Vill du ha något att äta med mig?

[same_sky]

Remember how I said that the conversations in my Pimsleur Swedish CD were fantastically bad? And that they were all about how to pick someone up in Swedish? Today's conversation was so funny that I had to transcribe it for you. I hope the utter ridiculousness of it translates (this whole thing takes five full minutes, with the repetition and the two languages.) The intonations are part of what makes it funny.

Characters: Mikael and Ingrid.

Mikael: Excuse me. Do you want to have something to eat with me?

Ingrid: No, thank you. *pause* Not now, and not later.

Mikael: But at 1:00, is that alright?

Ingrid: No, that's not alright.

Mikael: At 2:00?

Ingrid: No, thank you, I do NOT want to.

Mikael: Later, at 8:00. *pause* Or 9:00. *pause* At what time?

Ingrid: No, I do not WANT to have something to drink with you.

Mikael: Oh, I understand now.

Ingrid: Good, you understand now.

Mikael: Yeah, you don't want to have something to eat with me. *pause* You want to have something to DRINK with me! *pause* At a restaurant! Do you want to have something to drink with me? *pause* At 8:00 or at 9:00?

Ingrid: Not at 1:00 and not at 2:00. Not at 8:00 and not at 9:00.

Mikael: At what time?

Ingrid: You don't understand!

Mikael: What don't I understand?

Ingrid: You don't understand SWEDISH!

Comments

[ladysunrunner.livejournal.com]

*lol* that is funny! especially the last line! reminds me of this...

"i will not eat them in a boat, i will not eat them with a goat. i do not like green eggs and ham, i will not eat them, sam i am!"

[helloheather.livejournal.com]

Hahaha... poor Mikael. He will never get the girl with THOSE moves.

[e11en.livejournal.com]

Hahaha! It's more than just Swedish he doesn't understand!

[brief-therapy.livejournal.com]

That is hilarious! I suppose you're learning a few Swedish phrases from that - but Mikael and Ingrid are not exactly giving their listeners any idea at all of proper Swedish social skills!

And I agree with the first commenter - the writer must have read a lot of Dr. Seuss before coming up with this! Sven I am!

[kapuhi.livejournal.com]

See, now I'm wondering about Swedish guys.. are they notoriously persistent? 'Cause, we have a Hawaiian language book we've worked on occasionally, and the phrases they teach are VERY pertinent to the culture. Stuff like "maybe thieves stole that radio" or "Keoni is in Punalu'u, hiding from the police" or "the tourists don't know about this beach." Seriously. :)