Re: trade languages

Michael Everson (everson@irlearn.ucd.ie)
Mon, 20 Jun 1994 21:44:17 +0100

About Romanian: With minimum study of grammar and a knowledge of Spanish
I was able to converse with Romanians on a train; all said the success
of the conversation averaged between 40% and 60% comprehension.
Some things were easier than others: it doesn't take much to understand
when someone claps you on the back with a big grin and the word
"Extraordinar!".

There are several Romanian dialects: Romanian proper amd Istro-Romanian
are northern dialects, Megleno-Romanian and Arumanian are southern
dialects which I understand have some extension westwards in the Balkans
but I have no idea how far toward Italy (formally or geographically)
things go.

Michael Everson
School of Architecture, UCD; Richview, Clonskeagh; Dublin 14; E/ire
Phone: +353 1 706-2745 Fax: +353 1 283-7778 Home: +353 1 478-2597