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52 [fifty-two]

In the department store

52 [fifty-two]	In the department store

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Who understands whom?

There are about 7 billion people in the world. They all have a language. Unfortunately, it's not always the same. So in order to speak with other nations, we must learn languages. That is often very arduous. But there are languages that are very similar. Their speakers understand one another, without mastering the other language. This phenomenon is called mutual intelligibility . Whereby two variants are distinguished. The first variant is oral mutual intelligibility . Here, the speakers understand each other when they talk. They do not understand the written form of the other language, however. This is because the languages have different written forms. Examples of this are the languages Hindi and Urdu. Written mutual intelligibility is the second variant. In this case, the other language is understood in its written form. But the speakers do not understand each other when they speak to each other. The reason for this is that they have very different pronunciation. German and Dutch are examples of this. The most closely related languages contain both variants. Meaning they are mutually intelligible both orally and in written form. Russian and Ukrainian or Thai and Laotian are examples. But there is also an asymmetrical form of mutual intelligibility. That is the case when speakers have different levels of understanding each other. Portuguese understand Spanish better than the Spanish understand Portuguese. Austrians also understand Germans better than the other way around. In these examples, pronunciation or dialect is a hindrance. He who really wants to have good conversations must learn something new…

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Shall we go to the department store?	S_a_l w_ g_ t_ t_e d_p_r_m_n_ s_o_e_ Shall we go to the department store? S____ w_ g_ t_ t__ d_________ s_____ Shall we go to the department store? _____ __ __ __ ___ __________ ______ Shall we go to the department store?
I have to go shopping.	I h_v_ t_ g_ s_o_p_n_. I have to go shopping. I h___ t_ g_ s________ I have to go shopping. _ ____ __ __ _________ I have to go shopping.
I want to do a lot of shopping.	I w_n_ t_ d_ a l_t o_ s_o_p_n_. I want to do a lot of shopping. I w___ t_ d_ a l__ o_ s________ I want to do a lot of shopping. _ ____ __ __ _ ___ __ _________ I want to do a lot of shopping.

Where are the office supplies?	W_e_e a_e t_e o_f_c_ s_p_l_e_? Where are the office supplies? W____ a__ t__ o_____ s________ Where are the office supplies? _____ ___ ___ ______ _________ Where are the office supplies?
I need envelopes and stationery.	I n_e_ e_v_l_p_s a_d s_a_i_n_r_. I need envelopes and stationery. I n___ e________ a__ s__________ I need envelopes and stationery. _ ____ _________ ___ ___________ I need envelopes and stationery.
I need pens and markers.	I n_e_ p_n_ a_d m_r_e_s_ I need pens and markers. I n___ p___ a__ m_______ I need pens and markers. _ ____ ____ ___ ________ I need pens and markers.

Where is the furniture?	W_e_e i_ t_e f_r_i_u_e_ Where is the furniture? W____ i_ t__ f_________ Where is the furniture? _____ __ ___ __________ Where is the furniture?
I need a cupboard and a chest of drawers.	I n_e_ a c_p_o_r_ a_d a c_e_t o_ d_a_e_s_ I need a cupboard and a chest of drawers. I n___ a c_______ a__ a c____ o_ d_______ I need a cupboard and a chest of drawers. _ ____ _ ________ ___ _ _____ __ ________ I need a cupboard and a chest of drawers.
I need a desk and a bookshelf.	I n_e_ a d_s_ a_d a b_o_s_e_f_ I need a desk and a bookshelf. I n___ a d___ a__ a b_________ I need a desk and a bookshelf. _ ____ _ ____ ___ _ __________ I need a desk and a bookshelf.

Where are the toys?	W_e_e a_e t_e t_y_? Where are the toys? W____ a__ t__ t____ Where are the toys? _____ ___ ___ _____ Where are the toys?
I need a doll and a teddy bear.	I n_e_ a d_l_ a_d a t_d_y b_a_. I need a doll and a teddy bear. I n___ a d___ a__ a t____ b____ I need a doll and a teddy bear. _ ____ _ ____ ___ _ _____ _____ I need a doll and a teddy bear.
I need a football and a chess board.	I n_e_ a f_o_b_l_ a_d a c_e_s b_a_d_ I need a football and a chess board. I n___ a f_______ a__ a c____ b_____ I need a football and a chess board. _ ____ _ ________ ___ _ _____ ______ I need a football and a chess board.

Where are the tools?	W_e_e a_e t_e t_o_s_ Where are the tools? W____ a__ t__ t_____ Where are the tools? _____ ___ ___ ______ Where are the tools?
I need a hammer and a pair of pliers.	I n_e_ a h_m_e_ a_d a p_i_ o_ p_i_r_. I need a hammer and a pair of pliers. I n___ a h_____ a__ a p___ o_ p______ I need a hammer and a pair of pliers. _ ____ _ ______ ___ _ ____ __ _______ I need a hammer and a pair of pliers.
I need a drill and a screwdriver.	I n_e_ a d_i_l a_d a s_r_w_r_v_r_ I need a drill and a screwdriver. I n___ a d____ a__ a s___________ I need a drill and a screwdriver. _ ____ _ _____ ___ _ ____________ I need a drill and a screwdriver.

Where is the jewellery / jewelry (am.) department?	W_e_e i_ t_e j_w_l_e_y / j_w_l_y (_m_) d_p_r_m_n_? Where is the jewellery / jewelry (am.) department? W____ i_ t__ j________ / j______ (____ d__________ Where is the jewellery / jewelry (am.) department? _____ __ ___ _________ _ _______ _____ ___________ Where is the jewellery / jewelry (am.) department?
I need a chain and a bracelet.	I n_e_ a c_a_n a_d a b_a_e_e_. I need a chain and a bracelet. I n___ a c____ a__ a b________ I need a chain and a bracelet. _ ____ _ _____ ___ _ _________ I need a chain and a bracelet.
I need a ring and earrings.	I n_e_ a r_n_ a_d e_r_i_g_. I need a ring and earrings. I n___ a r___ a__ e________ I need a ring and earrings. _ ____ _ ____ ___ _________ I need a ring and earrings.

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