Hey! It's my b3ta birthday!
I'm not certain what should be done in an occasion like this, so I'll tell you the story of how you've affected my life.

I love reading. Since I learnt how to do it, I've read whatever was close enough to my eyes. When I was a kid I rather go for a book than to the playground. My father would punish me without reading. I've read all kind of books, from very good ones to real crap; and it doesn't matter how bad the book is: I must finish it.

As you can probably imagine, until a couple of years ago all my reading was in Spanish (I'm crap with languages - sorry if there are a grammar/spelling mistakes). When I read a book from a non-Spanish writer I was never certain if the way it was written depended more on the writer or the translator. It became more difficult to tell when I discovered Science Fiction. You see, I love Asimov stories, he's great, but the way the story was written was appalling; was it Asimov's fault or a poor translation. The same happened with Philip K. Dick. "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" is one of the best Sci-Fi stories ever, but the telling was so poor...

Well, the years passed and I moved to England, and when my English had started to improve I thought it would be a good time to start reading in English. First, easy things (Harry Potter, I had read it in Spanish too, I was in the 4th book and it takes 6 months to get it translated from English). Then I got better and tried more difficult things. I've read the Ring World; Stranger in a Strange Land; Century Rain... I wouldn't say it was easy, but I could understand. I needed the dictionary a lot at the beginning, but now I almost don't use it.

Then, a year ago, I tried A Scanner Darkly. I had to give up. I couldn't understand a single word. Well, no, I understood them, but they didn't make sense in the context. I tried very hard, but no way.

A few months ago a friend came home and saw the book. He asked for it and I lent it saying "it's crap; it's written so badly it doesn't make any sense"

A couple of months after that, he gave it back saying: "This is a very good book. OK, it's K. Dick poor writing, but it's fantastic"

So I tried again. And, to my surprise, I understood it. Maybe a few words were still difficult, but they made sense. And yes, the story is great.

That got me thinking: why I couldn't understand it before and now I can? What has happened during this year?

The answer: B3ta.

Thanks to you I know that a chick or a bird means girl too. Junk is drug. Skint is without money... so many words I knew the "Oxford" meaning, but not the "street" meaning.

So, this is for you B3tans:

THANKS FOR TEACHING ME PROPER ENGLISH!!!
XXX
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 5 Nov 2008, 9:49, 16 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Happy B3taday Aberracion
I can honestly say that K. Dicks writing is not for the faint hearted, a lot of his stories make little sense.

Glad us B3ta folk have been useful to you, I would never have thought that you weren't English!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 9:57, Reply)

I like this.
Your written english is excellent and you put a few natives to shame. Good for you.

Can I recommend a book for you? I'll just dig it out...

Here:

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/278-7572196-5203251?ie=UTF8&a=1857989384

Might be for mobile browsing, I post from my phone. If you haven't already read it, try it. It'll be a challenge as the first few chapters are written almost phonetically, but we live for challenges, right? :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:02, Reply)

Happy b3ta birthday!
Soon you'll be talking crap like the rest of us.

And I never realised you weren't British when I first started reading your posts.
( girlinthehole, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:03, Reply)

Thanks!
You're all very kind!

I'm happy I'm learning so much slang, so when I am with my English friends I can use it (only a little, I still don't know very well where to put it). I think I look very posh using the "dictionary words" all the time.

And yes, book recommendations are welcome!
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:06, Reply)

*points up ^ for book recommendation*
Also:

www.urbandictionary.com/

For most of your slang needs.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:10, Reply)

It's one of my favourites
I read it in English and it was quite a challenge!

I remember I watched the film years ago, being a kid. I had the memory of the mouse competing in the maze, but I didn't connect it to the book until I got to that chapter. It was amazing! As if suddenly the book had unblocked a chapter of my life. I could even remember what I thought when watching the film.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:10, Reply)

Oh I recommend that book as well
It's fantastic, I've just read it again for the umpteenth time!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:12, Reply)

I only read it for the first time recently
It was simply amazing. One of those books you never forget.

Have a look through Off Topic for the book threads. We've got a stack of book-worms around here with excellent taste. Welcome to the club, book-worm :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:18, Reply)

No problem!
We was glad to teech u gud england :D

Hehe
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:27, Reply)

Happy b3taday!
You've been relying on us to learn English?





You're doomed.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:30, Reply)

Thought I'd throw in - I can't believe you're not a native English speaker. You put 99% of the people I know in real life to shame!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 12:22, Reply)

@Enzmye
my thoughts exactly.

lets hope she doesn't greet someone with a hearty "hello there, would sir be requiring a hefty cunting in the fuck today?"
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 12:51, Reply)

^lo que dijo "the dirty weeker"..
..tengo unos 28 "amigos" que son Ingleses nativos en Facebook y no hay casi ninguno que pueda escribir su propio idioma como usted puede. Y seguro que el ingles suyo es mucho mejor que el espanol de la mayoria de los ingleses que lo han estudiado, como yo..

But what I don't understand.. what are you doing in Britain? Spain is a much nicer country, IMO. If I ever get the chance I'll move out there immediately.
(lost, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 14:27, Reply)

:)
I can't be the only one here that finds someone who can speak, read and write two languages close to perfectly, a turn on? (Can I?)

Intelligence in other people is a wonderful thing!

Also, to echo what others are saying, your English is better than that of most people I know :)

Beware of people making up words on this thread though. They'll do it just to discombibulate you ... ;)
( SeasonTicketless is too often the statue, and rarely the pigeon., Wed 5 Nov 2008, 17:20, Reply)

I, of all people, can sympathize.
As an American, there have been a lot of things that have come out of England that utterly mystified me. A lot of Jethro Tull's music, for instance- there are a lot of Britishisms in it that made some songs utterly incomprehensible.

Since I've been here on b3ta, the song "Aqualung" has started to make sense, as have other lesser known songs such as "Up The 'Pool". Until my immersion here, it was like trying to read "A Clockwork Orange" without the dictionary in the back.

Were it not for Google I would have long ago despaired of ever understanding this site.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 5 Nov 2008, 17:29, Reply)

I'm blushing!!
You're all very kind. I'm sure it's not all true, but thank you very much, I try hard.

@Enzyme&Halfy: of course I don'r rely only on you to learn English, but I like the face of my friends when I come with a slang and they wonder where I learnt it. I rely on you for all the bad words olny.

@SenorBurtReynolds&The Dirty Weeker: As I said, I try hard. It annoys me indescriptibly (??) all the foreigners going to live in my country without even trying to learn our lenguage. Why? Don't they realize how rude they are? And they find so funny when they meet me to say "After going to Spain for 10 years I now can say: una cerveza, por favor". I'd kill them (Ah, Senor, your Spanish is very good! But you can use the informal with me, please)

@SeasonTicketless: You find it a turn-on? Wait until you see me!! No, honestly, I have friends who can speak 7 lenguages, this is nothing.

And finally,

@The Resident Loon: Isn't it fantastic when everything starts to make sense and the pieces fit? I get all excited about it. I'm jumping in my bed thinking about it!!
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 5 Nov 2008, 18:49, Reply)