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44 [forty-four]

Going out in the evening

44 [vier en veertig]	Saans uitgaan

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Genes influence language

The language we speak is dependent on our ancestry. But our genes are also responsible for our language. Scottish researchers have come to this conclusion. They examined how English differs from Chinese. In doing so they discovered that genes play a role, too. Because genes influence the development of our brain. That is to say, they shape our brain structures. With this, our ability to learn languages is determined. Variants of two genes are crucial to this. If a particular variant is scarce, tonal languages develop. So tonal languages are spoken by people without these gene variants. In tonal languages, the meaning of words is determined by the pitch of the tones. Chinese is included in the tonal languages, for example. If this gene variant is dominant, however, other languages develop. English is not a tonal language. The variants of this gene are not evenly distributed. That means they occur with differing frequency in the world. But languages only survive if they are passed down. In order to do this, children must be able to imitate the language of their parents. So they must be able to learn the language well. Only then will it be passed down from generation to generation. The older gene variant is the one that promotes tonal languages. So there were probably more tonal languages in the past than there are today. But one mustn't overestimate the genetic components. They can only add to explaining the development of languages. But there isn't a gene for English, or a gene for Chinese. Anybody can learn any language. You don't need genes for that, but rather only curiosity and discipline!

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Is there a disco here?	I_ d_a_ ’_ d_s_o h_e_? Is daar ’n disko hier? I_ d___ ’_ d____ h____ Is daar ’n disko hier? __ ____ __ _____ _____ Is daar ’n disko hier?
Is there a nightclub here?	I_ d_a_ ’_ n_g_l_b h_e_? Is daar ’n nagklub hier? I_ d___ ’_ n______ h____ Is daar ’n nagklub hier? __ ____ __ _______ _____ Is daar ’n nagklub hier?
Is there a pub here?	I_ d_a_ ’_ k_o_g h_e_? Is daar ’n kroeg hier? I_ d___ ’_ k____ h____ Is daar ’n kroeg hier? __ ____ __ _____ _____ Is daar ’n kroeg hier?

What’s playing at the theatre / theater (am.) this evening?	W_t s_e_l v_n_a_d i_ d_e t_a_e_? Wat speel vanaand in die teater? W__ s____ v______ i_ d__ t______ Wat speel vanaand in die teater? ___ _____ _______ __ ___ _______ Wat speel vanaand in die teater?
What’s playing at the cinema / movies (am.) this evening?	W_t d_a_i v_n_a_d i_ d_e b_o_k_o_? Wat draai vanaand in die bioskoop? W__ d____ v______ i_ d__ b________ Wat draai vanaand in die bioskoop? ___ _____ _______ __ ___ _________ Wat draai vanaand in die bioskoop?
What’s on TV this evening?	W_t_s v_n_a_d o_ d_e t_l_v_s_e (_v_? Wat’s vanaand op die televisie (tv)? W____ v______ o_ d__ t________ (____ Wat’s vanaand op die televisie (tv)? _____ _______ __ ___ _________ _____ Wat’s vanaand op die televisie (tv)?

Are tickets for the theatre / theater (am.) still available?	I_ d_a_ n_g k_a_t_i_s b_s_i_b_a_ v_r d_e t_a_e_? Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die teater? I_ d___ n__ k________ b_________ v__ d__ t______ Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die teater? __ ____ ___ _________ __________ ___ ___ _______ Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die teater?
Are tickets for the cinema / movies (am.) still available?	I_ d_a_ n_g k_a_t_i_s b_s_i_b_a_ v_r d_e b_o_k_o_? Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die bioskoop? I_ d___ n__ k________ b_________ v__ d__ b________ Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die bioskoop? __ ____ ___ _________ __________ ___ ___ _________ Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die bioskoop?
Are tickets for the football / soccer am. game still available?	I_ d_a_ n_g k_a_t_i_s b_s_i_b_a_ v_r d_e s_k_e_? Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die sokker? I_ d___ n__ k________ b_________ v__ d__ s______ Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die sokker? __ ____ ___ _________ __________ ___ ___ _______ Is daar nog kaartjies beskikbaar vir die sokker?

I want to sit in the back.	E_ w_l g_a_g h_e_ a_t_r s_t_ Ek wil graag heel agter sit. E_ w__ g____ h___ a____ s___ Ek wil graag heel agter sit. __ ___ _____ ____ _____ ____ Ek wil graag heel agter sit.
I want to sit somewhere in the middle.	E_ w_l g_a_g i_w_r_ i_ d_e m_d_e_ s_t_ Ek wil graag iewers in die middel sit. E_ w__ g____ i_____ i_ d__ m_____ s___ Ek wil graag iewers in die middel sit. __ ___ _____ ______ __ ___ ______ ____ Ek wil graag iewers in die middel sit.
I want to sit at the front.	E_ w_l g_a_g h_e_ v_o_ s_t_ Ek wil graag heel voor sit. E_ w__ g____ h___ v___ s___ Ek wil graag heel voor sit. __ ___ _____ ____ ____ ____ Ek wil graag heel voor sit.

Could you recommend something?	K_n u i_t_ a_n_e_e_l_ Kan u iets aanbeveel? K__ u i___ a_________ Kan u iets aanbeveel? ___ _ ____ __________ Kan u iets aanbeveel?
When does the show begin?	W_n_e_r b_g_n d_e v_r_o_i_g_ Wanneer begin die vertoning? W______ b____ d__ v_________ Wanneer begin die vertoning? _______ _____ ___ __________ Wanneer begin die vertoning?
Can you get me a ticket?	K_n u v_r m_ ’_ k_a_t_i_ k_y_ Kan u vir my ’n kaartjie kry? K__ u v__ m_ ’_ k_______ k___ Kan u vir my ’n kaartjie kry? ___ _ ___ __ __ ________ ____ Kan u vir my ’n kaartjie kry?

Is there a golf course nearby?	I_ d_a_ ’_ g_o_f_a_n i_ d_e n_b_h_i_? Is daar ’n gholfbaan in die nabyheid? I_ d___ ’_ g________ i_ d__ n________ Is daar ’n gholfbaan in die nabyheid? __ ____ __ _________ __ ___ _________ Is daar ’n gholfbaan in die nabyheid?
Is there a tennis court nearby?	I_ d_a_ ’_ t_n_i_b_a_ i_ d_e n_b_h_i_? Is daar ’n tennisbaan in die nabyheid? I_ d___ ’_ t_________ i_ d__ n________ Is daar ’n tennisbaan in die nabyheid? __ ____ __ __________ __ ___ _________ Is daar ’n tennisbaan in die nabyheid?
Is there an indoor swimming pool nearby?	I_ d_a_ ’_ b_n_e_s_u_s_ s_e_b_d i_ d_e n_b_h_i_? Is daar ’n binnenshuise swembad in die nabyheid? I_ d___ ’_ b___________ s______ i_ d__ n________ Is daar ’n binnenshuise swembad in die nabyheid? __ ____ __ ____________ _______ __ ___ _________ Is daar ’n binnenshuise swembad in die nabyheid?

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Genes influence language

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