I've studied french, can understand it sometimes, cannot speak much of it. (4 years of study)
And INGLISH!!!
I can speak half of one language.
I can translate geekspeak:
(geek) Are you buying that for FGT (finished goods tracking) or protraq? [barcoding equipment]
(me) Both, they use the same equipment.
(geek) could you get me something for dual monitors? [on one computer]
(me) Sure a card or a USB to VGA? [dual monitor card or a cable]
(geek) Could you boot my computer it must have shut down when it updated and I can't vnc in. [log in from another computer into desktop]
(me) yes, I turned it on and it liked it.
(geek) there's gonna be trouble if I find you've downloaded from my scsi (scussi) port. [joke]
(me) are you talkin' naughty to me?
(geek) can you get me 2 sticks of 4 GB ram for my computer? It's 'this' kind of computer. [You are an idiot, just try to do that, my computer can't even use that kind of ram.]
(me) Oh, so sorry, not today, I'm all booked up.
(Sales Manager) I can scan this old document but I wish I could change it.
(me) I can run OCR (optical character recognition) on it, and you'll be able to change it if you like.
(sales manager) I never understand a word you say.!!! Never mind, this is good enough.
(me) okay then.
(friend) I think it is nice you put me on the mailing list for a joke a day. Problem is I can't figure out how to see the joke, how does it work?
(me) did you scroll down, to read it?
(friend) how do you scroll down?
(me) see that bar at the top on the right, pull it down with your mouse and you'll be able to see the rest of the message. [This was after 6 months of receiving joke of the day--I thought it was memorably adorable.]
(friend) AHHHHHH that's how it works. (never be afraid to ask questions!)
Everyday is a learning experience! I was reading the police blotter for our little town and a 17 year old was cited with 'uttering'. She presented a check from her parents, claimed it was hers and it was good (uttering)--this is called UTTERING (legal term) and it is against the law. (she didn't even have to pass the check on to be cited) I had never heard that term before. Interesting.