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59 [fifty-nine]

At the post office

59 [nege en vyftig]	By die poskantoor

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The native language is always the most important language

Our native language is the first language we learn. This happens automatically, so we don't notice it. Most people only have one native language. All other languages are studied as foreign languages. Of course there are also people who grow up with multiple languages. However, they typically speak these languages with differing levels of fluency. Often, the languages are also used differently. One language is used at work, for example. The other is used at home. How well we speak a language is dependent on multiple factors. When we learn it as small children, we typically learn it very well. Our speech center works most effectively in these years of life. How often we speak a language is also important. The more often we use it, the better we speak it. But researchers believe a person can never speak two languages equally well. One language is always the more important language. Experiments seem to confirm this hypothesis. Various people were tested in one study. Half of the test subjects spoke two languages fluently. Chinese was the native language and English the second. The other half of the subjects only spoke English as their native language. The test subjects had to solve simple tasks in English. While doing so, the activity of their brains was measured. And differences appeared in the brains of the test subjects! In the multilingual individuals, one region of the brain was especially active. The monolingual individuals, on the other hand, showed no activity in this region. Both groups solved the tasks equally fast and well. Despite this, the Chinese still translated everything into their native language…

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Where is the nearest post office?	W_a_ i_ d_e n_a_t_ p_s_a_t_o_? Waar is die naaste poskantoor? W___ i_ d__ n_____ p__________ Waar is die naaste poskantoor? ____ __ ___ ______ ___________ Waar is die naaste poskantoor?
Is the post office far from here?	I_ d_t v_r t_t d_e n_a_t_ p_s_a_t_o_? Is dit ver tot die naaste poskantoor? I_ d__ v__ t__ d__ n_____ p__________ Is dit ver tot die naaste poskantoor? __ ___ ___ ___ ___ ______ ___________ Is dit ver tot die naaste poskantoor?
Where is the nearest mail box?	W_a_ i_ d_e n_a_t_ p_s_u_? Waar is die naaste posbus? W___ i_ d__ n_____ p______ Waar is die naaste posbus? ____ __ ___ ______ _______ Waar is die naaste posbus?

I need a couple of stamps.	E_ h_t ’_ p_a_ s_ë_s n_d_g_ Ek het ’n paar seëls nodig. E_ h__ ’_ p___ s____ n_____ Ek het ’n paar seëls nodig. __ ___ __ ____ _____ ______ Ek het ’n paar seëls nodig.
For a card and a letter.	V_r ’_ p_s_a_r_ e_ ’_ b_i_f_ Vir ’n poskaart en ’n brief. V__ ’_ p_______ e_ ’_ b_____ Vir ’n poskaart en ’n brief. ___ __ ________ __ __ ______ Vir ’n poskaart en ’n brief.
How much is the postage to America?	H_e_e_l i_ d_e p_s_e_d n_ A_e_i_a_ Hoeveel is die posgeld na Amerika? H______ i_ d__ p______ n_ A_______ Hoeveel is die posgeld na Amerika? _______ __ ___ _______ __ ________ Hoeveel is die posgeld na Amerika?

How heavy is the package?	H_e s_a_r i_ d_e p_k_i_? Hoe swaar is die pakkie? H__ s____ i_ d__ p______ Hoe swaar is die pakkie? ___ _____ __ ___ _______ Hoe swaar is die pakkie?
Can I send it by air mail?	K_n e_ d_t p_r l_g_o_ s_u_r_ Kan ek dit per lugpos stuur? K__ e_ d__ p__ l_____ s_____ Kan ek dit per lugpos stuur? ___ __ ___ ___ ______ ______ Kan ek dit per lugpos stuur?
How long will it take to get there?	H_e l_n_ s_l d_t n_e_ o_ d_a_ t_ k_m_ Hoe lank sal dit neem om daar te kom? H__ l___ s__ d__ n___ o_ d___ t_ k___ Hoe lank sal dit neem om daar te kom? ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ __ ____ __ ____ Hoe lank sal dit neem om daar te kom?

Where can I make a call?	W_a_ k_n e_ ’_ o_r_e_ m_a_? Waar kan ek ’n oproep maak? W___ k__ e_ ’_ o_____ m____ Waar kan ek ’n oproep maak? ____ ___ __ __ ______ _____ Waar kan ek ’n oproep maak?
Where is the nearest telephone booth?	W_a_ i_ d_e n_a_t_ t_l_f_o_h_k_i_? Waar is die naaste telefoonhokkie? W___ i_ d__ n_____ t______________ Waar is die naaste telefoonhokkie? ____ __ ___ ______ _______________ Waar is die naaste telefoonhokkie?
Do you have calling cards?	H_t u t_l_f_o_k_a_t_? Het u telefoonkaarte? H__ u t______________ Het u telefoonkaarte? ___ _ _______________ Het u telefoonkaarte?

Do you have a telephone directory?	H_t u ’_ t_l_f_o_b_e_? Het u ’n telefoonboek? H__ u ’_ t____________ Het u ’n telefoonboek? ___ _ __ _____________ Het u ’n telefoonboek?
Do you know the area code for Austria?	K_n u d_e a_e_k_d_ v_r O_s_e_r_k_ Ken u die areakode vir Oostenryk? K__ u d__ a_______ v__ O_________ Ken u die areakode vir Oostenryk? ___ _ ___ ________ ___ __________ Ken u die areakode vir Oostenryk?
One moment, I’ll look it up.	N_t ’_ o_m_l_k_ e_ k_k g_u_ Net ’n oomblik, ek kyk gou. N__ ’_ o_______ e_ k__ g___ Net ’n oomblik, ek kyk gou. ___ __ ________ __ ___ ____ Net ’n oomblik, ek kyk gou.

The line is always busy.	D_e l_n i_ a_t_d b_s_t_ Die lyn is altyd beset. D__ l__ i_ a____ b_____ Die lyn is altyd beset. ___ ___ __ _____ ______ Die lyn is altyd beset.
Which number did you dial?	W_t_e_ n_m_e_ h_t u g_s_a_e_? Watter nommer het u geskakel? W_____ n_____ h__ u g________ Watter nommer het u geskakel? ______ ______ ___ _ _________ Watter nommer het u geskakel?
You have to dial a zero first!	U m_e_ e_r_ d_e n_l d_u_! U moet eers die nul druk! U m___ e___ d__ n__ d____ U moet eers die nul druk! _ ____ ____ ___ ___ _____ U moet eers die nul druk!

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The native language is always the most important language

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