Misunderstandings can occur when there are language differences

hi blackusty you are right and we all should make a note of that as so many times what we Americans consider a joke nobody else in other countries does.Thus people from other countries feel hurt or thought ill of. So we must be very careful and very thoughtful in writing discussions,

so true be well be safe

once I really put my foot into then is when I realized some jokes are not funny at all. this woman was a bit antsy to start with and she really did make an insult as she said she thought I was a troll. I told her no of co urse i was not and I hated them as much as anyone else.. Then I went out on a limb and said joking that if she did not stop saying that I would sic Gaby's dog Gissi on her. now I thought she was familiar with that user who was on here a lot at that time and her little dog who was not aggressive at all.But she told me that that was really mean and she was reporting m e.oddly my joke was not deleted but her response to me both of them were deleted.But I also felt that i should never have said that even though I was just joking as it was taken literally .

hi mani118 That is a very good point...the internet can be confusing without voice and body expressions...for example what do you mean could be interpreted.. what do you mean what do you mean Hearing the voice would clearly show which was meant while type can't without smilies..and btw..that is why I love to use smlies...people say I overdo them, but I like them...and if I were not restricted to 3 smilies per post at myLot I would use more...

Well, I am glad to know there are afew others out there that feel as I do and want to do a good job in grammar. I heard somewhere too that they are thinking of taking teaching writing out of the schools. Can you believe it?!

celticeagle I especialy notice we have lost the use of adverbs. If I hear one more person say 'drive careful' I think I'll scream I think texting has been an influence on many of the kids. I find myself tempted to use "u" in place of typing out "you" and I don't even text!

celticeagle I haven't heard that but I shouldn't be surprised I guess.. I am sad, but not surprised. Spelling has taken a hit too. I remember when my daughter was very young in school and I asked if she had spelling lessons. In all seriousness she said, why do I need spelling lessons, we have spellcheck

kingparker It is easy for someone to misunderstand a language that is not native to them. The expressions alone are confusing if you take them literally.. Something as simple as a greeting of 'what's up' can be misunderstood...

Hahahaha! I felt the same way, too! At least now we can play with them and show how we really feel....

jenny1015 The fun ones make me smile...One of my favorite is the ancing banana..who doesn't smile when see that silly thing...too bad we don't have it here. I also love this one My fav LOL one is

hi jenny1015 I am with you..I love to use emoticons to express how I feel about an idea..it helps me in understanding others too..I remember when I first joined I couldn't wait to use them. I got tired of tying... :) and :(

hi mondaylover Wow..I never knew English was not your native language...I have read some of your posts and your English is VERY good...and very easy to understand..

I also took French in school and then even in university, but one day I found that I could not even think of how to say three hundred! So much for language learning!

hi sylvia13 I soooooo admire people who can speak more than one or two languages..I took French in school...4 years lol and I can't speak it now. I didn't use it and I lost it... I am glad English was my primary language because I think it is a hard language to learn...

Hahaha.. Thanks for the compliment, however, there are topics where people are sensitive and I think I made the mistake of joining such. Anyhow, I am over the star now, what's important is that we're earning and enjoying ourselves. But I really hoped that we could be ourselves here without people breathing down your neck every time you don't agree with them. But well, nobody's perfect and no site is perfect as well. Let's just hope that the negative ratings don't motive earnings hahahaha..

hi laydee A whole star?? Good grief..I know stars are not extrememly important, but nice. You have so many posts...7600 and climbing.. it seems unfair to take away a blue star I have never read anything from you that would justify negative ratings. Disagreememtns should be welcomed..it gives us each a chance to reexamine our own opinions.. You have a good attitude and that is even more why I think your negative ratings were probably not warranted..

Ya...it's sad that I waisted all that time feeling hurt and upset over something that I probably, I guess, completly misunderstood. My mother was very critical so I already had a bit of a hangup and then that stupid azz saying which I heard more than enough...oh you don't even know. I did not have internet at the time. Our language has to be the most complicated of all. I guess if you can learn English then you can probably learn any language. How the heck did we even learn it?

hi Hatley LOL what a great example...and especially since some cultures are fine with eating dog meat this could have added to the confusion..thanks for sharing..I loved it!

silverfox09 I think you are right. Some have built up anger and use any excuse to lash out to relieve the pressures they are carrying within. It never occurred to me that some here my be using a translator.....I should have thought of that. That could also explain why some have a really difficult time. Even more reason for me to continue to admire those who struggle through and are trying to learn English as another language!! Giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, is always a good idea!

hi bryanwmc LOL great poinsd...and I couldn't agree with you more!! I think some just take things more seriously and then are especially prone to misinterpreting..

Of course any language that is new to anyone is difficult at the getgo. Russian has some 18 verb conjugations. This was told to me by my Russian foreign exchange student who said even Russians like himself had difficulty with the language. Of course no one's perfect, nor is any language, but these days all over the world many do not know the nuts and bolts of their own language and even speak a slang version of it. Words are for communication, but it's important to know the formal language before speaking only informally. Of course, also, correcting error should, as you say be done respectfully, but so should receiving correction. Too many folks today resent what is truly helpful and choose to be "unteachable". Not only is a "spirit of correction" helpful, kind, and not at all condemning, but incumbent on one as a responsible person to give accurate information re grammar, usage. For example, one who doesn't know or understand the rudiments of a new language may say something that would either embarass or actually hurt himself if he meets other unpleasant people. It may be a bit of a "sticky wicket", but one could preface correction by saying, "May I help you since this is new to you", or something similar.

epicure35 You are right, and idioms are specially difficult for those just learning a language since the words do not literally mean what they say. Also different parts of the country use different idioms..but with the internet that isn't a problem so much any more. I have heard others say there are languages tougher than English and I don't doubt that..but imo English is raher difficult too..I do admire those who speak more than 2 languages..Europeans tend to do that far more than Americans. Correcting mistakes should always be done respectfully and accepted but then there are so many different personalites, not everyone will be pleasant.

smiling_ja You are being very polite and considerate. I also think it would be ok to ask for an explanation or clarification. I sometimes quickly type something and when I go back it is not quite what I meant to say..lol another reason I wish we had an edit feature.. Also more and more I am tranposing leters, but I refuse to say it's an age problem

wolfie34 You are so correct..misinterpretations can often be funny. Much depends on attitude.. I know what you mean about noticing things after submission. I especially am upset over my spelling mistakes..lol when I proof read I sometimes do not see the mistake until I submit..It's frustrating...especially since I have been transposing letters lately..

hi pergammano No it wasn't you..it wasn't even on myLot..it was in 'real life'...and a very close friend... I agree a lot has to do with one's frame of mind...and it's smart to remember that when speaking with people from all over the world as we do on mylot. One needs to be especially careful to remember there are cultural and language differences. LOL teaching an old dog new tricks is not a put down in my opinion either..

hi bellis716...I have a feeling you would make your suggestions very respectfully and no doubt pleasantly. I too have heard English is a confusing language to learn.

savypat I am not good with languages either..I get mixed up..yet some speak 5 or 6 languages..It's a gift plus hard work I think I say congrats to all learning English here and never give up and never ever apologize for less than perfect grammar. Heck many Americans who have spoken Englih since birth have trouble with English