7 Responses

1. ilektrojohn

   08|Feb|2010 1

   Not only verbs , but the whole grammar is much simpler than Greek. The tricky part with Swedish is pronunciation , or to be more precise : intonation.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosody_(linguistics) ) .
   It is really hard , even if you know how to pronounce individual words correctly to produce a sentence while speaking that will sound as it should.
   The other major drawback is the attitude of Swedes. When you address them in English , you get the ” Oh , a foreigner, I should be kind as he doesn’t speak my language and answer in perfect English(because i definitely can )” attitude. Then, when while learning the language , you address them in Swedish , probably with bad pronunciation and mistakes in words e.t.c you get the “Fan !! Learn to speak correctly , or just speak in English , you freaking immigrant!!! ” attitude .Lastly , when you somehow master the language you are able to communicate with them in a totally different level and get the best out of this frozen land’s inhabitants.
   The problem with that sequence is that step B can be really frustrating and disappointing but absolutely crucial for getting from step A to step C .
   The above come from my limited experience with language and people and/but from discussions with my teacher in Swedish (non-native speaker with studies in Linguistics and apparently some experience with culture too) so while I endorse it , I retain the right to revise in the future And definitely eager to read comments of other non-native speakers on the subject.

2. Dimitrios Stergiou

   08|Feb|2010 2

   This is the idea i have from the rest of non-Swedish speaking colleagues. People try to speak Swedish and they get a reply back in English..

   I don’t speak Swedish, although I understand some. I don’t know when I will try to speak Swedish at the office, but I am quite sure that my pronunciation and melody will suck!

   But seriously, if Swedes used more spaces in their words, life would be so much easier…

3. Anna

   08|Feb|2010 3

   I definitely agree with ilelektrojohn.
   If you speak English you will be treated with more respect than if you speak bad Swedish.

4. Dimitrios Stergiou

   08|Feb|2010 4

   That’s it, I m quitting my Swedish courses!!!

5. ilektrojohn

   08|Feb|2010 5

   This attitude is lame because , for me at least, trying to learn/speak Swedish has a lot to do with showing respect to the country that hosts me . I’m trying to learn in order not to force people to speak in a foreign language in their own country. But treating me as a low-class immigrant while trying doesn’t really help You can learn a language by studying it, but in order to become fluent you must practice it , isn’t that obvious enough ?
   Anyway, I’m not giving up , after all vi älskar svenska !I’m off to my SFI ( Swedish for Immigrants ?? What an attitude !! ) class!

6. Yiannis

   15|Feb|2010 6

   Det är okej!
   Vi kan tala Grekiska om de vill inte oss svenska!!!

   En Grekisk man att plugga svenska!

7. Yiannis

   15|Feb|2010 7

   En Grekisk man som plugga svenska