Re: OT: semi-OT: bilingual communication

From: "Danny Wier" <dawier@...>
Subject: semi-OT: bilingual communication


> I'm reading more on the North Caucasian languages (where I got A LOT of
> ideas for Tech phonology). I understand that in Vladikavkaz, Russia, which
> is on the Chechen-Ingush border, it's common for a Chechen to speak
Chechen
> to an Ingush, and the Ingush to reply in Ingush, and they understand each
> other enough to hold an everyday conversation.
>
> Is it possible, or practical, for this to happen in the real world for
> speakers of two more different languages? Like I was speaking English to a
> Spanish speaker and he'd be speaking Spanish to me.... ~Danny~
I've had it happen.  But more often for me, it's the other way around.  I'll
be speaking Spanish to a Spanish speaker, and they'll be speaking English to
me.  This seems comfortable for both sides, as we each know exactly what
we're saying, and what the other guy is saying.  If we're each speaking our
native tongues, there comes a problem when one side uses vocabulary the
other is not familiar with.

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