate to some of the problems you experience--switching accents, brain block when you try to switch languages, getting sick of having to explain your background, etc. Great video.
@notliketoast Hi! Lovely to "meet" someone who can identify with the problems associated with being multilingual and multicultural! I think I can set my Swiss German to about .7 now - maybe .75! Woohooo!
Saw your vid to your friend, and your American accent is just "plain american"! Well done! Did you end up going to the UK? Your singing is lovely, by the way! I usually stop vids when someone starts singing! HEhe! Hope you are doing well!
Hi, I came across this video because I was randomly looking through Romansch videos. Why, I don't know but I had to comment because of what you said about your english not being like the English norwegians speak. It reminded me of one of my friends. Her first 2 languages are Korean and Portuguese but went to England for 4 years to learn English and has been in California for 5 years. No one knows where she's from by listening to her English. Any way I had to comment... I like languages too.
Linked here from Simon Leach's channel. I really enjoyed listening to you. Such an interesting story on your life and languages. I am going to watch some more of your videos. Lovely pottery pieces too!
Thanks for the lovely words! I post mostly reply videos on here these days and my main vids over on live(oneword)video-dot-com-slash-marihani, if you want to see newer original stuff.
Certainly! I speak, read and write all 3 of my languages every day, mostly. Not so much Swiss or German when I am abroad, but then it is so nice to hear someone speaking Schwiezerdüütsch when I get to the airport and am waiting for the flight to Zurich :-)
Tough with all these scattered replies to comments, I can't keep up with the updates, but it was nice to read that I am not the only one who dreams in various languages. I remember dreaming in Latin once, much to my schoolmates' disgust. Sometimes I go kinky, like I dream of explaining something about German in Spanish. BTW I wish I had more than 500 characters. I could tell u more about me in an email, but u'd B the only 1 reading it.
Dreaming in Latin is not a very "normal" kind of dream! Hehe!
But dreaming in a language you are learning means that your sub-concious is also able to function in that language. And that means you have made big progress.
You do have more than 500 characters - 2500, in fact - to comment over on livevideo dot com - but more difficult reply-system.
What's not a normal dream is once, I dreamed i was part of a novel we were studying at school. Woke up, told all my friends about the crazy dream, but then I woke up again, so that was also a dream. Went to school and told them about the dream within a dream, but then I woke up again! Like that many times. When I woke up for real I was a tad confused....
I have had a dream that was a dream when I woke up, but never that many levels! Shoot! Must have been a bit scary each time you realized that THAT was also a dream! Whooo!
Why, that's cute I know you (big word) from my pottery searches, and I was pleased to see you are multilingual like me; only, you were forced by circumstances, while I am just a language buff. It's also cute that I came across this video today, when I started to learn Japanese through youtube.
Say HEY! So we have several things in common! Isn't it funny?
Gosh all mighty! JAPANESE?! Just for FUN?!
Quite honestly, I would suggest Arabic ahead of Japanese. Much more widely spoken (mid-east and Africa) and such a fun language to write - and very logical once you "get" the sytematics of it.
I will go back to learning Arabic. So - not just forced by circumstances, but also because it is so wonderful to get to know cultures by how they express themselves through their languages.
And yes - septante, huitante and neufante, I think! Much easier to calculate! Hehe!
I had also started Greek just for fun many months ago, I was unemployed and depressed, so I wanted to feel good ad something. Yes, Arabic is in the list, too. I started once as a teenager in Milan, where we have a lot of North African immigration, and all those people started to socialize with me on the bus while I was reading some library book. "Learn Arabic in 30 days" I think (Yeah, right).
30 days? Hahaha! BUT - I find that almost anyone is honored if you try to use and learn their language. I make a point of learning the words for "thank you" and "please" and at least "yes" and "no" in the language of the country I visit. With those basics, it is often easy to learn a little more as well - and the "locals" react very positively to anyone even trying a litttle to speak their language. A very good ice-breaker.
I enjoyed your video. I would love to learn many languages. I have been studying French for 4 years. I love it. After I learn French I would love to learn some more languages. Multi-lingual people are inspirational. Thanks for sharing that!
I would suggest you try to live somewhere french-speaking at least for a few months. That really halps to consolidate what you have learned.
Being multilingual means that you are often also multicultural - and know a bit about the likenesses and differences between the cultures. That's the really fun part, I think.
heey! I wish I could speak so many languages.. I'm Dutch myself, we learn English at school, and German as well. I have learned French for three years.. but I don't know French AT ALL :p I'm also learning Norwegian! =) that's such a beautiful langugae! :O
It has taken me 45 years to "gather" my languages, so just keep going :-)
French is difficult. I had 6 years, but speak it very badly - and German gets in the way.
I find that Dutch people speak very good English and quickly pick up Norwegian with a good accent! I think it is something about the Germanic. Just like my Norwegian makes learning SwissGerman so much easier. Arabic, my next language on my list, however, is completely different, but FASCINATING and FUN!
I'll certainly keep going! I think i'm gonna take french next year, I really like the sound of it, so it would be nice if I could speak it properly ;)
I don't have much problems with German, but that's quite logical, since our country is nex to theirs, and you're kinda forced to know at least a bit of German.
is SwissGerman really different from German? Arabic sounds like a real challenge!!
Arabic is so different, it has a threshhold - but once the lightbulb lights over your head, then it is very systematic and fun - especially to write!
I think English is the least logical language - both with grammar and spelling! Search for "Dearest creature in creation" - there is a poem which highlights this VERY well!
Any Germanic lanuage will be easier if you already know one. SwissGerman is only understood OK by people from Schwartzwald. The rest of the Germans have trouble. SwissGerman is fun, though!
Keep up the french! You have invested 3 years learning basics, now you can build on that!
This was really interesting, and I love that you know all these languages!! I'm currently learning japanese, and even though I'm norwegian, I think and dream in english. I'm afraid sometimes I'll forget norwegian, seriously, I keep forgetting words all the time x3
I dream in all 3 of my languages, just like I speak them all 3 on a regular basis. You won't forget your Norwegian, and I have the same problem of not remembering a word in the language I need it in - all the time! If I am lucky, the person listening recognizes the word in the language I DO remember it in! Hehe!
Thanks for stopping by! And good luck with Japanese! That looks HARD!
Sorry my English is very bad... But I would like to say you something! I thing your history is very interessant! I live in Switzerland. Naturally I can speak Swiss German, but it's not my native language, my native language is Romanisch, someone knows these language? I hope, you did understand it! See you...
I understand you very well! Your English is not as bad as you seem to think it is. You could have written in Schwiizerdüütsch also. I understand that pretty well also.
Romanisch, on the other hand, I don't understand more than a couple of words. But I hope you are helping efforts to take care of the language! It is very important!
Thanks for sharing your story, it is very interesting. I think that all your international experience and facility for languages would be a great asset for communicating on a medium like YouTube.
It is a great asset for communicating - period! Also that I have experience with different cultures, so that I often have a little more in common with people than if I lived in one place all my life.
I would really like to hear you speak or read, 1st in English so we know what you're saying, then in Norwegian and Swiss German (and even a little Arabic etc). I'm fascinated by languages. Thanks for the story, I really enjoyed it.
Wow... I truely wish I spoke more than just English. I know a few phrases in other languages but I couldn't function outside an English environment without great difficulty. Great story. You sure have traveled a lot.
Almost anywhere you go, if you stick to more highly populated areas and cities, you will get by just fine with "just" English. If you learn the local words for please, thanks and a few more, you might even be a hit! ;-)
I love listening to your blogs, You are a great story teller, and yes I want to hear the story about your Mum almost being arrested. Thats so interesting about dreaming in different languages I never really thought about that before. Sounds like you have had a well travelled life. Once again I have learnt something today...hehehe
I know this is a fairly old vid, but its probably one of the most interesting and relevant (to me) I've seen in a while! I never thought I'd meet anyone more culturally confused than myself! I'm 17, English, Swiss, Iranian, and living in the US. It's funny how well I relate to some of the problems you experience--switching accents, brain block when you try to switch languages, getting sick of having to explain your background, etc. Great video.
notliketoast 2 years ago
@notliketoast Hi! Lovely to "meet" someone who can identify with the problems associated with being multilingual and multicultural! I think I can set my Swiss German to about .7 now - maybe .75! Woohooo!
Saw your vid to your friend, and your American accent is just "plain american"! Well done! Did you end up going to the UK? Your singing is lovely, by the way! I usually stop vids when someone starts singing! HEhe! Hope you are doing well!
Marihani 1 year ago
Hi, I came across this video because I was randomly looking through Romansch videos. Why, I don't know but I had to comment because of what you said about your english not being like the English norwegians speak. It reminded me of one of my friends. Her first 2 languages are Korean and Portuguese but went to England for 4 years to learn English and has been in California for 5 years. No one knows where she's from by listening to her English. Any way I had to comment... I like languages too.
solorzam 2 years ago
Linked here from Simon Leach's channel. I really enjoyed listening to you. Such an interesting story on your life and languages. I am going to watch some more of your videos. Lovely pottery pieces too!
weeknightingale 3 years ago
Hey :-)
Thanks for the lovely words! I post mostly reply videos on here these days and my main vids over on live(oneword)video-dot-com-slash-marihani, if you want to see newer original stuff.
Thanks for subscribing!
Marihani 3 years ago
Thanks!
weeknightingale 3 years ago
Snakker du fremdeles norsk?:)
linehe88 4 years ago
Certainly! I speak, read and write all 3 of my languages every day, mostly. Not so much Swiss or German when I am abroad, but then it is so nice to hear someone speaking Schwiezerdüütsch when I get to the airport and am waiting for the flight to Zurich :-)
Marihani 4 years ago
Tough with all these scattered replies to comments, I can't keep up with the updates, but it was nice to read that I am not the only one who dreams in various languages. I remember dreaming in Latin once, much to my schoolmates' disgust. Sometimes I go kinky, like I dream of explaining something about German in Spanish. BTW I wish I had more than 500 characters. I could tell u more about me in an email, but u'd B the only 1 reading it.
turuanu 4 years ago
Dreaming in Latin is not a very "normal" kind of dream! Hehe!
But dreaming in a language you are learning means that your sub-concious is also able to function in that language. And that means you have made big progress.
You do have more than 500 characters - 2500, in fact - to comment over on livevideo dot com - but more difficult reply-system.
and I am over 500 characters now for sure! HUGS!
Marihani 4 years ago
What's not a normal dream is once, I dreamed i was part of a novel we were studying at school. Woke up, told all my friends about the crazy dream, but then I woke up again, so that was also a dream. Went to school and told them about the dream within a dream, but then I woke up again! Like that many times. When I woke up for real I was a tad confused....
turuanu 4 years ago
I have had a dream that was a dream when I woke up, but never that many levels! Shoot! Must have been a bit scary each time you realized that THAT was also a dream! Whooo!
Marihani 4 years ago
The Swiss and Belgian say uitante for 80 :)
Why, that's cute I know you (big word) from my pottery searches, and I was pleased to see you are multilingual like me; only, you were forced by circumstances, while I am just a language buff. It's also cute that I came across this video today, when I started to learn Japanese through youtube.
turuanu 4 years ago
Say HEY! So we have several things in common! Isn't it funny?
Gosh all mighty! JAPANESE?! Just for FUN?!
Quite honestly, I would suggest Arabic ahead of Japanese. Much more widely spoken (mid-east and Africa) and such a fun language to write - and very logical once you "get" the sytematics of it.
Once I am profficient enough with my German,
Marihani 4 years ago
I will go back to learning Arabic. So - not just forced by circumstances, but also because it is so wonderful to get to know cultures by how they express themselves through their languages.
And yes - septante, huitante and neufante, I think! Much easier to calculate! Hehe!
Marihani 4 years ago
I had also started Greek just for fun many months ago, I was unemployed and depressed, so I wanted to feel good ad something. Yes, Arabic is in the list, too. I started once as a teenager in Milan, where we have a lot of North African immigration, and all those people started to socialize with me on the bus while I was reading some library book. "Learn Arabic in 30 days" I think (Yeah, right).
turuanu 4 years ago
30 days? Hahaha! BUT - I find that almost anyone is honored if you try to use and learn their language. I make a point of learning the words for "thank you" and "please" and at least "yes" and "no" in the language of the country I visit. With those basics, it is often easy to learn a little more as well - and the "locals" react very positively to anyone even trying a litttle to speak their language. A very good ice-breaker.
Marihani 4 years ago
Actually only the Swiss say "huitante"...the Belgians say quatrevingt-dix...
derronsb 4 years ago
Thanks for that. I guess the Swiss are just particulary stubborn not to go completely French ;-)
Marihani 4 years ago
I enjoyed your video. I would love to learn many languages. I have been studying French for 4 years. I love it. After I learn French I would love to learn some more languages. Multi-lingual people are inspirational. Thanks for sharing that!
peacelovebrighteyes 4 years ago
I would suggest you try to live somewhere french-speaking at least for a few months. That really halps to consolidate what you have learned.
Being multilingual means that you are often also multicultural - and know a bit about the likenesses and differences between the cultures. That's the really fun part, I think.
Marihani 4 years ago
heey! I wish I could speak so many languages.. I'm Dutch myself, we learn English at school, and German as well. I have learned French for three years.. but I don't know French AT ALL :p I'm also learning Norwegian! =) that's such a beautiful langugae! :O
I wish I was fluent at it .. :p
good luck with all your languages and stuff!!! :D
ha det! ;-)
roeltiesmoeltie 4 years ago
It has taken me 45 years to "gather" my languages, so just keep going :-)
French is difficult. I had 6 years, but speak it very badly - and German gets in the way.
I find that Dutch people speak very good English and quickly pick up Norwegian with a good accent! I think it is something about the Germanic. Just like my Norwegian makes learning SwissGerman so much easier. Arabic, my next language on my list, however, is completely different, but FASCINATING and FUN!
Marihani 4 years ago
45 years! :O wow! that's a loooong time! that's cool! :D
I'll certainly keep going! I think i'm gonna take french next year, I really like the sound of it, so it would be nice if I could speak it properly ;)
I don't have much problems with German, but that's quite logical, since our country is nex to theirs, and you're kinda forced to know at least a bit of German.
is SwissGerman really different from German? Arabic sounds like a real challenge!!
roeltiesmoeltie 4 years ago
Arabic is so different, it has a threshhold - but once the lightbulb lights over your head, then it is very systematic and fun - especially to write!
I think English is the least logical language - both with grammar and spelling! Search for "Dearest creature in creation" - there is a poem which highlights this VERY well!
Marihani 4 years ago
First answer didn't post :-(
Any Germanic lanuage will be easier if you already know one. SwissGerman is only understood OK by people from Schwartzwald. The rest of the Germans have trouble. SwissGerman is fun, though!
Keep up the french! You have invested 3 years learning basics, now you can build on that!
Marihani 4 years ago
This was really interesting, and I love that you know all these languages!! I'm currently learning japanese, and even though I'm norwegian, I think and dream in english. I'm afraid sometimes I'll forget norwegian, seriously, I keep forgetting words all the time x3
Anyways, love your video!
Shuyinda 4 years ago
I dream in all 3 of my languages, just like I speak them all 3 on a regular basis. You won't forget your Norwegian, and I have the same problem of not remembering a word in the language I need it in - all the time! If I am lucky, the person listening recognizes the word in the language I DO remember it in! Hehe!
Thanks for stopping by! And good luck with Japanese! That looks HARD!
Marihani 4 years ago
Sorry my English is very bad... But I would like to say you something! I thing your history is very interessant! I live in Switzerland. Naturally I can speak Swiss German, but it's not my native language, my native language is Romanisch, someone knows these language? I hope, you did understand it! See you...
SilbermondForEver 4 years ago
Hi!
I understand you very well! Your English is not as bad as you seem to think it is. You could have written in Schwiizerdüütsch also. I understand that pretty well also.
Romanisch, on the other hand, I don't understand more than a couple of words. But I hope you are helping efforts to take care of the language! It is very important!
Marihani 4 years ago
Thanks for sharing your story, it is very interesting. I think that all your international experience and facility for languages would be a great asset for communicating on a medium like YouTube.
vidular 5 years ago
It is a great asset for communicating - period! Also that I have experience with different cultures, so that I often have a little more in common with people than if I lived in one place all my life.
Marihani 5 years ago
I think you are going to have to make a video so I can learn to pronounce it properly! Hehe!
And, yes, I often say that. And sometimes I say - AGH! I hate fog! ;-)
Marihani 5 years ago
And i've been learning spanish since i was 12 or so!
I know pronunciation wont just come out magically ,but here's something for you in portuguese:
Está fazendo um dia muito bonito lá fora.
(It's a very beautiful day outside.)
I picked that sentence because it sounds like something you would like to say! ^^
byeee =*
videlsd 5 years ago
Thats awesome!!!
I guess you can say I speak 2.6 languages too... ><
I dont speak english as a native does, i have a very weeeeird accent... I speak portuguese, my native language ^^
videlsd 5 years ago
Thanks for the stories! Gene is going to video respond today. His father is from Norway and he has a couple of stories to tell.
Freida
geezerart 5 years ago
How cool! I can't wait to get it!!!!
Marihani 5 years ago
I'm with KittyWhisperer!!!
wvclaylady 5 years ago
I would really like to hear you speak or read, 1st in English so we know what you're saying, then in Norwegian and Swiss German (and even a little Arabic etc). I'm fascinated by languages. Thanks for the story, I really enjoyed it.
KittyWhisperer 5 years ago
I was thinking of doing something like that. Will add it to my list :-)
Marihani 5 years ago
Wow... I truely wish I spoke more than just English. I know a few phrases in other languages but I couldn't function outside an English environment without great difficulty. Great story. You sure have traveled a lot.
Pookieftw 5 years ago
Almost anywhere you go, if you stick to more highly populated areas and cities, you will get by just fine with "just" English. If you learn the local words for please, thanks and a few more, you might even be a hit! ;-)
Marihani 5 years ago
I envy people who are proficient in more than one language. Thanks for sharing your stories. -SW
SensualWhirl 5 years ago
I love listening to your blogs, You are a great story teller, and yes I want to hear the story about your Mum almost being arrested. Thats so interesting about dreaming in different languages I never really thought about that before. Sounds like you have had a well travelled life. Once again I have learnt something today...hehehe
fusantima 5 years ago