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In the discotheque   »  
ディスコで

46 [forty-six]

In the discotheque

In the discotheque

46 [四十六]

46 [Yonjūroku]

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ディスコで

[disuko de]

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Is this seat taken? この席 、 空いて ます か ？ この席 、 空いて ます か ？ 0
ko-- s---- s-------- k-? kono seki, suitemasu ka? 		+
May I sit with you? あなたの 横に 座っても いいです か ？ あなたの 横に 座っても いいです か ？ 0
an--- n- y--- n- s------ m- ī---- k-? anata no yoko ni suwatte mo īdesu ka? 		+
Sure. どうぞ 。 どうぞ 。 0
dō--. dōzo. 		+
     
How do you like the music? この 音楽は 好き です か ？ この 音楽は 好き です か ？ 0
ko-- o----- w- s------- k-? kono ongaku wa sukidesu ka? 		+
A little too loud. ちょっと うるさい です ね 。 ちょっと うるさい です ね 。 0
ch---- u--------- n-. chotto urusaidesu ne. 		+
But the band plays very well. でも バンドの 演奏は 上手 です ね 。 でも バンドの 演奏は 上手 です ね 。 0
de-- b---- n- e--- w- j------- n-. demo bando no ensō wa jōzudesu ne. 		+
     
Do you come here often? ここには よく 来るの です か ？ ここには よく 来るの です か ？ 0
ko-- n- w- y--- k--- n----- k-? koko ni wa yoku kuru nodesu ka? 		+
No, this is the first time. いいえ 、 初めて です 。 いいえ 、 初めて です 。 0
Īe- h-----------. Īe, hajimetedesu. 		+
I’ve never been here before. 来たことが ありません 。 来たことが ありません 。 0
ki-- k--- g- a-------. kita koto ga arimasen. 		+
     
Would you like to dance? 踊ります か ？ 踊ります か ？ 0
od------- k-? odorimasu ka? 		+
Maybe later. 多分 、 あとで 。 多分 、 あとで 。 0
ta---- a-- d-. tabun, ato de. 		+
I can’t dance very well. あまり うまく 踊れません 。 あまり うまく 踊れません 。 0
am--- u---- o---------. amari umaku odoremasen. 		+
     
It’s very easy. とても 簡単です よ 。 とても 簡単です よ 。 0
to---- k--------- y-. totemo kantandesu yo. 		+
I’ll show you. やって 見せましょう 。 やって 見せましょう 。 0
ya--- m---------. yatte misemashou. 		+
No, maybe some other time. いいえ 、 また 今度 。 いいえ 、 また 今度 。 0
Īe- m--------. Īe, matakondo. 		+
     
Are you waiting for someone? 誰かを 待っているの です か ？ 誰かを 待っているの です か ？ 0
da---- o m---- i-- n----- k-? dareka o matte iru nodesu ka? 		+
Yes, for my boyfriend. ええ 、 ボーイフレンド です 。 ええ 、 ボーイフレンド です 。 0
e e- b-------------. e e, bōifurendodesu. 		+
There he is! あそこから 来るのが そう です 。 あそこから 来るのが そう です 。 0
as--- k--- k--- n- g- s-----. asoko kara kuru no ga sōdesu. 		+
     

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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!