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...are really useful.

I think my level is something like high pre-intermediate of the language(s) formerly known as Serbo-Croatian.

When I spoke it in Slovakia, people looked at me strangely and some assumed I was from one of their Slavic-language-speaking neighbors who they look down on. They did not always understand me completely. [I tried Slovak but old habits die hard.]

In Bulgaria, I think people think I'm speaking bad Bulgarian...but it is much closer to this language than Slovak was. I think it's very clear it's not my native language but so far I have had to point out "I only speak a little Bosnian, no Bulgarian" to get them to slow down.

Despite the aversion to the language of the political leadership which was responsible for some pretty bad things in Kosovo, I could also sometimes use it with people there who had learned it as a second language.

So the moral is: don't overlook Slavic languages, they can be useful!

For the others who speak some Slavic language - and I'm thinking of skobb and seraphim at least ... maybe others - have you found it super-useful too?

When I was in Ukraine, speaking a combination of Russian, Polish and Slovak (because I'd just come from Slovakia, not that I actually speak much of it), people assumed that I was either Polish or Slovak. I was pretty happy about that, shows I at least know enough to appear Slavic, even though my knowledge is pretty basic.

Serbo-Croatian was my first entry into Slavic languages as well. I found it fairly easy to transition into from Italian by way of Istria, because of that area's unique history. That said, I've found that my German is far more useful than my Croatian (especially among businessmen) in other Slavic nations. My knowledge of Russian is stronger on paper than in speech, although I find peppering it with Ukrainian profanity helps make it sound a bit more authentic.

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Serbo-Croatian was my first entry into Slavic languages as well

Stvarno...i nisi dao koment na moj "jebi ga ti" vic na drugi thread?!

Haha, I have heard that "nas jezik" has the most colorful swearing vocabulary, but maybe you can comment on how it compares to Ukrainian. I imagine skobb has learned some as well, but few people are fortunate enough to have experience in swearing in more than one Slavic language!

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... people assumed that I was either Polish or Slovak. I was pretty happy about that, shows I at least know enough to appear Slavic, even though my knowledge is pretty basic.

I also think it's cool except I really do have trouble understanding them! In my case I wonder if it's just so unexpected that a foreigner to Slavic languages will make sentences or whatever ... I recently heard myself recorded and was really disappointed in my accent...I feel like "how can they not hear my American accent?!"

I have some Russian, but only the sprinkling of Ukrainian words I've picked up since living here. Once I started studying Russian I was surprised how much I noticed it being spoke around me while living in DC. You can't even travel the Mediterranean or Red Sea area anymore without bumping into a Russian oligarch on vacation with his hoochy mama girl toy.

Plus, sense Putin seems determined to start a new Cold War the language is starting to pick up some importance again.

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Once I started studying Russian I was surprised how much I noticed it being spoke around me while living in DC.

Same here. When we take the tram home from Russian class, there is nearly always someone sitting nearby speaking Russian.

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Originally posted by KateL57:
Stvarno...i nisi dao koment na moj "jebi ga ti" vic na drugi thread?!

Tisk Tisk. I never take part in those threads that are littered with vulgarities.

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Haha, I have heard that "nas jezik" has the most colorful swearing vocabulary, but maybe you can comment on how it compares to Ukrainian.

Ukrainian vulgarity comes in two varieties: 1.) the seemingly country-inspired profanity, which relies on a well-rounded knowledge of bestiality, and 2.) your typical sailor fare, which seem to be translations of foreign jokes and the occasional worldly observation. It isn't as bad as Russian, however, which often seems to involve some sort of pun on a proverb, common saying, etc.

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I recently heard myself recorded and was really disappointed in my accent...I feel like "how can they not hear my American accent?!"

Don't worry. I'm sure I sound like an intoxicated Japanese 8 year old when I'm speaking Croat. The Slavs are a generous people.

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Originally posted by skobb:
You can't even travel the Mediterranean or Red Sea area anymore without bumping into a Russian oligarch on vacation with his hoochy mama girl toy.

You really can't. The towns on the Istrian peninsula, which used to be a refuge for Italians on holiday, are now "I am legitimate Russian business person" central. From those with little getaway places to those with houses the size of a Gothic church.

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The Slavs are a generous people.

Oh, I agree, especially ex-Yugoslavs...I'm just saying that, in Sarajevo, it would take someone about five seconds to realize I am speaking their language but I am not a native speaker. I make simple mistakes with cases or whatever and I just don't have the natural ear for it - people say my accent is okay and I pronounce words correctly but there is something else - like intonation but more - that is just very clearly missing. They speak more slowly then or at least make some concession so I can try to understand.

It's not like people are necessarily rude in other countries because I can't speak their language, but I don't know why they can't hear that I don't have the ear for it (or whatever) and slow down! If I were a native speaker from ex-Yugo, I'd be able to understand a greater amount of what they are saying. But as is I probably understand 40% or so of a native ex-Yugo conversation - with Bulgarian or some other language it's more like 20%.