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January 28, 2002
language lessons
I'm trying to learn Hungarian. But I'm not trying too hard. I'm just letting it slowly work it's way into my head. Maybe one day I'll take lessons or a class or something, but for now I'm learning from my friends, my students, my co-teachers, and movies. But this week in my efforts to use newly learned Hungarian, I did a couple silly things. Last week I was eating dinner with a friend. She ordered a coke. I wanted one too, so in my head I thought the English version, "Me too." and tried to translate it into Hungarian. In Hungarian, it would be, "Nekem ís." But I was stuck on the sound of the English "me", so instead I said, "Meeche naz." Which means "What are you doing?" So the conversation went like this (in Hungarian) Hello, can I get you something to Drink?" "Yes, I Coke please." "What are you doing?" Doh! But the waiter was very smooth. He just looked confused for a moment and then said, (In English) "Woah, I was expecting English, What did you say?" "I'd like a coke please"
Then yesterday I wanted to buy some corn. I went into the little store on the corner and the clerk asked me what I was looking for. I wanted to say corn. The Hungarian word for corn is "kukorica" but instead I said "cookorikoo" Which is the sound a rooster makes in Hungarian. They thought this was hilarious. But the clerk still figured out that I wanted corn. Good guy.
Posted by neal on January 28, 2002 07:36 PM