So I work with a language company coordinating interpreters for hospitals and schools and jazz right? And one of the best parts is when a requestor butchers the language beyond recognition.
Me: Hello! How can I help you?
Requestor: Hi, yeah I need a Mandanese interpreter?
Me:…would that be Mandarin or Cantonese? (you can’t have it both ways, homeskillet. PICK A DIALECT.)
Requestor: Hi, yeah I need a Loation (Lo-AY-shun) interpreter?
Me:…Laotian? (Lay-OCEAN) (Every time, I swear. EVERY TIME.)
Requestor: Hi, yeah I need a a Mandarian interpreter?
Me:…a Mandarin interpreter?
Requestor: Hi, yeah I need a Textile interpreter?
Me:…a Tactile interpreter? (bro I’m about to interpret this weave over here)
Requestor: Hi, yeah I need an Asian interpreter?
Me:…What? (why)
I once had a journalist ask me for commentary about “the American language.”
Look, we can talk about the English language, American varieties of English, languages indigenous to the American continent, or languages currently spoken in America. All of these are interesting topics. But I’m afraid I cannot let someone write an article about “the American language.”
Don't miss out on any interesting linguistics! Get my monthly newsletter in your inbox.
Notes
silverhound2515 liked this 
mathweasels liked this 
majesticnerdynerd liked this 
mosswanderer liked this 
languageshits reblogged this from stshipper stshipper reblogged this from sprachtraeume
we-are-not-amoosed liked this 
i-am-rib-caged liked this minhyukssiiiii liked this
lawynnder liked this
sunshinedeianeira liked this
blueechelon liked this lasciachelavitaaccada reblogged this from allthingslinguistic
tabbyyykatt reblogged this from languageoclock
rhoconfidential liked this
taes-upper-lip reblogged this from halcyonsummers mrsantilles liked this
floating-icecaps liked this
katbery liked this 
ryu-shishi-m reblogged this from magistralucis xavier-derosnay liked this
bdxwalker liked this dominique-ea liked this
llewellynz reblogged this from rionsanura
allgreymatters liked this
noctuatacita reblogged this from languageoclock
11paigebook reblogged this from allthingslinguistic sunrosetoday reblogged this from maskedlinguist
hilijam-blog liked this 
villanelle-heath17 liked this 
hahahahaha-butseriously reblogged this from allthingslinguistic - hahahahaha-butseriously liked this
fasach liked this
yuri-puppies reblogged this from maskedlinguist liagh-ghorm liked this
ssantisheep reblogged this from ayantiel
gingerwillows13 liked this
thehalf-bloodserb liked this
ayantiel reblogged this from dareforonce
delayedrage liked this
dareforonce reblogged this from gruntledandhinged
reverendofrats reblogged this from borospaladin
avengingnolonger liked this
paper-revenant reblogged this from saja-star
almostcoralchaos reblogged this from gruntledandhinged
halcyonsummers posted this
- Show more notes