Dutch people using English?

Question

Why do so many Dutch people use idiotic phrases from English like 'f***ed up' and ' so what?' There are also Dutch people who think they are an authority on English.

With a name like 'Kwaaikat' I think you are advertisng your Dutch background. Please give up that notion that the Dutch are 'internationally minded'. It's neither true nor impressive. There are just as many racists, sexists and people who swear here in the Netherlands.

Listen, I'm trying to educate people about my country, although I might not be the best ambassador. The idea that Dutch people are generally good at languages is another rumour. We live right next door to Germany, but you would be hard-pressed to find a decent German speaker out of every 100 people. As for French, its almost non-existent. There are, of course, many liars and boasters.
I've most my life here and 'my circle' is wide.

Answer 1

Beste vriend,
Ik woon al zowat 50 jaar in Canada.Toen ik hier kwam had ik al 7 jaar Engels gestudeert elke dag .Ik sprook aardig goed Engels toen ik hier kwam.Geeft niet waar je heen gaat maar je zult overal mensen vinden zoals jij beschrijft.Het is toch waar dat veel mensen in Nederland aardig goed Engels spreken.

Answer 2

Judge the comments on their merit. If a native speaker says "I did not made" and a Dutch speaker says "I did not make", then the latter one would know better, in that instance, with "in that instance" being the operative qualifier.

The phrases you mention are what you (the English speaking world) teach them (the Dutch) over the television content you produce. Usually Europeans (whether Dutch or British) swear more than North Americans. I do not condone swearing at all, but that is certainly my impression. The Dutch, to their credit, are very international minded world citizens. No doubt some Dutch people will think they are more knowledgable than they actually are. Just judge the statements on merit.

I am neither a native English, nor a Dutch speaker (I happen to speak a language closely related to Dutch). If I I spell better than many English speakers on the forum, and make fewer grammar errors, I usually feel free to submit my comments about English language on issues for which if I feel I can make a meaningful contribution. That does not mean I am trying to sell myself as an authority. I would rather like to think of it as a my-two-cents-worth attitude.

Sometimes my answer gets chosen. Not because I know better, but perhaps sometimes an outsider perspective helps. For reasons all too clear in this particular thread, I do not usually consider it wise in such discussions to advertise my non-Englishness.

Answer 3

Dutch people are known to be rather good at other languages. I can't say that the Dutch people I know use a lot of idiotic phrases or think they are authorities in the English language. It might just be the circle you're in.

Answer 4

It might be because there is so much American television in the Netherlands and it influences the speech of the youth.

The Dutch also have these 'Neerlandici' people who are experts in the language. The language is such a mess because of the spelling reforms they need these self-appointed authorities.
The Dutch like to be experts, even when they aren't.

(edit) I think, Pierre, what he's getting at is that it's badly used. Also I live in the Netherlands and people don't use it as an everyday language, they use it to try and impress tourists, making fools of themselves in the process.

Answer 5

I do know some dutch people but have never heard them using idiotic phrases. An authority on English. Well, their English does tend to be very good, but any non English speaker who counts himself as an authority is simply arrogant.

Answer 6

i'm Dutch and for an prolonged time i replaced into addicted to Eastenders and watched it on BBC (we've BBC one million & 2 right here). I by no skill used the subtitles. i ought to continuously persist with the dialogues, no concerns. yet while i wanted to apply subtitles, they could be in English, by using fact the BBC is airing the sequence. basically the English sequence/videos and different variety of pronounces on the Dutch channels have Dutch subtitles.

Answer 7

yup we'd love to answer your question in english..
aint like french or germany..
most of dutch can speak english..
use it as "everyday languange"..