reversed reverse language

Question

If different languages can have reverse word order can one use a reverse word order in their own language when talking to someone with who speaks a different language, but understands yours, using their word order.

Is this a riddle? - 0074b507, Feb 3, 2012

lol Sorry no, but I don't really know how to ask it. Maybe an example. In Romanian they say noapte buna ( night good). In Engilsh it's good night, so can you say in English night good when speaking to someone who speaks Romanian. Clear? - Now_confused_not, Feb 3, 2012

Sorry, I understood your original question, but since I had no answer I just decided to poke fun at it. - 0074b507, Feb 3, 2012

Answer 1

I think keeping the correct word order in the language you are using is more helpful for the other party.

Singapore, for one, has contaminated English too much because we have four official languages and we are so tolerant of each other's language that we have distorted English grammar to suit everyone.

For example in English we would say 'Where are you going?' but the word order in Chinese would be 'You going where?' and that (the phrase 'you going where') is much more commonly used in Singapore between people of different races than the proper English phrase.

It gets so bad we can learn good English in school and use bad English in day to day conversations, conveniently forgetting the good English learned.

Thank you very much. That makes a lot of sense. I think I was just forgeting that they are learning my language as well as me learning theirs. - Now_confused_not, Feb 3, 2012

Answer 2

You raise the question of what you're trying to accomplish. Do you just want to communicate, or are you also trying to help your interlocutor (language education-ese for the other person) improve his or her English skills? If communication is your sole aim, anything that works is OK, including pointing at things, drawing pictures, and enlisting other people in the conversation. Of course, there's no guarantee that any strategy you try will succeed. Using interlanguage, as you suggest, might help, but it might not, or it might make things worse.

I just thought it would show respect or politeness. - Now_confused_not, Feb 3, 2012

It seems logical that it might help the person understand you, but research suggests that it doesn't necessarily. - grosbach, Feb 3, 2012

Answer 3

I suppose you could, but why would you want to?

Let's take English and Spanish as an example (since this is a Spanish/English learning site ). If I were in a Spanish speaking country, I wouldn't want the natives to speak "backward" (as it would be to them) to me. I want to learn their language and that means learning proper word order as well. Really, I think that would confuse me more in the long run!

By the same token, I wouldn't dream of speaking in English to an English learner that way either. Maybe I'm not understanding your question...

I just thought it might make it easier for them to understand what I am saying and may be polite. It looks like you are saying they need to learn my language too so let them hear it the correct way. - Now_confused_not, Feb 3, 2012

Exactly. :) Also, come to think of it, if you did that it may even be seen as a bit condescending if you were to speak that way to someone with a level beyond absolute beginner. - hollyjollyberry, Feb 3, 2012