Job Discussion Forums

[Atlas]

Can anyone shed light on the V and W reversal thing?

Is it like, a western china thing? Am I remiss if I let it pass, or is it culturally imperialistic of me to say " Get them right!!!!"

Who else does it--Russians, Germans? What's the hubbub, bub?

[Newbs]

Atlas, I've taught in both Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and students there have the same problem. There's no /v/ phoneme in Chinese, but everyone who has an MA in Linguistics can correct me if I wrong.

I don't think it's culturally imperialistic to try to get the students to pronounce it. In theory, we teach English to students so they can communicate in that lanuage. That does not imply that one particular English, say standard southern English, is right and the rest are wrong. But, I believe that the more we get our students to sound like native speakers, the better the chances are of them communicating with such speakers when they meet them and are on their turf. A native speaker who has little experience with non-native speakers will be more tolerant, and be more prepared to understand, someone who sounds like them. Thus, our students, who have practiced their pronunciation, and have an accent not to dissimilar to the native speaker's, will find it easier to communicate with said native speaker. Hope I've made this clear.

Of course, every native speaker has an accent. I am aware that I am teaching my students English with my particular accent, just as the teacher at the next school over is teaching English with a different accent. That's fine.

[Atlas]

Thanks Newbs, for your clear information. So now the question is, do any native English speakers reverse the V and W? I know it sounds like a silly question, but you know what they say about assuming things. I mean one could argue that the German language has an influence....

PS LOL ur signature!

[Tamil_Tiger]

I never noticed a Chinese problem with W, but there is always one with V. The reversal you speak of is an interesting phenomenon. Maybe it is particular to western China.

[randerso]

Just to let you know, other than those native speakers influenced by Eastern European languages (German being one of them), there generally isn't the problem of /w/ /v/ in English. Many language groups that learn English have a problem with the /v/ sound. You might like to try some tongue twisters or some minimal pair work to straighten out the reversal thing.

I find that the Chinese are capable of making the /v/ sound. Remembering to use it in words like very or vet is a different story. They have probably been taught the pronunciation by a Chinese English teacher (not a slur on the fine Chinese teachers out there!) or have read the word independently and guessed at pronunciation. I think it is very OK to correct them. Not only do Chinese students seem to like the direct correction approach, but it is our job. Don't harp on it, but one lesson of pronunciation and then steady correction may help them. But the error is pretty entrenched, so don't think you can solve it for everyone!

Some V/W tongue twisters:

(V)
We're going to visit the virgins in the village and drink vodka!!!
(V vs W)
Very well, very well, very well.
I want to go to Vietnam for winter vacation.
I wish I could be a vampire from Vermont.
With velvet veils I washed my velour windows.
This veal is very Western.
There are no white vegetarians in western Venezuela.
The Victorian wicker furniture is in the vicinity of the water fountain.
Velma, the violent villain is waiting and watching vigilantly.

Rheanne
Xi'an, China
Dec 23, 2004