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Message
Has anyone here ever been to Iceland?
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:44 pm
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:44 pm
Anyone?
My main question/concern is, if you did and tried to speak Icelandic with the natives, were they able to understand you at all? Can they understand foreigners speaking Icelandic?
I ask because I’ve been studying the language (because I want to be a polyglot) and would like to travel there in the near future.
If they can’t or struggle understand foreigners trying to speak it (even with decent pronounciation), then that will be discouraging.
My main question/concern is, if you did and tried to speak Icelandic with the natives, were they able to understand you at all? Can they understand foreigners speaking Icelandic?
I ask because I’ve been studying the language (because I want to be a polyglot) and would like to travel there in the near future.
If they can’t or struggle understand foreigners trying to speak it (even with decent pronounciation), then that will be discouraging.
2
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:46 pm to The Silverback
I was there two months ago. Everyone speaks English, at least to a strong enough degree that you can converse just fine. Tourism is very important there, so anyone dealing with anything tourist-related is fluent.
I couldn’t even tell you what “hello” is in Icelandic and I had zero issues.
Has nothing to do with Iceland, but just a personal belief: go places where they barely speak your language. It can lead to some really unique experiences. Comfort can be overrated in travel at certain times.
I couldn’t even tell you what “hello” is in Icelandic and I had zero issues.
Has nothing to do with Iceland, but just a personal belief: go places where they barely speak your language. It can lead to some really unique experiences. Comfort can be overrated in travel at certain times.
This post was edited on 3/12/18 at 10:49 pm
Posted on 3/12/18 at 11:02 pm to AbitaFan08
That’s cool that you’ve been there. It seems like it’s becoming more popular more than ever for tourism. A friend of my dad went there last year. And that is true, they do speak English. I just hope I’m not wasting my time w/ Icelandic (not because it’s impractical, but but if they can’t understand me trying to speak it).
I speak quite a bit of German (standard High German and Bavarian German dialects-I am not quite fluent, but I’m on my way), and when I travel there I will speak only German. I love to submerge myself like that and put to use what I have learned.
And you’re right, going to a place where locals know little to no of your language would be interesting. I don’t know for sure if Morocco is that way, but I plan to go there too.
I speak quite a bit of German (standard High German and Bavarian German dialects-I am not quite fluent, but I’m on my way), and when I travel there I will speak only German. I love to submerge myself like that and put to use what I have learned.
And you’re right, going to a place where locals know little to no of your language would be interesting. I don’t know for sure if Morocco is that way, but I plan to go there too.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 11:27 pm to The Silverback
You probably are wasting your time unless you actually want to learn some of the phrases as a hobby, or to impress people or you want to move there.
I’ve never been to Iceland but been to Sweden several times and also Norway and the people there speak English extremely well. As in nearly anyone you talk to speaks English. In the times I went to Germany, I found that far less people speak English.
I’ve never been to Iceland but been to Sweden several times and also Norway and the people there speak English extremely well. As in nearly anyone you talk to speaks English. In the times I went to Germany, I found that far less people speak English.
This post was edited on 3/12/18 at 11:31 pm
Posted on 3/12/18 at 11:39 pm to TheIndulger
the only place I have been where hardly anyone spoke english is alabama
just kidding. Turkey. I was surprised that so few spoke english there.
just kidding. Turkey. I was surprised that so few spoke english there.
Posted on 3/13/18 at 9:43 am to TheIndulger
Yeah it’s a waste of time since it does nothing to contribute to success. Is enjoying it and finding happiness with it enough to keep going or better to look elsewhere?
I think it would impress some people as it is far more complex (and more interesting, in my opinion) than Spanish (even though Spanish is 10^100 times more useful).
I think it would impress some people as it is far more complex (and more interesting, in my opinion) than Spanish (even though Spanish is 10^100 times more useful).
Posted on 3/13/18 at 9:45 am to diat150
Ha, I ont disagree with you on Bama. I’m actually a Texan though
Turkey would be neat to see, a ton of history there. How was the food and hotels there?
Turkey would be neat to see, a ton of history there. How was the food and hotels there?
Posted on 3/13/18 at 10:06 am to The Silverback
quote:
Is enjoying it and finding happiness with it enough to keep going or better to look elsewhere?
If you're enjoying it, why stop? It's not very useful at all, but enjoyment in a hobby is always a good thing.
quote:
I think it would impress some people as it is far more complex (and more interesting, in my opinion) than Spanish (even though Spanish is 10^100 times more useful).
Learning a language to impress people doesn't make a lot of sense. Arabic is impressive as hell, as is Chinese, and can be extremely useful.
Hell, I think learning ANY second language is impressive. So why not go for one you would actually use?
Posted on 3/13/18 at 10:17 am to AbitaFan08
My mistake-I forgot to add that learning a language to impress people is the wrong reason to. I do it because I just enjoy it. It fascinates me and it annoys those around me. People tell me i can’t do it, it’s a waste of time, etc. but it is something that I can do every day as a honby and really look forward to.
I’m a firm believer in winning in business, personal money management, staying up to date on changes in technology, but I think it’s very important to have some sort of hobby that you find happiness in. Life is too short anyway.
I actually did try to tackle Chinese a few years ago, but I did not have the time on hand to commit to learning that monster. Though that would be a feat to learn that. And yes definitely more practical, as there’s probably a couple of billion speakers of it compared to 330,000 for Icelandic.
I’m a firm believer in winning in business, personal money management, staying up to date on changes in technology, but I think it’s very important to have some sort of hobby that you find happiness in. Life is too short anyway.
I actually did try to tackle Chinese a few years ago, but I did not have the time on hand to commit to learning that monster. Though that would be a feat to learn that. And yes definitely more practical, as there’s probably a couple of billion speakers of it compared to 330,000 for Icelandic.
Posted on 3/13/18 at 12:26 pm to The Silverback
quote:
My main question/concern is, if you did and tried to speak Icelandic with the natives, were they able to understand you at all? Can they understand foreigners speaking Icelandic?
This doesn’t directly answer you but everyone there speaks English. I heard next to no Icelandic spoken.
We did encounter one old Icelander out along the ring road who didn’t speak a word of English. I thought that was pretty cool. It was like he was from another era. But in general you might be wasting your time trying to learn any icelandic outside of the elementary phrases.
This post was edited on 3/13/18 at 12:43 pm
Posted on 3/13/18 at 1:52 pm to The Silverback
If you are just interested in, then go for it!
Posted on 3/14/18 at 8:30 am to REG861
Were even the Icelanders speaking to each other in English most of the time? And are most traffic signs, food labels, books, etc. in more Icelandic or English?
I guess I just need to make a u-turn and go back to Chinese or something else.
I guess I just need to make a u-turn and go back to Chinese or something else.
Posted on 3/14/18 at 8:32 am to TheIndulger
Yep! Interest and fascination (for lack of better word) is what is keeping me going. I’ll aim to be above conversational but just below proficient .
Posted on 3/14/18 at 9:34 pm to REG861
I was there during their UEFA cup game against France (played in France). 50,000 people watching the match on a big tv in Reykjavik. Everyone- including the bands and the emcees on the stage - were speaking English. A couple of days later they had a big celebration for their team — all in English.
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