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Hi Lori, I am flying to Ho Chi Minh City next month and want to learn some vietnamese to surprise my penpal. At least that was the plan  until I bought my first language tape and started to listen to it: It's INCREDIBLY difficult!!! I am stuck with the pronounciation of the vowels (there are 11 vowels in vietnamese language plus 30 or so vowel combination and they all can be pronounced in 6 different ways or tones...)

Just curious: how did you get on with this language?

... in response to Lori: about vietnamese language, posted by dd on Aug 24, 2001

One thing I did notice: The Vietnamese most always have their tounge in the back of their mouths. That makes it very hard to pronounce their "th's. So instead of three, they'll say tree.
My daughter picked up their language easily. She can count to 20 and say alot of things. BTW-- She vows to live in vietnam when she is older. She says she'll study to be a teacher, so she can teach english. And also she vows only to date and marry an asian man. Oh my...how I have corrupted her!!!

... in response to Lori: about vietnamese language, posted by dd on Aug 24, 2001

hi dd,
I also bought the learning tapes. Actually I did'nt learn a thing. I only became very frustrated. i usually pick up languages pretty easy. I know a bit of tagalog, laos,spanish. But I have learned these by spending time with the people who actually speak the language. Don't ask me to spell anything, I can only speak it. I have a hard enough time with the english language.
I am lucky that Thai is  an English teacher. Even though we sometimes had a hard time understanding each other. Thank goodness we had a dictionary we could refur to.
I have vowed to learn vietnamese. Thai will teach me when he comes to america. I want to be albe to go back to Vietnam and communicate with his family. Especially his Mother.  She used to just smile at me from across the room. One time she had someone translate to me , that there was so much che wanted to say to me, but she could not.
Sometimes the language barrier was a little too much for me to take. Next time, I hope it won't be.

... in response to Re: Lori: about vietnamese language, posted by Lori on Aug 24, 2001

Thanks for the info - sounds like you gave your daughter some ideas too ;-) Thai must have made quite an impression...

... in response to Lori: about vietnamese language, posted by dd on Aug 24, 2001

...that ought to impress! ;o)))

Hi dd,

"there are 11 vowels in vietnamese language plus 30 or so vowel combination and they all can be pronounced in 6 different ways or tones..."

and no "r" sound. ;o))

And to think that I thought Tagalog and Bisayan were tough. Those guys on the Latin Board don't know how good they have it! "Escuchan y rrrrrrrrrrepiten" ;o))

"Rrrrrotten" Dave H.

... in response to Just roll your rrrrrr's!..., posted by Dave H2O on Aug 24, 2001


I will leave the Vietnamese to Lori.  Each language has it's own crazy parts.  Only Greek is simple ;-)

... in response to It has to be easier than English preposi..., posted by FilipinaCupid on Aug 24, 2001

...the Greek names are hard to spell and pronounce. ;o))

Dave "Hristopoulos" or if you prefer "Hatziantoniou" or "Hadjiyianakies" H.

... in response to True...but..., posted by Dave H2O on Aug 24, 2001

Why not just Dave the cool dude

... in response to Re: True...but..., posted by tomtneal on Aug 24, 2001

I'm a closet nerd.

Dave H.

... in response to Sorry Tom..., posted by Dave H2O on Aug 24, 2001


Ok Dave, sound like a good combo to me.

Do fries come with that.hehehe

I think I know about closet but just what is it that men do in closets, anyway?????