reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
reviews_and_ramblings ([personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2009-10-21 08:42 pm

I'm ITALIAN!!!

I'm Italian, my first language is Italian not English, in my profile there is the evidence that I live in Italy, I have never said that I studied English in a professional way, I always alert my English friends when I have to meet them that I don't speak fluently in English...

so please could you stop to leave nasty comments about my foreign languages skill?

IF you want to comment to help me, to warn me about a grammar error, to alert me if my sentence was bad phrased so much that what I want to say is not clear, you are welcome to do so.

BUT if you only want to be offensive, than go in another blog. First I didn't ask you to come here, if you did, it was your choice. Second, how many foreign languages do you know? When I was in school, I had 10/10 in Italian, literature and grammar, plus above the average vote in History. I graduated in Economics with 103/110 in 3,5 years when the time lapse was 4, and when the average in my University (one of the best Economics facutly in Italy) was 7...

Do you have the same results as me? If so, you are allowed to leave nasty comments, IN ITALIAN, on my LJ. We can play at the same level.

[identity profile] semioticwarrior.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, I have three languages, and have worked as a professional translator. And yet I would never have the nerve to blog in either of my non-native ones. Producing original text in a non-native language is a thousand times harder than reading from it into one's own language!

Your English is excellent, and from my experience, people who harp about grammar/spelling/punctuation mistakes do it because there's nothing else that they can find to bitch about. And also they tend to be very insecure people.

Bollocks to them. You're awesome.

[identity profile] snowmore.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
What the heck!?! Were you insulted in your own journal or was it somewhere else??

I think that's awful. Your English is amazing for not having studied it!!! I applaud you and will boot the arse of someone who insults you when you are doing a fine job of learning the English language.

Stand your grand, Elisa!

[identity profile] tamara-allen.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You speak English more precisely than a *lot* of native English speakers I know. I agree with Anah. I love to "hear" your accent. It is very charming.

I'm sorry some people are so small-minded and hurtful toward you. They aren't worth your time to think twice about.
(deleted comment) (Show 1 comment)

Some Peopel Should Get a life

[identity profile] erotichorizon.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
After all this time that you have been blogging, I cant believe there are some stupid toerags out there still harping on about this...

Can they read.....

You are Italian...

I understand you perfectly and If I am in doubt you are still the first person to set me right.

Chin up girl...

E.H>

[identity profile] krakozyubra.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll be sixty-something comment here but who cares! ^^ I'm with you here. Entirely. I'm not a native speaker either so I've experienced same troubles as you have mentioned, though most of my f-list are not native English speakers - what a relief! - but I have enough of that in my real life so cheer up baby, you're good. I think. What's more, I think it's more than many natives can tell about themselves and I'm not exxagerating. ;) The only constructive thought I may share here is that you can try checking collocations in Google (in "") - the number of the phrase used in the net will give you an idea. That's all. Good luck! I'm participating in the voting too. ;)

[identity profile] janedavitt.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry someone took you to task over your English (which is perfectly understandable and fluent). I bet they're incapable of taking you up on your closing invitation, too.

I'm always full of admiration for the people on LJ for whom English isn't their first language; they're always so eloquent and make a lot less spelling mistakes than some people who grew up in the UK, States, Australia, etc.
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[identity profile] kirby-crow.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm with Alex, I think someone is just plain jealous of your popularity!

CRAP ON THEM! Non mollare ragazza!

[identity profile] glasemart.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Ignorance is sad. Here in Georgia, I overheard a woman complaining about a group speaking in Spanish. Along with the various "this is America speak English", she actually said to her friend "If English was good enough for Jesus. It's good enough for me."

[identity profile] rowenasudbury.livejournal.com 2009-10-21 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Not much more I can add that hasn't already been said...but for my "day job" I work with students who for the most part were born speaking Spanish. I've never had any trouble understanding you because I understand your phrasing (it's a lot like that of my students).

Maybe your "half" is like mine. I understand it when people speak Spanish, but I don't speak (let alone WRITE) it.

It's mean and petty for people to attack you anonymously. Grr.

[identity profile] lee-rowan.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
Iknow there's an Italian dictionary around her somewhere... is the word I'm looking for "bastardo"?



[identity profile] arieltachna.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
Your last sentence is what I always say to people when they criticize the language skills of non-natives. "When you speak/write as well in their language as they do yours, then, and only maybe then, do you have the grounds to criticize them." Of course, by the time you get to speak a second language as well as you speak English, you know the work that goes into it and so don't criticize.

I lit into a group of students once because they snickered at a comment in a set of test directions that said the test had to be answered in English. "Just because you only speak one language doesn't mean the rest of us share that handicap." They were more than a little surprised. Didn't know what to say to that. :)

[identity profile] dakotaflint.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, some people are just tools. But I'd look at it like that ignorant person was indirectly reminding you just how awesome you are for not only writing and speaking another language, but reading, reviewing, and blogging in it. You're like superwoman! I always envy people who speak more than one language (I wish I had kept up with my Italian after college!) b/c I know how much richer their life is for it.

Don't let the jerks get you down--YOU ROCK OUT LOUD!

[identity profile] kennsea.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Ugh, I'm sorry some people are being pricks. You write better English than most of my students, and they've been born and bred in the language.

[identity profile] b-sheridan.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
I think your English is wonderful and I'm sorry you've had to deal with fools who don't appreciate you taking time to post in English for us.

I wouldn't blame you at if you decided to post only in Italian.

[identity profile] tc-blue.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
People are stupid. This is a statement of fact. (and does not, of course, include you or anyone I know and like, or anyone YOU know and like. *hee*)

Speaking for ME, I can sort-of made myself understood in some varieties of Spanish (as long as I'm in a restaurant kitchen and can use my hands a lot). Otherwise, English is pretty much it. I even fail at getting my point across in my own language, some days.

YOUR English is incredibly good, Elisa, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Do exactly what you've done here. Because it's deserved.

You're obviously a very smart lady. If you weren't, you wouldn't have so many people reading your LJ in the first place... in ENGLISH!

Yes, you have certain turns of phrase that are unique to you, but that's part of your charm... and I, for one, adore that.

Anyone who is deliberately rude, mean or cruel to you sucks. I could say some sort of thing about their self-image and blah-blah-blah, but I don't CARE about that.

The fact that you're so good with English in the first place, when it's not your first language, should cause nothing but admiration and respect within those following your posts. God knows I only WISH I could be as clear in a second language as you are in English.

Anyone who says otherwise is a fucktard. And just in case that word doesn't translate...? Anyone who doesn't think your abilities with English are amazing is a FUCKing reTARD. *hee*

~Tis

[identity profile] aileenfan.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
I'm always surprised to find people can be that nasty:) However, I don't think they would have the courage once standing face to face with you;)

Elisa, your English is great, you read, you write in foreign language so you use English a lot and I wonder which one of the nasty reviewers do this with any foreign language???

Besides, many native English people make so horrible mistakes that I can't get over them while reading (at least they could check the spelling but they don't!!!)

I study English in professional way and tell you what, I still make mistakes:) It's very difficult to achieve a certain level and communicate like well-educated native:) But I'm trying:)

Ciao ragazza:)

[identity profile] evilleaper.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
Some people are just rude.

[identity profile] annabirmingham.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 08:20 am (UTC)(link)
That's just so rude - some people really have no manners.

Anyone with half a brain can tell that English is not your first language. I think you do a fantastic job and I always have great admiration for anyone who can read/write in other languages as you do.

Ignore the stupid comments (easier said than done, I know) and listen to us instead!!!

((hugs))
Anna x

[identity profile] pandorasvase.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 09:55 am (UTC)(link)
Quando ho letto quel commento ieri il mio primo pensiero è stato "Mentecatto"... e poi ho cercato di trattenermi dal commentare al commento. Meglio non buttare benzina sul fuoco.
Ho la netta impressione che quell'anonimo - sempre così quando lasciano commenti vuoti - sia qualcuno che ha tentato un award o semplicemente un blog come il tuo e ha miseramente fallito.

La mancanza di seconde lingue è però spesso un punto debole nei paesi anglofoni, d'altronde con l'inglese si fa quasi tutto e molti si sentono giustificati nella loro ignoranza. U___U

Mi consola sapere che anche tu hai iniziato a curare il tuo inglese per la voglia di leggere quel che non trovavi in italiano, mi dà un po' di speranza di riuscire a migliorare le mie capacità!

Leggevo prima che qui - inteso come nel Bel Paese - ti senti un pesce fuor d'acqua e non posso che condividere. E' in crescita la popolarità del m/m romance, ma per ora la base è data soprattutto dagli shonen ai e comunque molto poco pubblicato e davvero tanto scaricato dal web.

Tu stai facendo davvero un gran lavoro con questo blog ed è da ammirare dove sei arrivata solo con te tue forze a livello linguistico.

Ti abbraccio forte e mi sa che prima o poi quel caffè lo dobbiamo proprio prendere XD

L.

[identity profile] charliecochrane.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 10:04 am (UTC)(link)
Who's being mean to you, sweetie? Let me tie them to the radiator at play time.

I find your English endearing.

[identity profile] sequelguerrier.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 10:36 am (UTC)(link)
Yes of course you make mistakes in English and for the very good reason that it is not your first language as any halfwit would recognise. As many said here, your grasp of the language is impressive as is your vocabulary and I too find the Italian melody rather charming when it comes through. I can honestly say I know quite a few 'English native speakers' who manage their mother tongue with less assurance and a lot less refinement than you do.

[identity profile] leebenoit.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 10:43 am (UTC)(link)
Elisa,
As others have said, your English is clear and also very distinctive. Perhaps because you learned mostly on your own, you have a unique and recognizable voice in English, and I love "listening" to you. I teach college students for a living and an alarming number of them not only can't write clear English, but can't be bothered to learn. I hate it when they express impatience with non-native English speakers in class, and I stand ready to call them out. Most of my Latino or Asian students come to my social science classes after years of struggling to learn English, and their efforts are impressive. They have a passion for mastery and put so much into endeavors that my more callow American students just don't understand. It's willful ignorance that drives me crazy, and that's what your anonymous commenter sounds like to me: willfully ignorant and dismissive of someone's passion and progress. Sorry for such a long comment! You are a jewel!

[identity profile] blake-fraina.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 11:21 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with whoever said they adore your written "accent." I could always tell, reading your entries, that English was not your first language, but (a) I have no trouble understanding the points you make and (b) I'm amazed at how well you write in English. As someone who studied French for four years and still can't put a sentence together in that language, I never fail to be impressed by those who can pick up another language.

My advice? Ignore the haters.

[identity profile] elleparker.livejournal.com 2009-10-22 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry someone would be that nasty and shallow. I hope you realise that says much more about them than it does about you.

It's great to see the outpouring of support here for you, and I hope that person is reading this. *g*

We all appreciate what you do so much! Thank you!

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