Should I learn basic Dutch?

roker · Post by **roker** » Tue 9th Nov 2010 03:28 pm

Bakje koffie - cup of coffee

een a-a-tje - Energy drink AA pronounced (this will be difficult)...think back when you learned the alphabet..an A said A, not ay..dus A A tje

Looza - pronounced lowza not loser

mag ik de volcano gebruiken? - may I use the volcano?

Ik ben helemaal wappie geworden - I'm off my face

Here's the Dutch alphabet that I posted on channels a while back...should help some...

Here is a run down of how you pronounce the Dutch alphabet:

a (Not ay but a said quickly)
bay
say
day
ay
ef
gghay (with the throat sound)
ha
ee
yay
ka (Like the ford Ka, not k-ay, but ka)
ell
em
en
o
pay
coo
er
es
tay
oo
fay
vay
ex
I
zed

articulomortis · Post by **articulomortis** » Tue 9th Nov 2010 04:29 pm

Cheers! That alphabet is pretty handy! I think i'll learn a few phrases, but i'll have a translator with me anyways!

truckerclart · Post by **truckerclart** » Tue 9th Nov 2010 07:15 pm

in all the times ive been over,dam,utrecht,drachten and the islands ive found that when i get back to the uk it all fades away,so for the flight over i got myself inflight dutch for the iphone,obviously im not going to remember it all but i would be happier to use manners when in someones elses country,tot ziens...

wietroker · Post by **wietroker** » Tue 9th Nov 2010 07:54 pm

hehe that "looza" pronunciation is good advice. It took my years until I said it right and it saved a lot of confusion too! More toking time

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 09:45 am

You probably know, but you always put the noun afterwards, so 'een looza aardbei alsjeblieft'

bleak · Post by **bleak** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 11:23 am

Its worth learning a few words I think. Just the standard hello, goodbye, thankyou etc go a long way. Even if its just 1 or 2 words in Dutch, the locals do appreciate it. Often I get a big smile from them when I do.

If anything, just remember 'dank ye val' (thank you very much)

Its not totally necessary, but just a way to be friendly and show you're not just another mindless tourist.

Its true what others have said, that unless you speak perfect Dutch, the locals prefer to speak English to you. Its easier for them to speak English than to understand broken Dutch. So don't feel pressured to learn entire sentences and stuff, just start with a few token words.

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 11:49 am

bleak wrote:
If anything, just remember 'dank ye val' (thank you very much)

Would that be 'dank je wel'?

anyway...

It isn't just the spoken word. Here's an example:

Would you be able to understand what this offer is without learning some words? if not, you'd miss out on a brilliant offer and a brilliant day out...The whole day in first class anywhere in Holland for two people during the Autumn (Herfst), for €35...

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 11:53 am

I can read more than I can speak but I always just put anything in dutch through a translation site like Google.

bleak · Post by **bleak** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 12:12 pm

roker wrote: Would that be 'dank je wel'?

Yes, thats the one. Thanks for the correction (no sarcasm)

Although I was just writing it as its pronounced.

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 12:32 pm

I thought you were thanking Valerie...

Cisco · Post by **Cisco** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 12:36 pm

Rufus wrote:
cisco wrote:
Rufus wrote:well I always think it is polite to learn a few basic phrases when going to a different country, perhaps I'm weird in that regard though
Yeah im with you on that one ! you being weird i mean
Ah Cisco, excuse me, you wanna say that to my face?? In fact nah, join the queue lots of people think it

Not after hearing Sir Nials tails of 2foot woman windmilling into a crowd o blokes

i shall fill yer bong for ya at 420 as an apology

(or just to find out how weird you actually are !?) MWAH HA HA

Marco · Post by **Marco** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 12:45 pm

I have to admit I am having a bit of a war with the Dutch language and its definitely winning. The fact that everyone speaks English and that so much TV is in English is quite a big obstacle. I learned German in Austria in the 80s and it was easier to immerse myself in the language (I was a kid). And now if I try to speak it comes out with a German accent, which is not cool with the Dutch.

Technology gives us the ability to instantly read the paper back home and watch our favorite shows in English. But on some level, it is easier to learn a language if all those distractions of English are gone.

Roker, how did you learn? Classes, work, women?

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 12:50 pm

Marco wrote:
Roker, how did you learn? Classes, work, women?

Well, ultimately it was for a women...I never had classes or anything. I read a lot of books, newspapers etc and simply used a dictionary on my pc to translate (Van Dale, highly recommended)...bit by bit, and after say six months of really trying to learn the light at the end of the tunnel wasn't far away. Also, my work colleagues would speak Dutch to me, I spoke it in the bars and that, and all of a sudden I no longer need to speak English whilst in Holland...

This lady was a huge motivator for me...

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 01:13 pm

Rufus · Post by **Rufus** » Wed 10th Nov 2010 04:56 pm

cisco wrote:
Rufus wrote:
cisco wrote: Yeah im with you on that one ! you being weird i mean
Ah Cisco, excuse me, you wanna say that to my face?? In fact nah, join the queue lots of people think it
Not after hearing Sir Nials tails of 2foot woman windmilling into a crowd o blokes i shall fill yer bong for ya at 420 as an apology (or just to find out how weird you actually are !?) MWAH HA HA

look forward to it