Phrasebook

en In the discotheque   »   no På diskotek

46 [forty-six]

In the discotheque

In the discotheque

46 [førtiseks]

På diskotek

Choose how you want to see the translation:   
English (UK) Norwegian Play More
Is this seat taken? E- -e- l---g----? E_ d__ l____ h___ E- d-t l-d-g h-r- ----------------- Er det ledig her? 0
May I sit with you? K-n --- f- s--te---g? K__ j__ f_ s____ m___ K-n j-g f- s-t-e m-g- --------------------- Kan jeg få sette meg? 0
Sure. Gje-n-----. G_____ d___ G-e-n- d-t- ----------- Gjerne det. 0
How do you like the music? Hva-syne- -- -m -u-ik-e-? 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. Li-t--o---øy. L___ f__ h___ L-t- f-r h-y- ------------- Litt for høy. 0
But the band plays very well. M----and-- s-ill-- ga--k---r-. 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-d- -e--o------l--? 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. Ne----et er f--ste---n-e-. 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-- h-- a-d-i-v-r- -er. 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? Dans-- -u? D_____ d__ D-n-e- d-? ---------- Danser du? 0
Maybe later. K-n--j--sene--. K______ s______ K-n-k-e s-n-r-. --------------- Kanskje senere. 0
I can’t dance very well. J-g er--kke så f-in- -il-- dan--. 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----- -el-ig-----. D__ e_ v_____ l____ D-t e- v-l-i- l-t-. ------------------- Det er veldig lett. 0
I’ll show you. J-- sk----is- --g. J__ s___ v___ d___ J-g s-a- v-s- d-g- ------------------ Jeg skal vise deg. 0
No, maybe some other time. N-i---n--n-e-----g. N___ e_ a____ g____ N-i- e- a-n-n g-n-. ------------------- Nei, en annen gang. 0
Are you waiting for someone? Vent-r--- p- noen? V_____ d_ p_ n____ V-n-e- d- p- n-e-? ------------------ Venter du på noen? 0
Yes, for my boyfriend. Ja,-på ---ne---in. J__ p_ v_____ m___ J-, p- v-n-e- m-n- ------------------ Ja, på vennen min. 0
There he is! D-r-k-m----h----o! D__ k_____ h__ j__ D-r k-m-e- h-n j-! ------------------ Der kommer han jo! 0

Download MP3 (.zip files)

MP3 English (UK) + Norwegian (1-100) MP3 Norwegian (1-100)

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!