Phrasebook

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70 [seventy]

to like something

70 [sewentig]	om van iets te hou

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Why are there so many different languages?

Today there are more than 6,000 different languages worldwide. This is why we need interpreters and translators. A very long time ago, everyone still spoke the same language. That changed, however, when people began to migrate. They left their African homeland and moved around the world. This spatial separation lead to a linguistic separation as well. Because each people developed its own form of communication. Many different languages evolved from the common proto-language. But man never remained in one place for very long. So the languages became increasingly separated from each other. Somewhere along the line, a common root could no longer be recognized. Furthermore, no people lived in isolation for thousands of years. There was always contact with other peoples. This changed the languages. They took on elements from foreign languages or they merged. Because of this, the progression of the languages never stopped. Therefore, migrations and contact with new peoples explain the multitude of languages. Why languages are so different is another question, however. Every evolution follows certain rules. So there must be a reason for languages being the way they are. For these reasons scientists have been interested in them for years. They would like to know why languages develop differently. In order to research that, one must trace the history of languages. Then one can identify what changed when. It is still unknown what influences the development of languages. Cultural factors appear to be more important than biological factors. That is to say, the history of different peoples shaped their languages. Obviously, languages tell us more than we know…

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Would you like to smoke?	W_l u r_o_? Wil u rook? W__ u r____ Wil u rook? ___ _ _____ Wil u rook?
Would you like to dance?	W_l u d_n_? Wil u dans? W__ u d____ Wil u dans? ___ _ _____ Wil u dans?
Would you like to go for a walk?	W_l u g_a_ s_a_? Wil u gaan stap? W__ u g___ s____ Wil u gaan stap? ___ _ ____ _____ Wil u gaan stap?

I would like to smoke.	E_ w_l g_a_g r_o_. Ek wil graag rook. E_ w__ g____ r____ Ek wil graag rook. __ ___ _____ _____ Ek wil graag rook.
Would you like a cigarette?	W_l j_ ’_ s_g_r_t h_? Wil jy ’n sigaret hê? W__ j_ ’_ s______ h__ Wil jy ’n sigaret hê? ___ __ __ _______ ___ Wil jy ’n sigaret hê?
He wants a light.	H_ s_e_ ’_ v_u_h_u_j_e / a_n_t_k_r_ Hy soek ’n vuurhoutjie / aansteker. H_ s___ ’_ v__________ / a_________ Hy soek ’n vuurhoutjie / aansteker. __ ____ __ ___________ _ __________ Hy soek ’n vuurhoutjie / aansteker.

I want to drink something.	E_ w_l g_a_g i_t_ d_i_k_ Ek wil graag iets drink. E_ w__ g____ i___ d_____ Ek wil graag iets drink. __ ___ _____ ____ ______ Ek wil graag iets drink.
I want to eat something.	E_ w_l g_a_g i_t_ e_t_ Ek wil graag iets eet. E_ w__ g____ i___ e___ Ek wil graag iets eet. __ ___ _____ ____ ____ Ek wil graag iets eet.
I want to relax a little.	E_ w_l g_a_g b_e_j_e o_t_p_n_ Ek wil graag bietjie ontspan. E_ w__ g____ b______ o_______ Ek wil graag bietjie ontspan. __ ___ _____ _______ ________ Ek wil graag bietjie ontspan.

I want to ask you something.	E_ w_l u g_a_g i_t_ v_a_ Ek wil u graag iets vra. E_ w__ u g____ i___ v___ Ek wil u graag iets vra. __ ___ _ _____ ____ ____ Ek wil u graag iets vra.
I want to ask you for something.	E_ w_l u g_a_g v_r i_t_ v_a_ Ek wil u graag vir iets vra. E_ w__ u g____ v__ i___ v___ Ek wil u graag vir iets vra. __ ___ _ _____ ___ ____ ____ Ek wil u graag vir iets vra.
I want to treat you to something.	E_ w_l u g_a_g n_ i_t_ u_t_o_i_ Ek wil u graag na iets uitnooi. E_ w__ u g____ n_ i___ u_______ Ek wil u graag na iets uitnooi. __ ___ _ _____ __ ____ ________ Ek wil u graag na iets uitnooi.

What would you like?	W_t w_l u h_? Wat wil u hê? W__ w__ u h__ Wat wil u hê? ___ ___ _ ___ Wat wil u hê?
Would you like a coffee?	W_l u k_f_i_ h_? Wil u koffie hê? W__ u k_____ h__ Wil u koffie hê? ___ _ ______ ___ Wil u koffie hê?
Or do you prefer a tea?	O_ w_l u l_e_e_ t_e h_? Of wil u liewer tee hê? O_ w__ u l_____ t__ h__ Of wil u liewer tee hê? __ ___ _ ______ ___ ___ Of wil u liewer tee hê?

We want to drive home.	O_s w_l h_i_ t_e r_. Ons wil huis toe ry. O__ w__ h___ t__ r__ Ons wil huis toe ry. ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ Ons wil huis toe ry.
Do you want a taxi?	S_e_ j_l_e ’_ t_x_? Soek julle ’n taxi? S___ j____ ’_ t____ Soek julle ’n taxi? ____ _____ __ _____ Soek julle ’n taxi?
They want to make a call.	H_l_e w_l g_a_g ’_ o_r_e_ m_a_. Hulle wil graag ’n oproep maak. H____ w__ g____ ’_ o_____ m____ Hulle wil graag ’n oproep maak. _____ ___ _____ __ ______ _____ Hulle wil graag ’n oproep maak.

Phrasebook

Why are there so many different languages?

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