Share Your Language! - EDITED :)

I've read it on lots of profiles that you like getting letters and newspapers written on foreign languages, or you just curious of your partners native language. Since we're here from many different countries, I've found out a swap idea.

And it is good to know that the International Mother Language Day is held annually on 21 February worldwide. It has a tragic origin and also a background about there are two languages been disappeared each month (from the 7000 languages of the world).

For this swap you will send interesting facts, and writing about/on your language to your partners.

What you have to do is the following:

• write down your alphabet on a cardboard and decorate it in your country theme (I'm not sure if your partner wants to hang it on her wall, but who knows?:))
• take out a small journal or any kind of notebooks or a handmade booklet and fill it according to these prompts:
• 1: Write down your national anthem (DON'T translate it into English!) If it is too long, the first some verses are enough.
• 2: Write down a quote which is about your language or relates to it someway (translate it into English!)
• 3: Present your language by writing some facts: how many people speak it worldwide? which countries have it as on official language? to which family of languages does it belong? how many dialects does it have? do you speak any dialects? is there any other language which is quite similar to yours or almost the same? when is the annual World-Day of your Language? and any other facts what you think to be interesting.
• 4: Look after the origin and the history of your language and write some sentences about it (a short summary is enough).
• 5: Write some interesting words on your language (and translate them into English): what is your favourite word? what do you think the longest word is? what do you think the shortest word is? (If I have more idea, I'll edit this!)
• 6: Create a mini dictionary with these expressions: Hello, My name is..., I come from..., Nice to meet you., Thank you., You are welcome., I'm sorry., Doesn't matter., Excuse me..., Can you help me?, How much is it?, Goodbye., I love you, Yes, No, numbers 1 - 10, the name of your country (if you want to add any more words it's up to you!)
• 7: Write down a nursery rhyme and translate it into English (or include someone other's translation)
• 8: Write down a poem - from a national poet - and translate it into English (or include someone other's translation).
• 9: Write a bit about which languages would you like to learn or which are you already know. :)
• 10: make your journal interesting with some colours, ephemera pieces...all what you can imagine.
• send with these some newspaper or magazine pages to your partner
• it would be nice to send some music or other voice record too, but we can send just things what are legal read it here! So if you have a store bought CD or you can record your speaking then you can send this one too, but it is not requirement!
• add any other nice extra stuff - if you want - that presents your language :)
• it is not profile based, so you can start working on your journal now! :)

Rules:

• ONE PERSON WITH EACH LANGUAGE!

• To the native English speakers:

• You can participate in this swap with English, because we can learn interesting facts about it. As I think, just the promt 6 is questionable, so instead the simple expressions you have to present dialects and slang!

• OR if you can speak Esperanto or Latin or other "mort" language, you can join with those (I know, these aren't mother languages, but I don't want to exclude you.)

• OR if your place is taken, but you know other foreign language, you can still join. In this case, please let that language free first for the native speakers, and look back on sign up deadline date to check if that language is free or taken.

Those who want to join with a taught language: after partners are assigned, you can return to your native language if your partner isn't from the same country as you. You just need a foreign language in hand, but the priority is the native speakers'.

If there is a quite big interest for this swap, we can do it with two person/each country. And I will host a second round for those who missed this. (Send a PM to me, if you want to join to the second round.)

Joining requirements: * You must have a rating 4.97 or higher. * You must have five type 3 or ten type 2 (rated!) swaps under your belt. * No recent 1's or 3's from the past month. No unexplained 1's or 3's. * Once you join, please, LIST BELOW YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR LANGUAGE WHAT YOU WILL SHARE. If you miss it, I will drop you from the swap.

If you have any question, send me a PM. Let the comment section free for the countries.

An important note to the end: If you receive a swap with a language you already know, please, won't be disappointed. Just think that is something really belongs to your partner who has given a part from her/his being to you.

"Ahány nyelvet beszélsz, annyiszor vagy ember." "Every language you own gives you another identity." "One is worths as many people as the languages one knows."

LANGUAGES WE ALREADY HAVE: Hungarian, Austrian German, Czech, American English, Africaans, Lithuanian Watching: Spanish, Dutch

(Picture from: juliet.ucoz.com)