Could I pass for a native English speaker?

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Do I sound native or not quite?
Poll ended at 29 Jan 2008, 1:48 pm
You sound native to me 80%  80%  [ 28 ]
Almost native 14%  14%  [ 5 ]
Nope, not native but very good English 3%  3%  [ 1 ]
Sorry, I don't recall the language in your posts :( 3%  3%  [ 1 ]
Total votes : 35

Greentea
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29 Dec 2007, 1:48 pm

Since many of you have encouraged me to pursue my writing dream, and I'm grateful for this, I've started thinking of taking up writing classes. English is my strongest language but not my mother tongue, so I'd have to write in English. My question is: from your reading my posts in the forums, could I pass for a native English speaker (in writing)?

I know this is not the right WP forum for this topic, but you are the people who know me...


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Orwell
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29 Dec 2007, 2:02 pm

Your English is better than that of most native speakers.


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ciounoi
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29 Dec 2007, 2:03 pm

I haven't actually read any of your other posts, but judging from THIS post... I think you are good to go!



Greentea
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29 Dec 2007, 2:09 pm

Aww, thank you so much!


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KingdomOfRats
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29 Dec 2007, 2:23 pm

Greentea wrote:
Since many of you have encouraged me to pursue my writing dream, and I'm grateful for this, I've started thinking of taking up writing classes. English is my strongest language but not my mother tongue, so I'd have to write in English. My question is: from your reading my posts in the forums, could I pass for a native English speaker (in writing)?

I know this is not the right WP forum for this topic, but you are the people who know me...

Would never have guessed were not a native English speaker Greentea.


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caramateo
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29 Dec 2007, 2:30 pm

you write proper English, its OK



Greentea
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29 Dec 2007, 2:33 pm

You guys have made my day. I feel more confident to try now.


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2ukenkerl
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29 Dec 2007, 4:23 pm

I agree with the other posts. You sound fine. Many Americans don't write nearly as well.



Last edited by 2ukenkerl on 29 Dec 2007, 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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29 Dec 2007, 4:42 pm

You write extremely well. I would not have picked that English is not your first language!

Helen



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29 Dec 2007, 5:00 pm

And what country are you from?



2ukenkerl
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29 Dec 2007, 5:05 pm

Irulan wrote:
And what country are you from?


As I recall, she said she was from Israel. BTW You generally speak well also. I wish I spoke Hebrew(what I believe she speaks) and Polish(what you speak) as well.



Irulan
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29 Dec 2007, 5:11 pm

2ukenkerl wrote:
Irulan wrote:
And what country are you from?


As I recall, she said she was from Israel. BTW You generally speak well also. I wish I spoke Hebrew(what I believe she speaks) and Polish(what you speak) as well.


So maybe try learning Polish again :D If I was a dictator of the world I would give the order to make my language compulsory in all schools all over the world :twisted: We wouldn't need to learn foreign languages because it would be others who would be expected to know Polish :twisted:



Greentea
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29 Dec 2007, 5:21 pm

Thank you all so very much!

My mother tongue is Spanish, and the local language where I live is Hebrew. But all my life, due to my studies and work, I've read only in English, so it's the language that comes easiest when I write. I haven't read almost anything in Hebrew or Spanish. Besides, as an English Linguist and teacher, I feel confident about grammatical rules only in English. I'm sometimes told by native English speakers that a few of my expressions don't make sense, and I always wonder if it's indeed lack of mastery of the language or aspiness :)


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29 Dec 2007, 5:44 pm

I think you got the best of the deal, written English as a second language is formal and precise.

Native speakers start off as babblling babies. some progress to becoming teens, and speak to watch adults cringe. In college they mostly speak like TV, and by the time they come into the work world, they are verbal cripples.

Your English is the English of books. My American upbringing has impaired my language skills.

If you mean native English speakers who say some of your expressions do not make sense, are British, well, we do not understand them.

I knew an Argentine, she spoke English well, but spoke of books and culture no one in New York ever heard of, and English translations of things her grandmother said, proverbs about the Gauchos and the Pampas just do not translate.

I think your avatar is hot! This is a fully sexist comment, I do not care about her brain.



iceb
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29 Dec 2007, 5:49 pm

You didn't put up a button "Better than native".

:)


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Greentea
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29 Dec 2007, 5:50 pm

LOL inventor.

My avatar is not a real woman, it's a porcelain doll made by a great Italian artist whose name escapes me right now.

And trying to explain the Gauchos to Americans sounds like a lost cause indeed! Though my sister in law is from Los Angeles and loves Uruguay...


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