The Anti Season 4 Thread (Spoilers). For complaints and misgivings ONLY.

[mcbarr]

To remain on-topic: I find the lack of foreign English accents and foreign languages, with the exception of Czech, highly annoying on Atlantis and hope they'll clear that up in season 4. There can't be so many foreigners and they all speak perfect neutral American dialect English.

Well, English is literally a universal language on Stargate. I know that one mistake doesn't justify another, but it would be weird all those aliens speaking fluent English and expedition members speaking English with foreign accents or totally different languages. Heh, maybe Ronon and Teyla should give Zelenka some English lessons...

[kimaken]

To remain on-topic: I find the lack of foreign English accents and foreign languages, with the exception of Czech, highly annoying on Atlantis and hope they'll clear that up in season 4. There can't be so many foreigners and they all speak perfect neutral American dialect English.

I agree. They only had 3 [speaking role] characters that spoke English with an accent, and 2 of them were killed off (Grodin and Beckett). Hmm, wonder what that means for Zalenka's future?

[Gregorius]

Well, English is literally a universal language on Stargate. I know that one mistake doesn't justify another, but it would be weird all those aliens speaking fluent English and expedition members speaking English with foreign accents or totally different languages. Heh, maybe Ronon and Teyla should give Zelenka some English lessons...

I think English is only the universal language in Stargate because of the apparant inability of a large portion of the American population to view series which have subtitles due to them not being spoken in the English language.

Which is a shame really, since it's utterly amusing to read the subtitles when you understand the language spoken and find mistranslations etc... in them.

Also using subtitles and actual foreign languages would add to the realism on the show, plus it would probably increase the vocabulary of people watching it as well as their reading speed.

[Gregorius]

I agree. They only had 3 [speaking role] characters that spoke English with an accent, and 2 of them were killed off (Grodin and Beckett). Hmm, wonder what that means for Zalenka's future?

He'll survive, he's too popular a character to kill off. Besides that he has this banner with McKay which they absolutely love to use when both are onscreen together.

[dana]

He'll survive, he's too popular a character to kill off. Besides that he has this banner with McKay which they absolutely love to use when both are onscreen together.

So was Carson
And I tentatively agree, they wouldn't kill him off. In worst case scenario they'd send him into Ford!land like Lizzeh.

EDIT to add OT: I'm meeting David Nykl tomorrow and through the weekend. Yay!

[mcbarr]

So was Carson
And I tentatively agree, they wouldn't kill him off. In worst case scenario they'd send him into Ford!land like Lizzeh.

EDIT to add OT: I'm meeting David Nykl tomorrow and through the weekend. Yay!

I'm not so sure about that. They almost killed him in Tao of Rodney...

[Celcool]

Not everyone knows and especially considering the lack of education in foreign languages which causes an inability to recognise foreign words and the apparent lack of a large basic vocabulary among native English speakers, it's important for someone to explain it clearly or else we'll have more of those "The French don't have a word for entrepreneur" scenarios on our hands.

Yup. And German isn't exactly taught widely in American schools, is it? You guys learn Spanish as far as I know.

And those scenarios annoy me to no end. Free advice for everyone: Learn a foreign language, it's highly educating.

hehe I agree, it is.

Being a former teacher, I would have said "Go look it up". But thanks, Gregorius. That word is actually quite popular around here (Washington, DC area) in political circles. LOL. Maybe we should start a schadenfreude thread so all those folks will have somewhere to hang out.

Never thought Americans use any German words, never came across any of them being used anyway. Was a surprise to me to see it here.

Which is a shame really, since it's utterly amusing to read the subtitles when you understand the language spoken and find mistranslations etc... in them.

I like noticing mistakes too. *lol*

You know what, if TPTB started imitating what TPTB of Lost is doing, like killing off characters, they could also start using subtitles and let the characters speak foreign languages like Lost is doing as well. LOL

EDIT to add OT: I'm meeting David Nykl tomorrow and through the weekend. Yay!

Cool! Is he at home now, in Czech Republic?

[Gregorius]

Yup. And German isn't exactly taught widely in American schools, is it? You guys learn Spanish as far as I know.

*mutters something about Dutch education and having to learn German, French, English and Dutch*

Never thought Americans use any German words, never came across any of them being used anyway. Was a surprise to me to see it here.

Problem is that the English language lacks certain words which are found in German and Dutch. The German word "Gemütlichkeit" and the Dutch word "Gezelligheid" come to mind, since both can't be translated to English and in the "Gezelligheid" case it can't even be translated into German because it means so many things.

I like noticing mistakes too. *lol*

The best mistakes are when curse words are translated to less offensive words.

[Gregorius]

So was Carson
And I tentatively agree, they wouldn't kill him off. In worst case scenario they'd send him into Ford!land like Lizzeh.

Carson didn't have Teh Banter. As long as you have that you're reasonably save

[Southern Red]

He'll survive, he's too popular a character to kill off. Besides that he has this banner with McKay which they absolutely love to use when both are onscreen together.

And also what they said about Elizabeth. Plus Sam is going to take care of the Zalenka banter with Rodney.

Yup. And German isn't exactly taught widely in American schools, is it? You guys learn Spanish as far as I know.


Never thought Americans use any German words, never came across any of them being used anyway. Was a surprise to me to see it here.

A lot of schools here teach German, and French is taught just as much as Spanish. We just never really learn to speak another language because of our size and isolation I think. Though it's almost necessary nowadays to speak Spanish if you live in Florida, Texas or California.

There are lots of "foreign" words peppered throughout our language. Zeitgeist is popular right now also.

[dana]

*snip*
Cool! Is he at home now, in Czech Republic?

He's flying in tomorrow and will be leaving on Sunday. At least I don't have to worry about my English.

[JesterDala]

A lot of schools here teach German, and French is taught just as much as Spanish. We just never really learn to speak another language because of our size and isolation I think. Though it's almost necessary nowadays to speak Spanish if you live in Florida, Texas or California.

There are lots of "foreign" words peppered throughout our language. Zeitgeist is popular right now also.

You should also be familiar with the basics of Spanish if you order lunch from a fast food restaurant.

Our language is a mash of so many others, it's no wonder it's complicated to learn for foreigners. Inconsistancies were bound to arise out of throwing together words from different Romance languages. [hugs English] But it's ours.

[Southern Red]

You should also be familiar with the basics of Spanish if you order lunch from a fast food restaurant.

Our language is a mash of so many others, it's no wonder it's complicated to learn for foreigners. Inconsistancies were bound to arise out of throwing together words from different Romance languages. [hugs English] But it's ours.

Right you are. I actually taught English for a few years in middle school (6-8) and always told my students that the only rule in English that was always true was that "Every rule has an exception". Here's a fun OT exercise class:

Spoiler:

How do you pronounce ghoti?

Answer:

Spoiler:

ghoti is pronounced like fish. For example, gh as in enough, o as in women, and ti as in nation.

What a language. Gotta love it. No wonder even us English teachers don't speak it real good.

[Suzotchka]

A lot of schools here teach German, and French is taught just as much as Spanish. We just never really learn to speak another language because of our size and isolation I think. Though it's almost necessary nowadays to speak Spanish if you live in Florida, Texas or California.

Add New York to that list. All our plant employees speak Spanish and I only speak English. If they have a payroll or HR issue, I need a translator.

I learned Spanish in high school, but I don't remember much of it now.

[Gregorius]

Our language is a mash of so many others, it's no wonder it's complicated to learn for foreigners. Inconsistancies were bound to arise out of throwing together words from different Romance languages. [hugs English] But it's ours.

Of all the languages I know English is by far the easiest to learn. It doesn't have complex grammar and it's exceptions are rather few compared to other Germanic languages. Also it's rather easy to pronounce. Oh and I would like to add that when it comes to grabbing words from other languages and adding it to your own the Dutch rule supreme.

Anyway back on topic: I think it would be a huge improvement if they added foreign languages to the show plus all the jokes they could make because of the language barrier. Or Carter not being able to understand a French scientist and needs to have McKay help her translate.

It would actually add some depth to the episodes something a lot of them are currently lacking...