I'd say it really depends on what you want to accomplish.
Do you want to get along in Iceland without too much of a hassle? Speak English (or switch to English once the conversation strays from the "script").
Do you want to learn Icelandic? Then by all means, stick with Icelandic. Don't care about whether you'll sound silly, don't care what people will think, just go ahead and use it. If you can't say something (yet), think of another way. If you're not sure whether something's correct, say it anyway and ask if it was. If you don't know a word, ask for it (in Icelandic).
You don't learn how to swim by staying in the wading pool. :)
The answer to "“Fyrirgefðu, talarðu ensku?” will almost invariably be affirmative. Though the one time I've been asked that question I answered in Icelandic.
I speak Icelandic when addressed in that language, and English when addressed in that language.
Thank you for the kind offer. I´ll have to see how our plans come together. My wife does not yet speak a lick of Icelandic and I wouldn't want to bore her for an hour while I indulged myself. Do you have any good Icelandic forums you could suggest?
Icelanders are so nice, just go for it. Would you ever be offended if someone spoke to you in not-so-good English? Heck no! You'd be pleased to help them out any way you could.
Besides, Icelandic is so strange that whenever I say something wrong, it seems to turn out to mean something dirty or toilet related, which everyone seems to find hilarious. Icelanders generally seem to like a good joke.
Thanks for the encouragement! That´s one of those ever-present fears...that you´ll mean to ask for a fork, but really be asking for - well, something a little more colorful!
Definitely do not be afraid. I said something to my fiance the other day and it came out to be something like, "I am farting." He laughed for two days. What could be a better way to make new friends? If I could remember the word, I would warn you about it, but it escapes me.
Do you know of any good blogs or forums in Icelandic? I am trying to both get a read on colloquial Icelandic and maybe get a chance to try communicating a little bit in it before I go.
BTW.. I think that Ég er að prumpa means 'I am farting' I was intrigued and had to look it up. Does that seem like what you said by accident?
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Do you want to get along in Iceland without too much of a hassle? Speak English (or switch to English once the conversation strays from the "script").
Do you want to learn Icelandic? Then by all means, stick with Icelandic. Don't care about whether you'll sound silly, don't care what people will think, just go ahead and use it. If you can't say something (yet), think of another way. If you're not sure whether something's correct, say it anyway and ask if it was. If you don't know a word, ask for it (in Icelandic).
You don't learn how to swim by staying in the wading pool. :)
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That certainly makes a lot of sense.
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I speak Icelandic when addressed in that language, and English when addressed in that language.
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Besides, Icelandic is so strange that whenever I say something wrong, it seems to turn out to mean something dirty or toilet related, which everyone seems to find hilarious. Icelanders generally seem to like a good joke.
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BTW.. I think that Ég er að prumpa means 'I am farting' I was intrigued and had to look it up. Does that seem like what you said by accident?
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