Happy birthday to me, I know Mandarin now

[xp_catseye]

I turned 21 and my brain power instantly increased. Today's 官话 exercises were trivial. "See Spot Run" trivial. There's a joke here about neural development, but from what I understand development moves forward from the amygdala. A fully formed prefrontal cortex is more likely to support pragmatic language processing, not accelerate acquisition.

Interesting.

I guess I'll move on to 吴语.

Comments

[xp_skin]

Were you.. trying to learn Mandarin?

[xp_catseye]

Doesn't everyone? It has 1.1 billion speakers. It seemed like a good idea.

I was having more difficulty with it than Romance languages until this morning.

[xp_cannonball]

Happy birthday Sharon! I'll drop some bacon by your suite later!

[xp_catseye]

Thank you. Finally someone with manners.

[xp_cannonball]

oh also! If you can drink alcohol I can make you your first drink, free of charge :)

[xp_catseye]

I've tried both regular and sparkling wine (under supervision). Unfortunately too much of either makes me vomit. I don't feel the need to test a higher proof. I'm very delicate.

You could always make drinks for others in the appropriate age range while I observe the results, though. This is often very entertaining.

[xp_cannonball]

Just let me know when works for you. Happy to come celebrate your birthday!

[xp_darcy]

Sweetness, I didn't know it was your birthday! I'll have to figure out an appropriate gift, although it'll be late.

[xp_catseye]

You are all forgiven. I've never had anyone to remind before.

[xp_darcy]

Well, now it's in my calendar, so I shouldn't forget next year.

That said, maybe I could treat you to some sushi?

[xp_catseye]

This is very acceptable.

[xp_darcy]

Thought it might be. We can bring back a little bit of sashimi for the kittens, because everyone deserves a bit of birthday cake. Or birthday fish.

[xp_lusized]

Happy Birthday!

You are learning Mandarian and Wu Chinese? At the same time?

[xp_catseye]

My mother got me started on Latin so I'd stop asking her about medical terms all the time and I dabbled in some Neo-Latin languages, at least enough to read some. I wanted to try Sinitic language to see how it compared. I was only planning on trying Mandarin, but I guess it's time to branch out.

(I was homeschooled. You have a lot of time on your hands.)

[xp_echo]

Happy Birthday. We can go hunting later if you like

[xp_catseye]

Yes. Hunting would be very pleasing to me. Although after sushi would probably be best.

[xp_echo]

That seems wise. Harder to catch prey with claws full of sticky rice.

[xp_shatterstar]

Happy birthday Cats

[xp_catseye]

Thank you, Shatterstar.

If you want, I can buy you beer now.

[xp_liono]

happy birthday

[xp_catseye]

Thank you, Kitten.

You may tell your mother the landscape she sent is lovely.

[xp_liono]

you tell her, you like texting her so much

she's all "Why don't you text me as promptly as Sharon?" you're like, her golden child and I'm chopped liver

[xp_catseye]

Obviously. I'm the daughter she literally never had.

Just for that I'm not buying you beer.

[xp_liono]

you're not old enough to buy me beer

[xp_catseye]

What birthday do you think I just had? It's in the post you're responding to.

[xp_liono]

you're 20

[xp_catseye]

And you're wrong. As usual.

[xp_liono]

wait, you're seriously 21?

but you act like you're maybe 12

[xp_catseye]

As they say, it takes one to know one.

[xp_liono]

yeah, but I'm 16. I'm supposed to be immature still

[xp_catseye]

Exactly.

Kittens don't get alcohol.

[xp_liono]

unlike Machias, there's more to do here