Re: OT: Icelandic help

>"Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...> wrote:
>*Everyone* normally speaks very fast from the perspective of L2
>speakers (or non-speakers) of their L1.
This has not been my experience with Spanish.  I lived for a time in
Central America when I was in the Peace Corps.  I had difficulty
understanding the Hondurans, but when I went next door to Nicaragua I
had no difficulty whatsoever.  I was amazed that at my first contact
with a Nicaraguan, a cab driver, I was able to understand him
perfectly.  I doubt that all the Nicaraguans with whom I spoke slowed
down just for me.

What I find interesting is that many people don't know how to slow
down.  I'm always saying, "más despacio."  They may think they've
slowed down, but I don't hear a difference.

>I've never understood all the people who say they can listen
>and get the gist of something but can't say anything themselves; I've
>always had the opposite problem.
I'm with you on this one.  I can pretty much say what I want to say,
but don't always get the gist of what someone is saying to me.

Charlie

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