Comments on: Language Paradox http://www.eihek.com/blog/2009/07/01/language-paradox/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:36:37 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Hege Folkestad http://www.eihek.com/blog/2009/07/01/language-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Hege Folkestad Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:36:37 +0000 http://www.eihek.com/blog/?p=20#comment-95 I think I know what both of you mean, and here's another aspect: When I'm tired, I find it easier to listen to someone who is reasonably fluent in the language they're speaking. I recongize and understand far more words than I can actively use. Even if others use a language at a level far above mine, I may still be able to understand or (relatively) easily reason my way to what they meant. But 'debugging' a language the speaker doesn't master so well, takes a lot of attention, and is stressful, when you're allready tired :-) I think I know what both of you mean, and here’s another aspect:

When I’m tired, I find it easier to listen to someone who is reasonably fluent in the language they’re speaking. I recongize and understand far more words than I can actively use. Even if others use a language at a level far above mine, I may still be able to understand or (relatively) easily reason my way to what they meant. But ‘debugging’ a language the speaker doesn’t master so well, takes a lot of attention, and is stressful, when you’re allready tired :-)

]]> By: Thomas http://www.eihek.com/blog/2009/07/01/language-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Thomas Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:14:03 +0000 http://www.eihek.com/blog/?p=20#comment-93 This is exactly how it is when I speak with finnish speaking friends. If they are comfortable with swedish then we use that (I'm worse in swedish than most finns) and if not, then english is the lingua franca. Pretty cool what you say about control of conversation, or maybe meaning, it resonates with how I feel when I try to inverview people about their information needs in the library. I try to get them to use as technical language as possible, and then I ask for clarification. Best way to avoid misnunderstanding:-) Great post! Th. This is exactly how it is when I speak with finnish speaking friends. If they are comfortable with swedish then we use that (I’m worse in swedish than most finns) and if not, then english is the lingua franca. Pretty cool what you say about control of conversation, or maybe meaning, it resonates with how I feel when I try to inverview people about their information needs in the library. I try to get them to use as technical language as possible, and then I ask for clarification. Best way to avoid misnunderstanding:-)

Great post!

Th.

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