Korean Job Discussion Forums

[noelinkorea]

Check this http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~golder/dialect/maps.php for a pretty wicked display of language variation across the US...quite interesting. Interesting since many a Korean employer wants to employ an American-sounding teacher, but this kind of survey points out just how varied the speech of Americans is (I always point out such difference like within Korea, between the provinces...).

[Pyongshin Sangja]

The day I say "crick" is the day I sleep with my sister.

[Alyallen]

[marista99]

When they say "American sounding" they mean the English they usually hear on TV and in movies. Think about the TV show "Friends"; I'm pretty sure none of them have regional accents. They want the generic English dialect where most Americans would hear you and say you don't have any accent at all.

[PEIGUY]

canada does have regional accents, i've found that in my travels acrosst he coutnry that words like Quad (four wheeler) and other words i can't think of, people from Ontario tend to drag out certain letters like "a" so it sounds like Daaad or whatever, perhaps the most unique accent in all of Canada has to be the Newfie accent! it's one of the best and prob one of the most unique accents that one can pick out where your from immediatly.. espec when it's real thick..

btw i say crick all the time but i don't sleep wiht my sister

[Leslie Cheswyck]

What do you call a drive-through liquor store?

Leslie's answer: Trouble.

[HardyandTiny]

Interesting study. Now how can we get more Americans to accept the various accents and concentrate on what people are saying rather than how they are saying it?
One of the most annoying aspects of moving outside of New York in the USA was trying my best to explain something very important to someone from Ohio (for example) and end up getting a response such as; "you say "pauz" and not "poz"? Well yes! But did you understand what I said you rude piece of ....!
I also found it odd how often whites from Midwest USA would question my "not-media-standard" accent but never dare question a black New Yorker's inner city accent.
Other English speaking nations seem to be more tolerant of each other's regional accents and find it easier to understand one another.
The British, for example, seem far better at understanding each other's regional accents than the Americans do with their counterparts, and are less likely to waste time with the details and better at getting the gist and moving on.
I also find the British, especially the Scottish seem to understand me, an American, much easier than I them.

[HardyandTiny]

[posco's trumpet]

[HardyandTiny]

[HardyandTiny]

Maybe I missed it but I don't see "Vase".
Do you vaz with the "a" like an "o" in Clinton, or vaze with the "a" like in make?
Are you a maniac that pronounces the "s' like an 's' and not a "z"?

[HardyandTiny]

vinegar and oil?

[posco's trumpet]