Korean Job Discussion Forums

bnrockin · Joined: 27 Feb 2006

I caught myself doing this a few times because I started hanging out with a new group of Korean friends. It usually happens when I am typing or something.

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

I find myself hesitating a lot when I speak to some of my Korean friends, because I am trying to choose words that I know they will understand.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

i do. it's embarrassing, but i'm not in contact with many native speakers. i only really do it around my boyfriend.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

yeah, I caught myself doing it sometimes. I know i do it around Koreans with low English levels. However, I have caught myself slipping up in conversations with foreigners. It's not just me either, because I hear them do it too. Which is kind of funny because not everyone catches themselves doing it.

However, it most cases it's rare, so i don't think it has developed into a problem.

vox · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Location: Jeollabukdo

yeah, I think the interlocutor effect is the term for it. And boy is it embarassing to catch oneself doing it.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Yeah, that's why it's good to talk with my mum and chat online - cos then I have to force myself to speak in proper English....... not broken English or baby talk, which is what I do with Letty. Though now that she is older, we are doing away with some of the baby talk!

willneverteachagain · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

ummm no

unless ur broken

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

pdx · Joined: 19 Jan 2007

Yes. It's usually around anyone I assume is not going to know English very well. Which.. can cause some problems.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

That's a great article.

I've noticed when foreigners start speaking that way to Koreans, they put on kind of an accent. One of my friends puts on an Italian accent when he speaks to Koreans, and this other girl I used to know sounded Caribbean.

canuckistan · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:16 pm Post subject:

I've noticed I carry some of the ESL "teacher talk" into my down time.
I have to make a conscious effort sometimes to knock it off.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

Yes, your trying to simplify communication enough to accomplish what it is your doing. Often, nothing is simple enough as few really know much English. I was suprised at first to know about all these English schools and only about roughly 1 out of a 100 knew a lick of English. Voice inflection, emotion, and body language often help though to communicate.

Good topic, I thought at first I was the only one doing this and felt insecurity that I might be getting dumber from living in depressing isolation in a strange land. A few weeks ago though, I realized, I was actually creatively using my brain in attempt to communicate successfully rather than suffuring devolving intellegence quotient. Funny thing.