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en In the discotheque   »   af In die disko

46 [forty-six]

In the discotheque

In the discotheque

46 [ses en veertig]

In die disko

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Is this seat taken? I- d---st-e- ---? I_ d__ s____ o___ I- d-e s-o-l o-p- ----------------- Is die stoel oop? 0
May I sit with you? M-- -k ------i-? M__ e_ h___ s___ M-g e- h-e- s-t- ---------------- Mag ek hier sit? 0
Sure. Gr--g. G_____ G-a-g- ------ Graag. 0
How do you like the music? Wa- --nk-u-v-n--i----s-e-? W__ d___ u v__ d__ m______ W-t d-n- u v-n d-e m-s-e-? -------------------------- Wat dink u van die musiek? 0
A little too loud. ’n -ie-ji--t- -a--. ’_ B______ t_ h____ ’- B-e-j-e t- h-r-. ------------------- ’n Bietjie te hard. 0
But the band plays very well. M--r-d-e-gro---s--e---e----oe-. M___ d__ g____ s____ h___ g____ M-a- d-e g-o-p s-e-l h-e- g-e-. ------------------------------- Maar die groep speel heel goed. 0
Do you come here often? K-m-u-g----ld h-e-n-t--? K__ u g______ h_________ K-m u g-r-e-d h-e-n-t-e- ------------------------ Kom u gereeld hiernatoe? 0
No, this is the first time. Ne-, d-t ----ie-eers-e-k-er. N___ d__ i_ d__ e_____ k____ N-e- d-t i- d-e e-r-t- k-e-. ---------------------------- Nee, dit is die eerste keer. 0
I’ve never been here before. Ek--as--o- n--it t--or---ie- nie. E_ w__ n__ n____ t_____ h___ n___ E- w-s n-g n-o-t t-v-r- h-e- n-e- --------------------------------- Ek was nog nooit tevore hier nie. 0
Would you like to dance? D--- -? D___ u_ D-n- u- ------- Dans u? 0
Maybe later. M-s---n lat-r. M______ l_____ M-s-i-n l-t-r- -------------- Miskien later. 0
I can’t dance very well. E- k-n-nie s----ed d-n--n-e. E_ k__ n__ s_ g___ d___ n___ E- k-n n-e s- g-e- d-n- n-e- ---------------------------- Ek kan nie so goed dans nie. 0
It’s very easy. Dit----h--l ----i-. D__ i_ h___ m______ D-t i- h-e- m-k-i-. ------------------- Dit is heel maklik. 0
I’ll show you. Ek s---u -ys. E_ s__ u w___ E- s-l u w-s- ------------- Ek sal u wys. 0
No, maybe some other time. Ne-, lie-e- ’--an--- k-er. N___ l_____ ’_ a____ k____ N-e- l-e-e- ’- a-d-r k-e-. -------------------------- Nee, liewer ’n ander keer. 0
Are you waiting for someone? Wa- u --r i-ma--? W__ u v__ i______ W-g u v-r i-m-n-? ----------------- Wag u vir iemand? 0
Yes, for my boyfriend. J-, -ir-m- kê--l. J__ v__ m_ k_____ J-, v-r m- k-r-l- ----------------- Ja, vir my kêrel. 0
There he is! D--r-k----y----! D___ k__ h_ n___ D-a- k-m h- n-u- ---------------- Daar kom hy nou! 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!