Non native English speakers are the worst at asking for explanations when they don’t understand something, assume meanings then blame others when things fail.
Flipping the stupid article title aside…it seems like the ones in this article can’t seem to understand internet shorthand and abbreviations. Who the hell, in this day and age doesn’t know what ETA mean… I can maybe understand OOO, but ETA? Come on…
At the same time I very often end up misinterpreting what my English colleagues are telling me because they’ll use words that mean X thinking they mean Y or they’ll simply write a phrase in a confusing way that makes sense when spoken, but won’t when it’s written.
What many unilingual people don’t realize (and I’m sorry but… Anglophones tend to be in that category more than most) is that if you’re bilingual, the second language you learn is taught to you using the “official rules” from the beginning, you don’t spend years building bad habits that need to be forgotten in order to pass an exam. What that means is that you’ll often realize that a person who knows English as their second language will be better at writing it and spotting mistakes than native speakers.
One such example is native speakers writing “could of”, something that non native speakers know right away makes no sense… Or my personal pet peeve, “I could care less”, damn this one triggers me!
I once had a drawn out argument with a Greek guy who wouldn’t shut up about mosques. He just ignored me and called me stupid when I asked why he was specifically talking about Muslims when his point was applicable to any place of worship. Multiple paragraphs later, I found out he thought mosque was a generic term for any place of worship. He then claimed the miscommunication was my fault and that I was expecting too much of a non-native English speaker.
Non native English speakers are the worst at asking for explanations when they don’t understand something, assume meanings then blame others when things fail.
Flipping the stupid article title aside…it seems like the ones in this article can’t seem to understand internet shorthand and abbreviations. Who the hell, in this day and age doesn’t know what ETA mean… I can maybe understand OOO, but ETA? Come on…
Pretty much my takeaway, too. This whole article just reads “talk down to me.”
My takeaway was a chicken tikka.
At the same time I very often end up misinterpreting what my English colleagues are telling me because they’ll use words that mean X thinking they mean Y or they’ll simply write a phrase in a confusing way that makes sense when spoken, but won’t when it’s written.
What many unilingual people don’t realize (and I’m sorry but… Anglophones tend to be in that category more than most) is that if you’re bilingual, the second language you learn is taught to you using the “official rules” from the beginning, you don’t spend years building bad habits that need to be forgotten in order to pass an exam. What that means is that you’ll often realize that a person who knows English as their second language will be better at writing it and spotting mistakes than native speakers.
One such example is native speakers writing “could of”, something that non native speakers know right away makes no sense… Or my personal pet peeve, “I could care less”, damn this one triggers me!
Ain’t make no nevermind to me.
Pop quiz: do you think “ETA” means “Estimated Time of Arrival” or “Edited To Add?”
spoiler
Trick question: it depends on context!
Pop quiz answer: Ask if you’re unsure.
ETA is much older than the Internet.
I once had a drawn out argument with a Greek guy who wouldn’t shut up about mosques. He just ignored me and called me stupid when I asked why he was specifically talking about Muslims when his point was applicable to any place of worship. Multiple paragraphs later, I found out he thought mosque was a generic term for any place of worship. He then claimed the miscommunication was my fault and that I was expecting too much of a non-native English speaker.