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en In the discotheque   »   no På diskotek

46 [forty-six]

In the discotheque

In the discotheque

46 [førtiseks]

På diskotek

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Is this seat taken? E- d-t-le-------? E- d-- l---- h--- E- d-t l-d-g h-r- ----------------- Er det ledig her? 0
May I sit with you? K-n je- få set-e-m-g? K-- j-- f- s---- m--- K-n j-g f- s-t-e m-g- --------------------- Kan jeg få sette meg? 0
Sure. G-ern- d--. G----- d--- G-e-n- d-t- ----------- Gjerne det. 0
How do you like the music? H-a-syn-s d- -m -us-----? H-- s---- d- o- m-------- H-a s-n-s d- o- m-s-k-e-? ------------------------- Hva synes du om musikken? 0
A little too loud. L-tt fo- -ø-. L--- f-- h--- L-t- f-r h-y- ------------- Litt for høy. 0
But the band plays very well. M-n--andet -p--ler---ns-- br-. M-- b----- s------ g----- b--- M-n b-n-e- s-i-l-r g-n-k- b-a- ------------------------------ Men bandet spiller ganske bra. 0
Do you come here often? Er--u--e- -f-- e----? E- d- h-- o--- e----- E- d- h-r o-t- e-l-r- --------------------- Er du her ofte eller? 0
No, this is the first time. N-i,---- er f-r-t- --nge-. N--- d-- e- f----- g------ N-i- d-t e- f-r-t- g-n-e-. -------------------------- Nei, det er første gangen. 0
I’ve never been here before. J---ha--a-d------t ---. J-- h-- a---- v--- h--- J-g h-r a-d-i v-r- h-r- ----------------------- Jeg har aldri vært her. 0
Would you like to dance? D--s-r d-? D----- d-- D-n-e- d-? ---------- Danser du? 0
Maybe later. Ka--k-e sen-re. K------ s------ K-n-k-e s-n-r-. --------------- Kanskje senere. 0
I can’t dance very well. Jeg er -k---så-fli-- ti- å d-n--. J-- e- i--- s- f---- t-- å d----- J-g e- i-k- s- f-i-k t-l å d-n-e- --------------------------------- Jeg er ikke så flink til å danse. 0
It’s very easy. D-t er -e-dig le-t. D-- e- v----- l---- D-t e- v-l-i- l-t-. ------------------- Det er veldig lett. 0
I’ll show you. J-- -k-l-v-s-----. J-- s--- v--- d--- J-g s-a- v-s- d-g- ------------------ Jeg skal vise deg. 0
No, maybe some other time. Ne-- -n-a---n ga--. N--- e- a---- g---- N-i- e- a-n-n g-n-. ------------------- Nei, en annen gang. 0
Are you waiting for someone? Vent---d- ----oen? V----- d- p- n---- V-n-e- d- p- n-e-? ------------------ Venter du på noen? 0
Yes, for my boyfriend. J-- -å-ve---n-mi-. J-- p- v----- m--- J-, p- v-n-e- m-n- ------------------ Ja, på vennen min. 0
There he is! D-r----me--h-n-j-! D-- k----- h-- j-- D-r k-m-e- h-n j-! ------------------ Der kommer han jo! 0

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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!