An Italian and a Norwegian living together...

and mostly speaking in English. Oh, there's also a cat.

[italianorsk]

Laughing

If there’s a thing where I noticed a big cultural difference between me and him is what we laugh about. Norwegians are much less politically correct than we are in Italy. They laugh about everything. And while I can understand that that can be a good thing so as to put everyone on the same level, sometimes I really don’t get it :P

For example, every time we listen to Jan Egeland by Ylvis and the sentence “he breaks down just like a homo” comes up, I cringe. He laughs a lot. I felt embarassed when I made my gay best friend listen to it and apologized. He laughs like it’s the best line of the entire song. For me it kind of ruins the song. He giggles a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn-oemgzlEU

I also notice it when we watch movies or TV shows. Even when we read something together. As an Italian exercise we started reading a comic with Rat-man and I kept laughing my guts out and he would stare at me with blank eyes and face.

So yes, we laugh at very different things and sometimes the reason why the other person laughs is lost on us. But the important thing is that we find things that make us both laugh. Together :)

[italianorsk]

I found this picture on FB (couldn't find the source... If someone knows it, I'll be more than happy to add it!) It made me think about our first "Jeg elsker deg". Now, in Norway, you say it to the person you want to marry, spend your life with, be very serious with. It's kind of like the Italian "ti amo" if used correctly (but people are using it very lightly so the seriousness decreased). And that's why to his first "ti amo" I tent at first to answer cautiously or in English. He didn't know. But the day he said "jeg elsker deg"... I still remember it, he even got emotional. And I have to admit it felt different. Thanks to his different culture, I knew it was a big event in our relationship. And the thought of having bilingual children is really sweet :)

[italianorsk]

So… months have passed and in the meantime *drum rolls* I got myself a Norwegian boyfriend! He moved to Italy, we’ve been living together ever since and damn it, instead of enriching our knowledge in norsk and italiano, we keep speaking in English. We keep forgetting that Thursdays and Fridays are Norwegian days. Or that he lives in Italy so he should practice more. A lot of wasted chances. BUT at least the cat has a Norwegian name and an Italian diminutive. What I found out in these months is that boy, there are a lot of difference in the way Italians and Norwegians live. Coming from the far North of Italy myself and growing up in a region where people also speak German (and speaking German myself and following some German traditions) I didn’t think we could be that different. And I have to say that it helped me realise Italians are not at all bad people XD I like us much more now.

Long story short, my Norwegian is far less improved than it should, my war to that random pronunciation still is in process, I’m still reading Flaggermusmannen, I haven’t written a word in Norwegian in ages and I refuse to listen to things in Norwegian because I get sad XD But we’re reading a book together, Døde menn går på ski by Knut Nærum. I read out loud, he “forgets” to correct me so that I don’t get angry and helps me understand. It’s much faster. On the other hand, I still don’t remember any word I read XD

Long story short part 2, I thought I could get back to blogging a bit, maybe also about cultural differences and what’s like to live with a beautiful Norwegian ♥

[piccolomu]

I don’t know, maybe someone remembers me and wondered how I was! I’m rather good, with some downs XD

[kentuckyfridtchicken-deactivate]

Saw the pic on FB! You and your new bf are suuuuuuper cute together. <3 good to hear you’re (mostly) happy these days:D

[italianorsk]

Thanks 💛💛 Yeah, we're happy, I must say :D how are things with you? I hope everything is fine!

[italianorsk]

Alex watching The Cabin by Ylvis for the second time ever and laughing his (nice) ass off because it’s so Norwegian… 💛

Still, as an Italian I’ll never ever EVER accept that there’s no such thing as bad weather. There is. It’s rain. And even clouds sometimes XD

[italianorsk]

So... months have passed and in the meantime *drum rolls* I got myself a Norwegian boyfriend! He moved to Italy, we’ve been living together ever since and damn it, instead of enriching our knowledge in norsk and italiano, we keep speaking in English. We keep forgetting that Thursdays and Fridays are Norwegian days. Or that he lives in Italy so he should practice more. A lot of wasted chances. BUT at least the cat has a Norwegian name and an Italian diminutive. What I found out in these months is that boy, there are a lot of difference in the way Italians and Norwegians live. Coming from the far North of Italy myself and growing up in a region where people also speak German (and speaking German myself and following some German traditions) I didn’t think we could be that different. And I have to say that it helped me realise Italians are not at all bad people XD I like us much more now.

Long story short, my Norwegian is far less improved than it should, my war to that random pronunciation still is in process, I’m still reading Flaggermusmannen, I haven’t written a word in Norwegian in ages and I refuse to listen to things in Norwegian because I get sad XD But we’re reading a book together, Døde menn går på ski by Knut Nærum. I read out loud, he “forgets” to correct me so that I don’t get angry and helps me understand. It’s much faster. On the other hand, I still don’t remember any word I read XD

Long story short part 2, I thought I could get back to blogging a bit, maybe also about cultural differences and what’s like to live with a beautiful Norwegian ♥

[italianorsk]

Some interesting articles I found :)

http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/reading-in-a-foreign-language/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

http://www.5minutelanguage.com/how-to-improve-your-listening-skills-in-a-foreign-language/

http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/people-learning-multiple-languages-following-rules-essential/

[theyellowtracksuit-deactivated2]

A little Norwegian lesson with Ylvis - “to think”

Depending on context the verb ‘think’ can be translated with at least four different words in Norwegian. Those have slightly different meanings, and using them randomly is likely to make your sentence sound wrong or even distort the meaning. 

Keep reading

[italianorsk]

I've been neglecting Norwegian for months because I had to concentrate on university. To be honest I should start studying for my next exam but I am far more excited at the idea of reading some more norsk *___* Will I be able to understand something after all this time? We'll see...

[italianorsk]

Per caso il ragazzo che hai conosciuto sul treno che va ai concerti di Marit Larsen si chiama Dennis? Se sì lo conosco xD. Comunque in ambito di musica in norvegese volendo c'è il metal, e ce n'è tanto, ma capisco che non sia facile da usare per imparare la lingua (come ascolto, magari leggendo i testi anche sì).

Sì!! :O PLOT TWISTISSIMO!! Siamo finiti su un treno in ritardo (che stranezza -.-’) insieme e abbiamo scoperto questa passione comune per la Norvegia XD

Ma dai, il mondo è davvero piccolo! :O

[italianorsk]

Canzoni norvegesi?

Non odiarmi, ma devo ammettere che secondo me il norvegese non è fatto per essere cantato, quindi non conosco molti cantanti norvegesi perché non trovo le parole molto musicali...

Comunque, pensando a quello che ascoltano i miei amici, direi i Kaizers Orchestra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZkFXnm-RNQ)

Un ragazzo conosciuto sul treno so che va a tantissimi concerti di Marit Larsen, ma da quel che vedo su youtube canta in inglese.

Ascolta anche Morten Abel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcnOe7KK1Ds)

I Violet Road a me piacciono, ma cantano in inglese (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxJCk4hWGgk&list=PLciD1JHKt81-9sdoLbVnBSvLjDLoxQ_r2)

Eh, beh, tre canzoni degli Ylvis XD

Mi spiace non poter aiutare di più, ma in realtà non sono mai incappata in molti cantanti o gruppi, questi sono gli unici che ricordo menzionati da qualcuno. Se vuoi chiedo in giro,però! :D

[italianorsk]

E per caso sai dove posso trovare gli audiobook?

Alle volte direttamente su quei siti lì! Ho provato ad esempio a cercare Harry Potter (so che esiste l’audiobook) su Haugenbok e ci sono! Però io ammetto che quelli li ho trovati... su Internet... via torrent... *coff coff* Diciamo che quelli si possono trovare per vie trasverse! Gli ebook purtroppo no. Quindi non so bene come aiutarti perché non li ho mai cercati!

[italianorsk]

Sì, grazie mille!

http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/side.do?rom=MP da questo ho ordinato, la spedizione costa circa 23 euro.

http://www.haugenbok.no/ a seconda del peso, da 5 euro a 16 sotto i due chili, poi una trentina di euro sopra i due chili.

https://www.ark.no/ark/ 17 euro di spedizione.

Avevo un altro sito, ma non lo trovo più e la cosa mi fa girare le scatole XD

@International people learning Norwegian: those are websites that deliver book outside Norway :)

[italianorsk]

su amazon uk i libri in norvegese ci sono ?

Romanzi, intendi? Mah... Si trova davvero pochissimo! Penso di non aver mai trovato NULLA di quello che mi interessava XD E comunque mi sa che c’è davvero poco poco. Io ho comprato da siti norvegesi, ma la spedizione costa tantissimo, non è tracciabile e ci mette quasi un mese... Un incubo! Avendo ordinato un dizionario, avevo paura che avessero perso il pacco e di aver perso un bel po’ di soldi, anche perché conta che il prezzo dei libri in Norvegia è alto. Parliamo di 35 euro per un romanzo appena uscito! I tascabili ne costano 15-20... Ci si può sempre buttare sugli ebook, credo che quelli possano essere acquistati dai siti norvegesi senza problemi (MA non ho mai provato perché preferisco scrivere e sottolineare a matita... E soprattutto perché costano quanto i libri cartacei! Meno quei 15-20-25 euro di spedizione, cioè il costo di un libro XD) Purtroppo non si trovano neanche ebook in giro per vie trasverse... Oltretutto siti norvegesi che spediscono all’estero ce ne sono pochi,  se vuoi ti passo i link di quei 4-5 che mi sono salvata! :)

[italianorsk]

Duolinguo now has a Norwegian course! :) For English speakers so it’s not been translated into Italian yet, making it a bit more difficult for us Italians since we have to do a double translation but hey, it’s better than nothing! :D

[italianorsk]

Going to a yoga class in the park, listening to De tre musketerer on my way... I wanted to buy the book so I can understand everything but it seems like the book isn't published anymore in Norway. I can only find the child version and that's stupid, let me say that. Also listening to things just isn't a thing for me. I can't concentrate enough and find it boring. My mind wanders, I can't focus on someone telling me things thought my headphones. I have problems with movies, too. I need to do something more active. I keep saying my listening sucks but I'm starting to think that's not true. I just don't focus and let the words pass by without paying attention. Of I do pay attention, I understand. But I'd rather read a book than listen to it.

[italianorsk]

Sai, sentivo una canzone degli Ylvis e mi sembrava che la r nella parola "fred" la pronunciassero come la r francese

Perché loro sono di Bergen e hanno la “r” durissima! Maledetti! Pronunciano anche “rs” letteralmente rs, invece di sh... Quindi dicono “norsk” invece di “noshk”. Mi sembra ci fosse scritto nella grammatica di Pagani che in fondo anche se si pronuncia qualcosa in modo diverso dallo standard (se poi a questo punto si può parlare di standard...), probabilmente si sta parlando in un altro dialetto e non è un vero errore... È un modo di vedere le cose che mi piace :D

[italianorsk]

E la "e" nel mezzo di una parola si pronuncia simile alla nostra?

Sì, è la “e” alla fine ad essere alla francese! Con un po’ di eccezioni come ei, qualche er, eg... Esempio: http://it.forvo.com/search/eller/no/

E sì, alla fin fine assomiglia a quella inglese! Poi ogni lingua avrà i suoi suoni leggermente diversi dagli altri ma oh, noi facciamo quel che possiamo, o almeno io la vedo così XD (in fondo, ho letto un articolo secondo cui i suoni di una lingua sono imparati in tenera età, più si va avanti, più ci si basa su suoni già conosciuti, senza riuscire a sentire bene la differenza, quindi... siamo scusati :D)

Non prendere come oro colato quello che dico, però... Ho preso anche un libro di fonologia norvegese, ma era un po’ una noia ed era in inglese, non ho finito di leggerlo XD