Phrasebook

em In the discotheque   »   nl In de discotheek

46 [forty-six]

In the discotheque

In the discotheque

46 [zesenveertig]

In de discotheek

Choose how you want to see the translation:   
English (US) Dutch Play More
Is this seat taken? I--d--- pl-a-s--rij? I- d--- p----- v---- I- d-z- p-a-t- v-i-? -------------------- Is deze plaats vrij? 0
May I sit with you? M---i- ----u ---en z-tt--? M-- i- b-- u k---- z------ M-g i- b-j u k-m-n z-t-e-? -------------------------- Mag ik bij u komen zitten? 0
Sure. G-aag. G----- G-a-g- ------ Graag. 0
How do you like the music? H-- ---d- --d-- -uziek? H-- v---- u d-- m------ H-e v-n-t u d-e m-z-e-? ----------------------- Hoe vindt u die muziek? 0
A little too loud. E-n --e--e----ha--. E-- b----- t- h---- E-n b-e-j- t- h-r-. ------------------- Een beetje te hard. 0
But the band plays very well. Ma---d--b-nd--pee---hee-----d. M--- d- b--- s----- h--- g---- M-a- d- b-n- s-e-l- h-e- g-e-. ------------------------------ Maar de band speelt heel goed. 0
Do you come here often? Kom- u --k-r --e-? K--- u v---- h---- K-m- u v-k-r h-e-? ------------------ Komt u vaker hier? 0
No, this is the first time. N-e----- -s de----st---eer. N--- d-- i- d- e----- k---- N-e- d-t i- d- e-r-t- k-e-. --------------------------- Nee, dit is de eerste keer. 0
I’ve never been here before. I- b-- hi-r --- nooit --we---. I- b-- h--- n-- n---- g------- I- b-n h-e- n-g n-o-t g-w-e-t- ------------------------------ Ik ben hier nog nooit geweest. 0
Would you like to dance? D-nst u? D---- u- D-n-t u- -------- Danst u? 0
Maybe later. La-e-------hi-n. L---- m--------- L-t-r m-s-c-i-n- ---------------- Later misschien. 0
I can’t dance very well. I----n n--- -- -o-d d-nse-. I- k-- n--- z- g--- d------ I- k-n n-e- z- g-e- d-n-e-. --------------------------- Ik kan niet zo goed dansen. 0
It’s very easy. Da---- -eel----voud-g. D-- i- h--- e--------- D-t i- h-e- e-n-o-d-g- ---------------------- Dat is heel eenvoudig. 0
I’ll show you. I-----t -et - ----. I- l--- h-- u z---- I- l-a- h-t u z-e-. ------------------- Ik laat het u zien. 0
No, maybe some other time. N--, l--ver ee- --------e--. N--- l----- e-- a----- k---- N-e- l-e-e- e-n a-d-r- k-e-. ---------------------------- Nee, liever een andere keer. 0
Are you waiting for someone? Wa-ht-- -p---m-nd? W---- u o- i------ W-c-t u o- i-m-n-? ------------------ Wacht u op iemand? 0
Yes, for my boyfriend. J-, -p --jn----e-d. J-- o- m--- v------ J-, o- m-j- v-i-n-. ------------------- Ja, op mijn vriend. 0
There he is! D--- --m--hij-net -an! D--- k--- h-- n-- a--- D-a- k-m- h-j n-t a-n- ---------------------- Daar komt hij net aan! 0

Download MP3 (.zip files)

Genes influence language

The language we speak is dependent on our ancestry. But our genes are also responsible for our language. Scottish researchers have come to this conclusion. They examined how English differs from Chinese. In doing so they discovered that genes play a role, too. Because genes influence the development of our brain. That is to say, they shape our brain structures. With this, our ability to learn languages is determined. Variants of two genes are crucial to this. If a particular variant is scarce, tonal languages develop. So tonal languages are spoken by people without these gene variants. In tonal languages, the meaning of words is determined by the pitch of the tones. Chinese is included in the tonal languages, for example. If this gene variant is dominant, however, other languages develop. English is not a tonal language. The variants of this gene are not evenly distributed. That means they occur with differing frequency in the world. But languages only survive if they are passed down. In order to do this, children must be able to imitate the language of their parents. So they must be able to learn the language well. Only then will it be passed down from generation to generation. The older gene variant is the one that promotes tonal languages. So there were probably more tonal languages in the past than there are today. But one mustn't overestimate the genetic components. They can only add to explaining the development of languages. But there isn't a gene for English, or a gene for Chinese. Anybody can learn any language. You don't need genes for that, but rather only curiosity and discipline!
Did you know?
Thai is a member of the Tai-Kadai language family. It is the native language of 20 million people. In contrast to most western languages, Thai is a tonal language. In tonal languages, the pronunciation of syllables changes their meaning. Most Thai words consist of only one syllable. A word takes on a different meaning depending on the pitch in which a syllable is spoken. Altogether Thai distinguishes between five pitches. Thai society was strictly divided over many centuries. As a result, Thai still recognizes at least five different levels of speech today. These range from a simple vernacular to a very polite form of speech. Furthermore, Thai is divided into many local dialects. The language's semiotic system is a hybrid of an alphabet and syllabic writing. The grammar construction is not very complex. Because Thai is an isolating language, there are no declensions or conjugations. Learn Thai - it is really a fascinating language!