It’s very strange, it seems Dutch is very like, food-based? That’s not a great way to explain it, but stuff like using “lekker”, which is Dutch for tasty, as like “good” or “attractive.” Context seems v important
Yes context is very important in Dutch. Which is why translations are almost always off. A Dutch speaker can almost instantly recognize whether a translation was done by someone with a native speaking level, or a machine. That’s why a lot of Dutch folk prefer English on their computers and phones. The Dutch translations are often terrible, or as the Dutch would say “tenenkrommend”.
Dutch is also a language you can very easily unlearn, even as a native speaker. I’ve experienced this firsthand, where I mostly use English and German every day. My Dutch has gotten terrible over the years.
sounds a lot like the swedish experience as well, especially the unlearning thing. So many people these days are effectively starting to talk a new pidgin language with english mixed into it.
American English as well. “Easy as pie” “That’s a piece of cake” “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” “The proof is in the pudding.” “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” “As American as apple pie.” “Bring home the bacon.” “Spill the beans.” “Selling like hotcakes.” “Pie in the sky.”
It’s very strange, it seems Dutch is very like, food-based? That’s not a great way to explain it, but stuff like using “lekker”, which is Dutch for tasty, as like “good” or “attractive.” Context seems v important
Yes context is very important in Dutch. Which is why translations are almost always off. A Dutch speaker can almost instantly recognize whether a translation was done by someone with a native speaking level, or a machine. That’s why a lot of Dutch folk prefer English on their computers and phones. The Dutch translations are often terrible, or as the Dutch would say “tenenkrommend”.
Dutch is also a language you can very easily unlearn, even as a native speaker. I’ve experienced this firsthand, where I mostly use English and German every day. My Dutch has gotten terrible over the years.
sounds a lot like the swedish experience as well, especially the unlearning thing. So many people these days are effectively starting to talk a new pidgin language with english mixed into it.
American English as well. “Easy as pie” “That’s a piece of cake” “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” “The proof is in the pudding.” “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” “As American as apple pie.” “Bring home the bacon.” “Spill the beans.” “Selling like hotcakes.” “Pie in the sky.”
Keep going 🤤