We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:33:37 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Defense Language Institute has a bunch of handy-dandy downloadable (except to machines running Vista) English-to-Whatever common phrase pamphlets for folks going to pretty much anywhere. Problem is, the subject matter is limited to items like, "Halt! Put the pin back in the grenade and place it gently on the ground!" and "You have a sucking chest wound. Shall I notify a medic?" Personally, I prefer my Phrasebook for Frequent Deployers. Not only are the phrases more appropriate for social situations, but the languages are limited to French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, Norwegian and Dutch, which makes them both easier... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:49:45 -0600 Well, between the H&I and this post, the PG17 at least got to exercise its foreign language and metaphor modules. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68641 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68641 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:27:26 -0600 I have found that tipping with American money helps people from other countries to understand me completely. As flashing helps people from *this* country... Flashing - like small arms fire, is more effective at close range. Come closer, baby. i have some things to tell you and I want to make sure I am clearly understood.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68637 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68637 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:18:22 -0600 I have found that tipping with American money helps people from other countries to understand me completely. As flashing helps people from *this* country... They need bigger pants. It's all that big panting that's making his glottis run over. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68634 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68634 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:05:52 -0600 Darlin, if anyone's glottis is running over.. they don't need a drool cup. They need bigger pants. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68631 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68631 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:17:44 -0600 Hey Unkabill! Try this one for your list: Cinaedulo Commissationenti, Latinum peiorquam Loquis. Though be careful; it may warrant a shivin' from them Lutheran Norskies. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68626 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68626 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:53:07 -0600 I have found that tipping with American money helps people from other countries to understand me completely. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68621 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68621 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:11:19 -0600 Var den het? "Uff-da" fur Svenskers es, ja? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68619 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68619 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:37:17 -0600 LOUDLY and S-L-O-W-L-Y AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND, RIGHT? 'I speak German like an Italian soccer coach?' HAHAHAHA. I speak French like a Spanish cow?' I speak Russian like a peRv*rt? Too funny. For the Norske: UFFDA! ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68614 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68614 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:50:20 -0600 My Glottis Runeth Over Quick, WK -- the Drool Cup!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68613 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68613 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:50:04 -0600 I hate those shivin' Norges who won't understand you perfectly. Sorry to be quick but I have a Lidditenesque situation on my end. My Glottis Runeth Over http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68606 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68606 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:20:22 -0600 Jeg forstår dig fuldstændigt is "I string random sounds together" -- 'cuz Jeg snakker ikke Norsk as well as I sprech Fron-say... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68603 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68603 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:06:15 -0600 "I speak Dutch like a Frenchman speaks English?" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68585 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68585 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:17:23 -0600 This comes close, though.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68583 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68583 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:07:29 -0600 I speak italian with a camera in a chinese restaurant. I speak spanish with a boring gringo accent-o. snerk http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68582 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68582 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:52:01 -0600 That Norwegian one is bugging me... "English Frenchman??" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68581 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68581 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:49:14 -0600 Nearest I can figure with the Norwegian is, "I speak Norwegian like a French angel." Hunh? "I speak Spanish like a drunk Gringo." "I speak French like a Spanish cow." Here's my guess for the Italian: "I speak Italian like a waiter in a Chinese restaurant." And then there's, "I speak Russian like a ______ homosexual." Heh. The only language on the list that I claim any fluency in is Spanish. But, interesting how much language one picks up from singing... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68580 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68580 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:43:08 -0600 ...mosh sherveza, por (hic) fay-ver! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68579 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68579 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:09:19 -0600 "I speak German like an Italian soccer coach!" Geez, with all the time you spent there, I figgered you'd have a better command of the lingo. Got the Norwegian translated yet? Heh. Waiting for Boq to chime in...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68578 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68578 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:03:34 -0600 "Would you like to come up to my place bouncy-bouncy?" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68577 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68577 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:55:02 -0600 Hee! "I speak German like an Italian soccer coach!" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68576 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/phrases_for_fre.html#comment-68576 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:16:58 -0600