"Oh, you're a computer programmer? How many languages do you code?"

[muckefuck]

The dreaded question! Every profession has one and Saturday night at Bear Night I got it twice. profundojoe, bless his heart, allowed me a very convenient amendment. If the question is "How many languages can you speak the way an opera singer can be said to speak a language?" it suddenly becomes a lot easier to answer.

My silly co-worker, not knowing the treadmill I walk on, set me up by telling seemingly EVERYONE about what a master polyglot I am. I really didn't know what to say because a noisy bar already plays havoc with my audio processing of English. All I need for total humiliation is to have my claims put to the test by having someone try to get me to say or respond to something in a foreign language under such adverse conditions. Can't remember how I weaseled out of that situation...

Comments

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

If only! It's so hard to explain, "Well, I could read a journal article in your language but please don't ask me to reserve a hotel room in it."

[alcarilinque.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah. No one will ever understand that. That's my relationship with a lot of languages, pretty much. Never helps when say, one could even read the article like the metaphorical opera singer. :P