Re: OT: semi-OT: bilingual communication

Danny Wier wrote:

>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 couldn't see why not. I know my mother and grandmother have spoken to
each other (surprise!), Mum in English and Oma in Dutch. Generally
happens when Oma's angry at Mum or extremely distraught. (Both's first
language was Dutch, but Mum learnt (began learning) English at about
four or five, whereas Oma was in her twenties or thirties I imagine...)

Tristan.

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