Yeah...tough one. I lived in South Korea for 2 years and fortunately, their Alphabet was designed to be understood by peasants. Incredibly simple and easy to learn. It didn't mean I understood what I was reading.
I have the same issue with Hebrew. I learnt how to read as a child in a Jewish school. It was in prep for my Barmitzvah and also to pray (and say prayers) for every day usage. Added bonus, I can also write Hebrew script. But do you think I can understand anything I read?
Being able to read is the easy part. Translation is a whole different matter.
I've definitely felt that problem here too. Almost every TV station and even movie theatre uses subtitles (which is pretty interesting). I always find myself reading along to the extent I can, but if the audio is in Mandarin as well, I quickly realize the issue you just described. On the crappier side, knowing what a symbol means but not being able to pronounce it haha.
If vegans are truly against eating ‘real’ meat, why are so many of the meat-like products they choose designed and built to look like real meat? And why meat-like products, anyway?
It's not like vegans become vegans due to the fact they detest the taste of meat/dairy/animal product in general. Some don't care but others do want to experience those tastes from time to time.
I sympathized with you until your comment about the Nectar of the Gods - Guinness Beer. As they say in old-time America western movies, "Them's fightin' words." I guess that your coming from the "Frozen North," it is understandable that there has been some attenuation of your taste buds. Europeans introduced Canadians to beer, and Canada has become a beer nation. One of the top five beers in Canada is Peche Mortel, which is brewed in Quebec and sounds like it might be a cousin to Guinness. Since I don't believe in prayer, I can't say a prayer for your eventual salvation, but I can toast you with every glass of Guinness I drink. Hopefully, you'll see the light, and when your taste buds defrost, you'll be able to enjoy a truly great beer. In the meantime - bottoms up, as we Yanks say.
To put it in perspective, Guinness was the only "safe" beer in my dad's fridge growing up. My brothers and I made short (bratty) work of any other brand.
I admire your courage in this column. I don't think those of us who can read well and comprehend can begin to understand how difficult it can be to have a reading or comprehension deficit. I am fortunate to have always loved reading and passed that love onto my kids who are passing it on to their kids. Abd I am also a proud Canadian.
Thanks Melissa. But really, for me, it's just a consequence of not being dedicated enough to learn more Mandarin consistently. It comes and goes in waves for me, which is sad because after all this time I feel kind of ashamed not being able to converse and read fluently here in Taiwan.
I think you really need to submerse yourself in a language to learn it as an adult
As good as Babble may be, if you don't speak the language regularly you don't learn it. I think Mandarin would be a very difficult language to learn coming from a European language background as the sounds are so different.
Yeah...tough one. I lived in South Korea for 2 years and fortunately, their Alphabet was designed to be understood by peasants. Incredibly simple and easy to learn. It didn't mean I understood what I was reading.
I have the same issue with Hebrew. I learnt how to read as a child in a Jewish school. It was in prep for my Barmitzvah and also to pray (and say prayers) for every day usage. Added bonus, I can also write Hebrew script. But do you think I can understand anything I read?
Being able to read is the easy part. Translation is a whole different matter.
I've definitely felt that problem here too. Almost every TV station and even movie theatre uses subtitles (which is pretty interesting). I always find myself reading along to the extent I can, but if the audio is in Mandarin as well, I quickly realize the issue you just described. On the crappier side, knowing what a symbol means but not being able to pronounce it haha.
If vegans are truly against eating ‘real’ meat, why are so many of the meat-like products they choose designed and built to look like real meat? And why meat-like products, anyway?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Maybe to appeal to non-vegans? Interesting question
It's not like vegans become vegans due to the fact they detest the taste of meat/dairy/animal product in general. Some don't care but others do want to experience those tastes from time to time.
I sympathized with you until your comment about the Nectar of the Gods - Guinness Beer. As they say in old-time America western movies, "Them's fightin' words." I guess that your coming from the "Frozen North," it is understandable that there has been some attenuation of your taste buds. Europeans introduced Canadians to beer, and Canada has become a beer nation. One of the top five beers in Canada is Peche Mortel, which is brewed in Quebec and sounds like it might be a cousin to Guinness. Since I don't believe in prayer, I can't say a prayer for your eventual salvation, but I can toast you with every glass of Guinness I drink. Hopefully, you'll see the light, and when your taste buds defrost, you'll be able to enjoy a truly great beer. In the meantime - bottoms up, as we Yanks say.
To put it in perspective, Guinness was the only "safe" beer in my dad's fridge growing up. My brothers and I made short (bratty) work of any other brand.
I admire your courage in this column. I don't think those of us who can read well and comprehend can begin to understand how difficult it can be to have a reading or comprehension deficit. I am fortunate to have always loved reading and passed that love onto my kids who are passing it on to their kids. Abd I am also a proud Canadian.
Thanks Melissa. But really, for me, it's just a consequence of not being dedicated enough to learn more Mandarin consistently. It comes and goes in waves for me, which is sad because after all this time I feel kind of ashamed not being able to converse and read fluently here in Taiwan.
I think you really need to submerse yourself in a language to learn it as an adult
As good as Babble may be, if you don't speak the language regularly you don't learn it. I think Mandarin would be a very difficult language to learn coming from a European language background as the sounds are so different.
Your father is a man of taste and refinement.