Young Writers Society

1. I know assez means enough - that's precisely what I said in the corrections. However, considering what 15253 said, the confusion is understandable.

2. While much of that explanation is useful (I'll get to it later), allow me to debunk that assumption in entirety. Afrikaans (please remember the s) is paradoxically named, since it is the polar opposite of any African language. French, Portuguese, and English are all commonly spoken by black Africans, but Afrikaans? Spoken - sometimes, but only here or in Namibia; commonly spoken - definitely not.

Lesson #1: Languages. Most of the modern languages are descended from ancient languages that are no longer spoken. One of these is Italic, from which Italian, French, Spanish, etc. derive. Another is Germanic. While languages like Dutch and German stem from it, English does to - and so does Afrikaans. In fact, Afrikaans is more Germanic than English, since someone who speaks only Afrikaans will understand someone who speaks only Dutch or German much better than someone who speaks only English. That is thanks to Dutch being Afrikaans' ancestor, and this is also why the language most related to it is one spoken in a province of Netherland.

So yeah, the language that has a name that implies it is the official language of Africa is actually European. Take a moment to think about that.

Lesson #2: History. Afrikaans originated in what was known as the Cape Colony, the capital of which was and still is Cape Town, my home. Originally, it was referred to as a language only uses in the kitchen. You see, whenever people are removed from the place where their language is primarily spoken, they aren't exposed to the same influences. The settlers who came here were exposed to different events and cultures than those who stayed in Europe, so their dialect developed independently and they began to borrow words from local languages too. Skipping forward in time, we reach the point where conflict breaks out. Though both Afrikaners and Africans (the former are the Dutch/German settlers and French "Hugenote", known collectively as the "Boere", whereas the latter are the black natives, so don't confuse them) have reason to hate the English (the Boere more than the Africans, actually) and fought against them as allies, they eventually started fighting against each other, and much of that animosity survives to this day. Not everyone from both sides are racist, but there are too many who are, be they white or black.

3. So, taking my race and language into account, they'll most likely think I'm a fellow European. I'll just act naturally. However, if they do take me for a fool, I'll either explode and make my opinion of them resoundingly clear, or I'll sweetly tell them to p*** off in Afrikaans, smiling all the while. I don't take c*** from anyone, much less from some uncivilised boor who has, in all probability, accomplished less than I have. That's not me being self-righteous or vain, that's me stating a fact, just like it's a fact that my English is better than 95% of people I meet.

4. Wow, that rant was refreshing! It was satisfying, but just for clarity, why should I make it clear my English is better than theirs?

5. That missing t was a typo, not an error made in ignorance, but yes, I should remember that. By the way, just do what I do and give an example of an English word in which that sound appears, e.g. an a could be pronounced in many ways, but if I say "as in hay", it can only be interpreted one way.

6. Okay, let's talk about the French r. It is not pronounced the same way as in English, but it is pronounced the same way as the Afrikaans g. The phonetic letter for it is x, and the example provided is usually "loch". (The Scottish will hit you if you mispronounce it as "lock".)

Paris and rue are pronounced with a guttural sound. By that, I mean you make the sound in your throat, not your mouth, which is why Americans, Brits, Australians, etc. hate saying words that contain that sound. I use it everyday, so I'm fine. But is "main droite" pronounced the same way, or does it use the English r?

7. Thanks. At least I got some of them right.

1. Yeeeeees, I realized it afterwards, nevermind that.
2. Are you giving this information about your language just to inform me? I hope it is (and I don't mind), because what I said up there in that first dash was just a representation of what some of French people's mindsets function. By that I mean that yes, Africaans is certainly not as common as English, French or Portuguese, hence me not knowing much about it, but...
...They don't know that. And they don't care. They'll just assume that it's an African dialect among all those dialects that obviously, all African people are supposed to know, since y'know, all Africa's the same.
↑ This isn't me speaking. I'm repeating what I heard. Several times over. During years.

Lesson 1: I know that. Except for the Afrikaans bit, which is the main thing I'm focusing on. So it IS linked to the Germanic language descendants... Interesting.

As hilarious as that is to me, it's not because of the name that you'll have the "Oh he's speaking an African dialect" reaction, since they won't even recognize it, but anyway. That's still hilarious. let's see what more you can teach me.


Lesson 2: Hmm. The first bit of that history is definitely familiar, sicne that's basically what my ancestors have been through, but the later part is especially fascinating. So now both sides coexist, but there is still a lot of animosity between them. Another really interesting fact, though it's a shame. Hmm.

3.Yeeeees, that's where you're lucky, as I mentioned before - you're not black, so they'll automatically make less assumptions about your language and r...
...I still despise this word and everything it implies. Won't use it. Too stubborn.
Anyway...
Haha, that's the best part! They won't realize they're acting like you're some kind of fool. To them, gesticulating while imporvising/speaking slowly is THE OBVIOUS thing to do to put a stranger at ease!
*sarcasm*
Thank goodness they're not all like this, but yeah, I'm in the same boat. Here in France, my English was better than pretty much everyone I met, UNTIL I went to an international school where French People actually DID speak very good English and cared about its language and culture.
However, most of them had at least one English parent, which made themlearning the language much easier than for me, and um... The thing when I sarcastically said that "Africa was a big, united country"? That... That came from that same international school. In my very class, too

...Yeeeeeeah.

4. It was, wasn't it? I know that feeling. Also, you should make it clear that your English is better than theirs to make a difference. A lot of French people, especially when they're in France, tend to belittle any stranger that attempts to speak French. BUT they themselves can't quite speak a foreign language such as English properly.
So... Yeah. It's also easier for you to communicate if you speak English, and you will ALWAYS meet some open-minded people here. One of the many advantages of living in a country where you can believe what you freakin' want and nobody, no law's gonna say anythin' about it.

5. Yes, but... There are quite a few french pronunciations that don't exist in English. Most notably the "r", for instance. But if it's for words, I guess I can find a few, that should be helpful.

6. Let them Scottish hit me then, for I am ignorant. Also, Lock sounds cool, so I'll have to get used to the original pronunciation.
Ok, now listen up, this is very important. The French "r" is used for every single word said in French that contains an "r" in it. Be it droite, Paris, rue, fer, verre, ANYTHING that has an "r" in it is pronounced with the French "R". The English R doesn't exist in French, which by the way is a reason why it sounds so freakin' cool to us. Or maybe it's just me, but... gosh does it sound amazing. Especially in words like "louder", that "r" IS EPIC.
...Anyway sorry.

7.You totally did. That should ALSO help.

1. XD

2. "Ignorance is bliss" is only true in certain cases. In others, it's rude and frustrating.

2.1. Why will they have that reaction, then? While I've never punched somebody in the face before, I'd happily do it if someone insults my home language.
2.2. It is a shame, yes. The English come and steal our country's gold and diamonds (the Hope Diamond was found here, as well as many of England's crown jewels), and then they are blissfully unaware of the hatred and violence that results in farmers being slaughtered in their homes and beggars being beaten to death on the streets.

3. In my opinion, it's a stupid and inappropriate word. When the word is used in RPGs or fantasy novels/films, it refers to different species that cannot biologically have fertile offspring, such as humans vs goblins vs centaurs vs bipedal cats. But using the term to differentiate between people solely due to the amount of melanin in their dermal epithelial? No.

Africa would have more complicated diplomatic relations than Europe if it hadn't been technologically handicapped from the start.

4. I'll act according to the situation, then, but I'll probably end up speaking English anyway.

5. Just give a French example and I'll look it up.

6. Even in "en garde" and "Orleans" and "Marseilles"?

2. Exactly my point.

2.1. because that's the instinctive reaction some of the ignroants I'm talking about apparently seem to have. I'm exactly sure why, but I've seen it enough and during enough years to know what's coming your way when certain circumstances are met.
But - and although I'm sure you're aware of that - I'm still going to insist on the fact that you're also bound to find positive reactions as well, as not all French people are closed-minded/vicious.
2.2. Y'know, you could say that for slavery and its -to-this-day- leftovers in general. But um, yeah. I get what you mean there.

3. Which is exactly why I hate it.

Yeah, I know. It's vast and not as united as many europeans I've seen, met and talked to think it is. You have no idea how many times Momhas to orally destroy StepDad whenever he lets certain words and implications slip.
Heh. Family dinners are fun.

4. Do. Really, it's easier.

5. Right. Welp, Char provided you with a few, so there's that.

6. EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. That has an "r" in it. Use the French "r". Every single one, I tell you. Especially Marseilles, actually. 'cause y'know. French city.