Rosetta Stone is the leading language-learning software in the world. To see how good the linguists behind it really are, I emailed them in a foreign language that was even foreign to me. That’s because I made it up…

<Subject Line>: Learninguez de la Sprechen

Ola Ms. Rosetta Stone:

Buena sa dez, allo gusta, allo geesta, allo gasta, de la Lucha libre en Julio Englaise.

Eh Rosetta don que un DVD translationality du purchaserio por qué moi?

Mucho appreciado fromma mon entrada.

Support at Rosetta Stone responded with:

Thank you for your inquiry <My FirstName>.

Please send your address and we will be happy to send out a demonstration disc to you.

I responded to their response with:

Ola Rosetta~

Maily moi demon stration discotech tu vu…………

Tanks,
“Me”
<Mailing Address>

Final Thoughts: It was very exciting to receive Rosetta Stone’s response. Someone there apparently understood what I wrote, which is terrific because I didn’t. I couldn’t wait to see what language the demonstration disc they offered to send would be.

Unfortunately, after replying back with contact information something got lost in the translation. Whoever received the second email must not have been fluent in my non-native tongue because I never got the disc.

Learning a second language can be fun. I actually practice mine on wrong numbers and telemarketers. But based on this experience with Rosetta Stone, perhaps the language is best suited for phones rather than emails, even though one of its best advantages is that spell check is never required. I wonder if Rosetta Stone might be interested in marketing a telephone language called Phone-etics.

If you’d like to learn Phone-etics, I’m available for tutoring sessions. However, if you’re interested in learning a language lots of other people already speak or at least understand, talk to Rosetta Stone. Finally, when you communicate with a service provider or manufacturer, make sure you’re being clear with what you’re trying to say if you Write The Company.

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