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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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 Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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A situation of great affinity, no doubt.
Justin |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 8:45 am Post subject: |
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Justin
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| Interesting historical trivia- Henry Kissinger used to take "accent maintaining" classes to help keep his foreign accent after all the years in the US. Affinity? |
Well there's a downer for us as teachers. His accent makes Arnie sound like a native born Californian.
Cetainly some people are born naturals. I was never good at mimicking accent.
My unsupported hypothesis is that people who grow up in an English free environment will have less of an accent problem then those who grow up where English is a "primary" language.
besides a few pronunciation problems, the Chinese accent causes very few problems in communicating |
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natsume
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 409
Location: Chongqing, China
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 12:23 am Post subject: |
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On a related note, here in Japan, I sometimes wonder if Japanese people are as irritated as I am when they hear a foreigner not only speaking perfect Japanese, but almost "becoming" Japanese when they speak. I know a few people whose Japanese is quite good, but who still sound, to me, somewhat similar to the way they sound when speaking English. Then there are those who seem to become different people when they speak Japanese. Their pitch changes, they use comical aizuchi, they become the tarento from morning TV shows, and seem very fabricated.
As a second (third, fourth?) language learner, I am content to keep my accent, and my American-ness, as long as I am being understood. |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:18 am Post subject: |
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Natsume
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| Then there are those who seem to become different people when they speak Japanese. Their pitch changes, they use comical aizuchi, they become the tarento from morning TV shows, and seem very fabricated |
.
here in China there is a very famous Canadian ... famous only in China, mostly for his ability to "cross talk", humour with double meaning kind of thing. National star or joke depending on who you ask. But actually, I think his accent sucks (though infinitely better then mine) |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Would that be Da Shan or Da Niu? |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| natsume wrote: |
On a related note, here in Japan, I sometimes wonder if Japanese people are as irritated as I am when they hear a foreigner not only speaking perfect Japanese, but almost "becoming" Japanese when they speak.
As a second (third, fourth?) language learner, I am content to keep my accent, and my American-ness, as long as I am being understood. |
Here in Mexico, when I come across a foreigner who speaks Spanish like a native I am filled with admiration and envy, not irritation! |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. I have a British friend whose Czech is very near-native, meaning that he can speak for half-an-hour or more without their realizing he's not a native speaker.
I'm wildly impressed, and don't feel that he's being an actor at all. He's legitimately earned his Czech identity, as his second language and country. |
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Manaus
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Orlando, FL
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Berlitz has a "pronunciation" book that I teach sometimes. It is neither fun to teach or learn, but it is interesting.
I think it's funnyhow some people never lose their accents. I have a friend who has been living in Brazil for over 45 years - since she was 18. She speaks bascially native Portuguese (even has a regional accent), yet she still speaks English with a very strong southern accent - she's from North Carolina. The last time she was in the U.S. was in 1996. |
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wulfrun
Joined: 12 May 2008
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:42 am Post subject: |
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| soapdodger wrote: |
| They never, ever want to imitate regional dialect, if it is UK English they want, then it must be a la Prince Charles....high nigh brine kiy. |
in china, the preference is for a US accent, which is class-neutral to some extent |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 1:07 am Post subject: |
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Dear wulfrun,
"the preference is for a US accent, which is class-neutral to some extent."
That's because here in the USA. we ain't got no class.
Regards,
John |
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wulfrun
Joined: 12 May 2008
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 2:07 am Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear wulfrun,
"the preference is for a US accent, which is class-neutral to some extent."
That's because here in the USA. we ain't got no class.
Regards,
John |
ha ha |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
the preference is for a US accent, which is class-neutral to some extent."
That's because here in the USA. we ain't got no class.
Regards,
John |
As a good friend of mine would say, "Hey! I resemble that remark!"
I was thinking of Da Shan, very popular McLaowai when I first came to China, though I haven't watched TV in two years now  |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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| As a good friend of mine would say, "Hey! I resemble that remark!" |
I represent that!
(But seriously, while class distinctions in the US are different, and perhaps less rigid or obvious, than in the UK, there's still a lot to be said about speech patterns, sounds, and accents; they really do affect how one's class, education level, and social position is perceived.)
Best,
Justin |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| "Accent reduction" ? Is that the PC form of elocution lessons ? |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear wulfrun,
"the preference is for a US accent, which is class-neutral to some extent."
That's because here in the USA. we ain't got no class.
Regards,
John |
Not true. In 4th grade in my school in Levittown, PA, I was always at the head of my class! |
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