why is nadal's english so poor?

theduh said:
Its not the reporters responsibility to change. It's Nadal's responsibility to adapt as world #1. He's in the spotlight more than ever so learning to speak the language is important but that as important as tennis.
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Well why is it that every reporter who speaks another language other than English, is able to ask questions in English, their non native tongue, yet a native speaker English reporter can't break down his OWN mother tongue to accomodate a non-native speaker who is naturally not acquainted with subtle plays on words or idioms?
 
theduh said:
I personally feel that if you're a top player especially if you're the number 1 tennis player in the world it is a requirement that you speak the universal language. How can you be the ambassador of the sport if you can't even communicate effectively.
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Hah where did you get this from?
theduh said:
Where and when did I say that English is the ultimate language? I said that English is the universal language, you may asked why?

1. It is widely used to do business and I think it's the only language being used when companies (from different countries) decide to do business.
2. Travelers (English speaking or non-english speaking nation) speaks english when communicating with the locals.

Some of the things that I can think off on top of my head.

EDIT:

Even these boards used English as way of communication.
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Dear god where are you pulling this crap from? Are you just making it up? Tennis Warehouse is based in the US:roll:.

theduh said:
Its not the reporters responsibility to change. It's Nadal's responsibility to adapt as world #1. He's in the spotlight more than ever so learning to speak the language is important but that as important as tennis.
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He has been speaking english for 4 years. That's nothing at all. He lives in Spain, practices in spain, has a spanish speaking couch, and probably only uses english when he has to. He learned quite fast.
 
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tahiti said:
Well why is it that every reporter who speaks another language other than English, is able to ask questions in English, their non native tongue, yet a native speaker English reporter can't break down his OWN mother tongue to accomodate a non-native speaker who is naturally not acquainted with subtle plays on words or idioms?
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b/c, yet again, english is the universal language of the ATP tour, as well as the universal language of 2 speakers that don't speak a common language. right or wrong, it's just the way it is.
 
Noveson said:
Hah where did you get this from?


Dear god where are you pulling this crap from? Are you just making it up? Tennis Warehouse is based in the US.



He has been speaking english for 4 years. That's nothing at all. He lives in Spain, practices in spain, has a spanish speaking couch, and probably only uses english when he has to. He learned quite fast.
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********* much? If you can't give a reasonable explanation why Nadal need not to improve his english skills then I suggest that you shut your pie hole.
 
ESP#1 said:
Maybe all pros should learn mandarin, considering it is the fastest growing market for tennis, and all other sports also
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Good point. it's also the emerging economy & in the future we will probably all have to be able to speak some Mandarin....Then the English speaking world will have something to think about :) Something tells me they will not fair well.....
 
rod99 said:
b/c, yet again, english is the universal language of the ATP tour, as well as the universal language of 2 speakers that don't speak a common language. right or wrong, it's just the way it is.
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So that means English native speakers don't have to make an effort ? Meaning: Native speaker reporters can just speak at their own speed using their own expressions, idioms and vocabulary of a native speaker without giving a "****" who the listener is ? Interesting mentality.....
 
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tahiti said:
Well why is it that every reporter who speaks another language other than English, is able to ask questions in English, their non native tongue, yet a native speaker English reporter can't break down his OWN mother tongue to accomodate a non-native speaker who is naturally not acquainted with subtle plays on words or idioms?
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We are in a day and age wherein communication is key. If you can't communicate effectively (I know that Nadal can do this but he really needs to improve it) you'll be left behind by others who are excelling. I know that language is not Nadal's bread and butter but if you're an international figure I guess you need to play the part as well.
 
theduh said:
********* much? If you can't give a reasonable explanation why Nadal need not to improve his english skills then I suggest that you shut your pie hole.
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Let me improve your skills THEDUH.

*********, is not found in the dictionary. English is with a capital E. You do not say "need not to" but need not. Your further comment is quite derogatory to the English language itself. Need some lessons?:)

My double "r" removed :)
 
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Speaking as an English person I find Nadal's English language skills perfectly adequate and improving. I would hate to hear him lose his Spanish accent. Who was it, amongst all the English speakers assembled at the Australian Open award ceremony that was able to eloquently offer words of comfort and compassion to Federer? I feel sure that if you allowed your bias against Nadal, to wane you would hear an articulate young man, who does not litter his conversation with the frequent use of phrases such as 'you know' and 'I mean you know', when he can't think of an appropriate word.
 
tahiti said:
Let me improve your skills THEDUH.

*********, is not found in the dictionary. English is with a capital E. You do not say "need not to" but need not. Your further comment is quite derrogatory to the English language itself. Need some lessons?:)
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LOL, this is too funny!

A double whammy.
 
the answer is easy: if you play tennis, you don't need it.
I guess that some other people take care for all the english stuff and the only time he's speaking english is in some interviews, press conferences and thats it.

plus he quitted school early, that certainly did not help with the english and he probably isn't that talented. concentrated his talent more in the sports and there he does pretty well ;)

weallwegot said:
Learning another language is a tough, especially English.
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right.... especially the start is very hard in english. no idea why that language spread all over the world...
 
theduh said:
We are in a day and age wherein communication is key. If you can't communicate effectively (I know that Nadal can do this but he really needs to improve it) you'll be left behind by others who are excelling. I know that language is not Nadal's bread and butter but if you're an international figure I guess you need to play the part as well.
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To say or even think that Nadal will be left behind by others who are excelling is too exaggerated. Nadal has excelled above millions of people in this world. And he got there by speaking his level of English which has greatly improved over the last 4 years. You can't expect him to be an Andy Murray or Roddick.

The Dalai Lama visited our country recently and I watched the hour press conference. He had a translator to help answer questions. The Dalai Lama's English was also broken and sparse. He of course spoke in areas of relevance to him. His English level hasn't diminished his global presence in any way at all!! How more well known can you be than him? Does he have influence in the international world? Without a doubt.
 
Sorry professor! I didn't know that you're a grammar and spelling police.

FYI I know that English is spelled with a capital "E" hence all of my previous post are spelled with the capital "E".
 
feetofclay said:
Speaking as an English person I find Nadal's English language skills perfectly adequate and improving. I would hate to hear him lose his Spanish accent. Who was it, amongst all the English speakers assembled at the Australian Open award ceremony that was able to eloquently offer words of comfort and compassion to Federer? I feel sure that if you allowed your bias against Nadal, to wane you would hear an articulate young man, who does not litter his conversation with the frequent use of phrases such as 'you know' and 'I mean you know', when he can't think of an appropriate word.
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Beautifully put. Hear hear! lets add "and you know like....like....like...."
 
Nadal's english is not good at all. Djokovic speaks far better english then him and he is from Serbia. Maybe Djokovic is smarter than Nadal..
 
theduh said:
We are in a day and age wherein communication is key. If you can't communicate effectively (I know that Nadal can do this but he really needs to improve it) you'll be left behind by others who are excelling. I know that language is not Nadal's bread and butter but if you're an international figure I guess you need to play the part as well.
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tahiti said:
To say or even think that Nadal will be left behind by others who are excelling is too exaggerated. Nadal has excelled above millions of people in this world. And he got there by speaking his level of English which has greatly improved over the last 4 years. You can't expect him to be an Andy Murray or Roddick.

The Dalai Lama visited our country recently and I watched the hour press conference. He had a translator to help answer questions. The Dalai Lama's English was also broken and sparse. He of course spoke in areas of relevance to him. His English level hasn't diminished his global presence in any way at all!! How more well known can you be than him? Does he have influence in the international world? Without a doubt.
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Comprehension fail or selective reading?

You can't compare Nadal to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is an international figure as well but he doesn't travel that much and doesn't interact with the media as much as Nadal. So your comparison is flawed.
 
feetofclay said:
Speaking as an English person I find Nadal's English language skills perfectly adequate and improving. I would hate to hear him lose his Spanish accent. Who was it, amongst all the English speakers assembled at the Australian Open award ceremony that was able to eloquently offer words of comfort and compassion to Federer? I feel sure that if you allowed your bias against Nadal, to wane you would hear an articulate young man, who does not litter his conversation with the frequent use of phrases such as 'you know' and 'I mean you know', when he can't think of an appropriate word.
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Agree 100% Improving it is.
 
theduh said:
Comprehension fail or selective reading?

You can't compare Nadal to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is an international figure as well but he doesn't travel that much and doesn't interact with the media as much as Nadal. So your comparison is flawed.
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Very funny. :)Here is the Dalai Lama's schedule. I'd say he travels and has more to do with the media than Nadal. Take a look if you dare.

http://www.dalailama.com/page.60.htm
 
malakas said:
really?I have been to England many times and didn't see it.But I have been in touristic Spain and saw that.
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Well maybe you should have travelled around a bit more - I still find it hard to understand some english and I have been here all my life.
 
rafan said:
Well maybe you should have travelled around a bit more - I still find it hard to understand some english and I have been here all my life.
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I know you live in England that's why I asked.:p But really,and no offence because I am sure they will admit it themselves,the spaniards speak perhaps the worst english in europe.
 
malakas said:
I know you live in England that's why I asked.:p But really,and no offence because I am sure they will admit it themselves,the spaniards speak perhaps the worst english in europe.
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I cannot really comment on that because I don't have statistics. My only thought is that they do not pick up whole sentences from the visiting english - rather a sort of fractured english. When you consider the different dialects they have to accommodate from visitors ( and millions go to Majorca alone) it must be very difficult
 
rod99 said:
if you look at the top 30+ players in the world, i'd say nadal's english is the worst, except for maybe davydenko. for someone at the top of the game who has been traveling the world for years, i'm wondering why that is the case. all of the other spanish players speak very good english.
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You need to give the guy a break. He is young, and English is not his native tongue. Sure he would make more endorsement money if he spoke English better, but he does well enough to get by. I suspect his English will improve with age, so be patient.
 
rafan said:
I cannot really comment on that because I don't have statistics. My only thought is that they do not pick up whole sentences from the visiting english - rather a sort of fractured english. When you consider the different dialects they have to accommodate from visitors ( and millions go to Majorca alone) it must be very difficult
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No.The problem is schools.I have discussed this with spanish uni students.Also the will to learn languages.And most of them dont' speak many different dialects just one.
 
RealityPolice said:
Actually, it could be argued that the use of English placeholders such as "like" and "you know" indicates a high level of competence in an ESL speaker.
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Only maybe because they've picked it up from native speakers and think it's normal. But it's generally a lack of vocabulary or laziness in wanting to use vocabulary to express. When it spans every or every second sentence in native speakers, it's extremely annoying, boring and redundant. Like a stuck record. I honestly loathe it....sorry :) It's an excuse for "being fluent."
 
If you move from Madrid to Barcelona your Spanish is not adequate anymore and it has to be Catalan. I believe Nadal speaks Catalan and Spanish and although similar they are different. The French are not that different when it comes to wanting to learn languages and Italians are probably the worst compared to Eastern Europeans and Russians.
 
malakas said:
really?I have been to England many times and didn't see it.But I have been in touristic Spain and saw that.
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I live in England and I can assure you ,even though it shames me to say it, Nadal's command of English is superior to many who were born and bred in England. I also add that I often find it difficult to understand 'American English'.
 
theduh said:
Ok you got me with the schedule and applaud your research just to prove me wrong. Sorry but I have to disagree with the bolded part. You can't convince me that the Dalai Lama has more media coverage than Nadal.
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Something tells me you don't really know much about the Dalai Lama.
No applaud with the research necessary. A two word search and 3 clicks.
Thanks to Google :)
 
tahiti said:
If you move from Madrid to Barcelona your Spanish is not adequate anymore and it has to be Catalan. I believe Nadal speaks Catalan and Spanish and although similar they are different. The French are not that different when it comes to wanting to learn languages and Italians are probably the worst compared to Eastern Europeans and Russians.
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I have been to Madrid and Barcelona and in Barca everybody knows both spanish and catalan.So yes if you know spanish it is adequate to communicate with everybody.Oh yes lol!Italians!!!French as sauvinist they may be they are much much better than Italians and Spaniards in speaking english..The worse imo,is Spaniards and a close second Italians.But interestingly enough,even you cannot communicate with them for the love of God,they are the ppl who most go out of their way to help you and try to understand you.(except of Greeks ofcourse!xD)
 
feetofclay said:
I live in England and I can assure you ,even though it shames me to say it, Nadal's command of English is superior to many who were born and bred in England. I also add that I often find it difficult to understand 'American English'.
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you mean people speaking dialects??like cockney i.e? I really have not witnessed it.
 
tahiti said:
If you move from Madrid to Barcelona your Spanish is not adequate anymore and it has to be Catalan. I believe Nadal speaks Catalan and Spanish and although similar they are different. The French are not that different when it comes to wanting to learn languages and Italians are probably the worst compared to Eastern Europeans and Russians.
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Yes he does speak Spanish and Catalan. He also speaks Mallorquin which is the language that you hear on the streets of Mallorca. Mallorquin, a version af Catalan, which itself shares features with both French and Spanish but sounds nothing like either and is emphatically a language, not a dialect.
 
malakas said:
you mean people speaking dialects??like cockney i.e? I really have not witnessed it.
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No I don't mean people speaking dialects, that's perfectly acceptable and something to be fostered. I mean people who just do not understand English grammar. People who are just not able to correctly speak their mother tongue.
 
malakas said:
I have been to Madrid and Barcelona and in Barca everybody knows both spanish and catalan.So yes if you know spanish it is adequate to communicate with everybody.Oh yes lol!Italians!!!French as sauvinist they may be they are much much better than Italians and Spaniards in speaking english..The worse imo,is Spaniards and a close second Italians.But interestingly enough,even you cannot communicate with them for the love of God,they are the ppl who most go out of their way to help you and try to understand you.(except of Greeks ofcourse!xD)
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Agreed. Southern Europeans are passionate, wear their hearts on their sleeve and seem to understand that "joie de vivre" :)
 
tahiti said:
Something tells me you don't really know much about the Dalai Lama.
No applaud with the research necessary. A two word search and 3 clicks.
Thanks to Google :)
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Yes I don't know much about the Dalai Lama which kinda tells me that you don't know much of him either. With that I think we're even.
 
feetofclay said:
No I don't mean people speaking dialects, that's perfectly acceptable and something to be fostered. I mean people who just do not understand English grammar. People who are just not able to correctly speak their mother tongue.
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oh you mean grammar.lol well that is the same in every country trust me.:rolleyes:Don't judge by foreign posters here,because most of us have studied english for years in schools with proper grammar and all.
 
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