What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

I have joined a group where l do Keep Fit and Tai Chi.
This morning whilst waiting for the class to start, a lady next to me started to chat.

He voice was quite low with a strong accent. I asked, ‘Are you Irish?’
‘No’, she replied, ‘l am from the Ukraine’.

She started talking more and honestly, l didn’t understand most of what she was saying. I could pick out some words but l’m not sure if l replied properly to what l thought l heard!

I found myself nodding, shaking my head and smiling but again, l didn’t know what l was responding to!
When it was time to go to the class, she smiled and said, ‘It was nice to chat to you’!
Little did she know!

I do find it difficult understanding someone with a strong accent. Are you the same or are you pretty good at deciphering what they are saying?

Maybe it’s a two way thing, they don’t understand me either!

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

Hi

I can understand you Art, you have a very posh voice

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

I seem to be pretty good at understanding most accents although it normally takes a few words to acclimatise.

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

No l don’t! l’m not the Queen! One should know that!

I have been told, l have no regional accent so maybe that is interrupted as ‘Posh’?

Swimmy, You have an accent but it’s not too strong, so l understood what you said, when you spoke to me in real life! .

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

Yeah Longy but that’s because your ear is right up to their mouth when you chat!

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

yes, well..... my trumpet is at least.

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

Er, well, um.....I believe I understood exactly what both of you foreigners were saying!

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

Sometimes I smile and nod too and feel very uncomfortable . I don't like to make them feel bad by saying I don't understand them . It happened a work a whole back, someone came to ask me something and their English was terrible but I somehow managed to get what it was by deciphering the odd words and I was able help them.

I remember when lived in Spain a bloke we knew who spoke no Spanish used to use actions and spoke with his hands, it was very funny as the Spanish used to smile and nod and I knew they didn't have a clue what he was on about , I m chuckling at the memory.

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

Re: What Do You Do When, You No Understand?

When I make a telephone call to a business,...if it's a foreigner that answers,with a very strong foreign accent...if I end up asking them to repeat...I take so much...then ask to speak to a English speaking person.

Must tell you a story...I have quite a broad Hampshire accent...there is also a guy I met..we both catch the same bus at the same time on certain days.

He is also from Hampshire ...when he talks,..I can not understand a word...it really gets frustrating because he doesn't shut up...from the time I meet him,till the time he gets off the bus...


I tried getting on at a different stop...he spotted me...then off we go again...yap...yap..yap....he's worse than me..