My friend Aaron wrote a note about bad English on the website of a Copenhagen restaurant. I guess the Danes are not as well articulated as we like to think when it comes to the English language. Chances are the same goes for me. Lucky for me, there aren’t any money or jobs at stake here on my blog Kulturchok – only my own reputation as a blogger. However, I hope my English doesn’t suck, but if it does here’s my disclaimer:
My native language is Danish, but I mostly blog in English and try to do my best.
So why do I write in English? Because I also want to tell non-Danish speakers about the wonderful city of Copenhagen – and at the same time it gives me a chance to practice my English skills. If I make any grave mistakes, please let me know, or just ignore them.
I’m constantly amazed by the quality of spoken English here in Copenhagen. In fact, it’s so good that it hinders my floundering attempts to learn Danish! When I go into a cafe or a bar and order something in Danish, they often reply in English, making it almost impossible for me to practise as much as I’d like!
As for your written English – it’s superb!
As the other commenter on Aaron’s post, I hope I did not come across too harshly. I find that all the Danish people I’ve met have a better grasp of English than I do of any language other than English. I am the type who takes a red pen to the Chinese take-out menus back home and offers to proofread as a community service.
I would be mortified if I made anyone uncomfortable about their use of English in my presence. BUT, published, written English; all bets are off. There are enough (native or not) English-speakers in Copenhagen who could have read over the text and discussed the feeling the writers were trying to get across that “divine slapping” (my personal new favorite phrase) never should have happened.
Thanks for your comments, misskate & Aaron. I think it’s great that you speak up. Being a communications student myself, I can understand how you feel about this. :-)
I had a meeting this morning with someone from an A-Kasse company. He looked briefly mortified when I announced that my Danish wasn’t very good and I would appreciate it if he spoke in English. He looked and the floor and mumbled “maybe I will try, but my English is very bad. I will apologise in advance”.
He then proceeded to give me a 45 presentation on the ins and outs of the Danish employment system in utterly flawless English.
I think it’s natural that there is a little bit of embarrassment when suddenly confronted with a native English speaker, but really everyone I meet surpasses my expectations every time, and compared to my pitiful spoken Danish I can only ever have admiration.