What Do You Do, If......
By jaishankar
@Shivram59 (47514)
India
February 24, 2026 11:26am CST
There are some users in mylot who are not native English speakers. Their knowledge of English is not perfect. They fail to understand what a particular user who is a native English speaker wants to convey through their post..
My question to you is, what do you do when you don't understand a post, and want to respond to it??
10 people like this
10 responses
@DaddyEvil (168801)
• United States
24 Feb
If it makes no sense to me, I skip the discussion. Sometimes GAA will delete discussions that don't make sense.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (168801)
• United States
25 Feb
@Shivram59 You're welcome. I'd skip the discussion if I didn't understand it. *shrug*
3 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
Thank you. My question is, what do you do if you are s non native English speaker and you fail to understand a post sent by a native English speaker. I try to understand the discussion by referring to online and offline dictionaries and reading the responses by other users.
3 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
23h
@DaddyEvil I first try to understand it, but if fail to understand it, I move to other posts.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (18776)
•
25 Feb
I understand every post.
So it's not a problem I have had on here for many many years
4 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
Thank you. You understand every post, because you are a native English speaker. I understa NJN d most of the posts, too, but sometimes I fail to make out what the user wants to convey.
3 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
@Ineeddentures Ok, but I think the posts are clear and it is me who is doesn't understand it because of my poor knowledge of English.
Still I'll ask them to clear what they want to say.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (113599)
• United States
24 Feb
You can ask for a clearer explanation (hopefully they are understanding enough to go into detail) or maybe look up something if they are referencing a certain thing, but I don’t know what I’d do otherwise. It’s very tricky.
And personally, I’m a native English speaker, and sometimes I don’t even understand a post. On occasion, I just have to skip it.
3 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
24 Feb
Thank you. I skip a post too,if I fail to understand it even after referring to the dictionary. Also, I try to get a clue from other responses to the post. It is better not to respond to a post if you have not understood it clearly.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (73805)
• Philippines
24 Feb
When it's difficult for me to fathom, I just skip. Especially those posts I couldn't relate to.
4 people like this
@toniganzon (73805)
• Philippines
25 Feb
@Shivram59 I have no problem with comprehension. It's the topic that I'm not really into.
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
23h
@toniganzon But it is the topic that attracts us first to reading a post.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
Thank you. I, for one, keep trying to understand the post Besides referring to online and offline dictionary, I see the responses as well. It helps me a lot
2 people like this
@rakski (149450)
• Philippines
25 Feb
@Shivram59
I have been busy with a lot of stuff and medical issues in the family
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
Welcome back. Where were you for such a long time??
You are right. That's what I don't understand. I'm not familiar with those phrases,quotes etc. I take the help of a dictionary to understand them.
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
@rakski I'm so sorry to know that. How are all in your family now?? Are they well?? I hope, they are. I pray for you and your family.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (78061)
• Germany
25 Feb
I am not a native English speaker but I learned and speak English since I was in kindergarten in the Philippines. My everyday language is German.
As to your question, I would let it translate through language translator as I always do when I am learning Italian language. Of course I want to respond to it if I have something to say.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (78061)
• Germany
17h
@Shivram59 That’s right. I am not a tech person and so I can’t reply to something technical.
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
15h
@thelme55 Sam se with me. I've been a big zero in tech matters.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
23h
That's what matters. If you don't or can't say , anything about a topic, you better skip the post. I have no idea about technology and therefore I can't respond to any post about technological problems.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (83179)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Feb
I haven't had that problem so far. While it's true English is required on here, most of the time, I'll just skip the post. Plain and simple.
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
24 Feb
Thank you.In such circumstances I take the help of a dictionary and try to understand it. If this doesn't help I read other responses to understand the post. Sometimes I understand it, and sometimes I don't. If I fail to understand it, I skip it and move to other posts
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
Than you. Thatstalmost the same what I do. I dontyskip it unless and until I give in and fail to understand it.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23540)
• Australia
8h
At least the accent is not a problem here, lol.
If I do not understand a post fully, I just reply to the best of my understanding, and leave it up to the originator to put me right if I was wrong.
@Shivram59 (47514)
• India
25 Feb
Thank you. I, for one, refer to dictionary both offline and online and try to make out what the user wants to say. It tAkes some time, but I learn much in the process.
1 person likes this
