"I not understand you"

[Son of Clyde]

When did your wife stop saying "I don't understand"?

I can tell my wife's English has improved immensly because I have not heard these words in months. Even though she rarely asks me for help with her English, it seems she has learned much from my family, my friends and from me.

She has been reading her English study books every night and it shows in her comprehension of everyday conversations. I can only imagine how much her English will improve by this time next year.

[rose]

It seems that your wife isn't one of those "lazy" gals ....

[Voyageur]

SOC, in my experience with a particular RW woman , the sometimes seemingly innocuous expression "I don't understand you" can have a more serious meaning. 

In my case, this means get ready to rumble :?.  And this is because you are doing something that she does not agree with or is not consistant with the opinion of the "neck" of the family .

[Son of Clyde]

Rose, she is a very hard working woman.

 

Voyageur, sometimes she says this when she is angry but in the beginning she really did not understand me. The English lessons and her studying paid off. Now she will say "What are you talking about?"

[Maxx]

Mine used to say "It not like me" meaning "I don't like it". Also she said "You say me" meaning "You said to me". Usually that one meant I had some explaining to do about somethng she preceived as inconsistant in my words or actions or something I promised her that she hadn't gotten yet.

Maxx 

[Ste]

Works the other way too - I thought I was saying 'come with me' in Russian but I said the russian equivilent of 'go fück yourself'. I can't remember the phrase now, poshli menya (without 'na hoiy'!) I think.......

Ste

PS swear filter removed my 'fück'!!

[rose]

Very often girls don't use the phrase "I don't understand you" just because they don't want to be embarrassed in their lack of English. I still don't feel ashamed to say it, because I believe that it is essential to understand the other person, because otherwise it can lead to misunderstanding. Also I love to use this phrase at school when I want to slow down the professor.