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King Gizzard · 06-09-2011, 12:30 AM

Why, when learning a new language (be it school or just a hobby whatever) do we take up the accent as well as the language, whereas when foreign people learn english they usually have still use their french/spanish/german whatever accent?

(i'm not being racist or whatever the term i've just always wondered)

Mystic Mock · 06-09-2011, 12:32 AM

I find its a better way of learning the language by speaking in there accent.

Kerry · 06-09-2011, 12:48 AM

When I learnt French I was told by a French speaking teacher I had a very "English French" accent

King Gizzard · 06-09-2011, 12:52 AM

I'm sure German or French teachers in their respective countries don't put on a dodgey English cockney lol

Niamh. · 06-09-2011, 09:34 AM

Putting on the accent helps you to pronounce the words properly. I doubt you actually sound French or Spanish or whatever to the natives

They're probably told the same thing, alot of times you can tell if a person has learned English in America because some of the words have an American twang.

Livia · 06-09-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

I'm sure German or French teachers in their respective countries don't put on a dodgey English cockney lol

Dodgey? Dodgey?? Cheeky bugger Nathan!

It's easier for people to understand what you're saying in a foreign language if you use the correct pronunciation which includes putting the intonation in place. A Scottish friend of mine speaks French beautifully, and I'm told that the Scottish accent lends itself very nicely to speaking French because the intonation is similar.

Ammi · 06-09-2011, 09:59 AM

How do we know we're taking on an accent if we're just learning the language. We don't know how we sound to the natives of that country. We may try to put the inflections thinking we sound so authentic and fluent and sound comical to them

Pyramid* · 06-09-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

When I learnt French I was told by a French speaking teacher I had a very "English French" accent

we had a German Uni grad over, I speak a bit .... and she was in hysterics at my German with a Scottish accent!!!

but you feel like a muppet putting on the 'accent' when you're speaking another language - well I do anyway!

Pyramid* · 06-09-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Putting on the accent helps you to pronounce the words properly. I doubt you actually sound French or Spanish or whatever to the natives

They're probably told the same thing, alot of times you can tell if a person has learned English in America because some of the words have an American twang.

so very true!!

Benjamin · 06-09-2011, 10:36 AM

You know that we still sound English right? We sound nothing like how the natives of that country sound most of the time, we just think we do.

Pyramid* · 06-09-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin.

You know that we still sound English right? We sound nothing like how the natives of that country sound most of the time, we just think we do.

I don't.

Benjamin · 06-09-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I don't.

Sorry, British.

Ammi · 06-09-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin.

You know that we still sound English right? We sound nothing like how the natives of that country sound most of the time, we just think we do.

I know, but we feel oh so clever thinking we do, lol
I love how other countries have us all as either 'jolly old chaps' accent or 'me old apples and stairs' cockneys.
As long as we're all amazing at accents in our own minds, that's ok right? lol

Pyramid* · 06-09-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin.

Sorry, British.

I know... !! I was being a devil - as you know too !!!

I'd actually love to have the clipped British accent or a lovely Scottish Island lilt, instead of the broad Scots one I have speaking in English.... never mind German or French (or Arabic for that matter!!).