Re: Benefits of EU membership?

Good counter. On the rare occasion that people complain about one of my friend's English I tell them to speak to her in Mandarin or Bahasa both of which she speaks perfectly. They rarely comment after that.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

Not really Bruce, if the Dutch didn't learn English they could only communicate with Afrikaners, and who would want to do that?

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

During apartheid the country was called south africa. Afterwards zuid afrika.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

That may be true but more people speak Madarin as a first language than English. It is noticeable in SE Asia that those involved in the tourist trade are now as likely to speak Chinese as English and in places like Vietnam more likely.

I can't produce evidence for that but that is my observation. Travelling all over SE Asia with a Chinese speaker showed that they were more likely to be understood than me.

There are 300000 Dutch speakers in Australia not to mention that the country was discovered by the Dutch long before Capt Cook turned up.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

There are worldwide 1,4 billion chinese, speaking chinese. That's more than any other language in the world.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

That's what I thought.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

Hi

Define Chinese, Mandarin or Cantonese?

Guy is fluent in Mandarin, fairly good in Cantonese.

We are different, my Mandarin is very Basic.

Enough to get me a train ticket from A to B.

My Cantonese is enough for daily life.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

For the types like bread and marmalade it don't matter. For him dutch and afrikaans is the same.

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

English is the international language of the world, why do you think UK universities are so popular ?

We make a fortune out of people like you

Re: Benefits of EU membership?

You might have found that out already. The EU's negotiators on the brexit deal studied business in london.