Since other people were naming their favorite languages, I though I might sound out people,s opinion,s on the sound of the English language. I once heard it described as ‘‘stiff as a board’‘. This may or may not be an apt description. I don,t know. What does everyone think? I,m anxious to get as many opinions as possible.
Sorry Katy. I am American, born and bred. Only left the country to go to Canada for a week. Sorry if i offended you, or any one else, I can be a tad blunt with my opinions of America, especially on topics where the eadministrationa and i diverge on opinions. I’m thankful that i can be, though. I don’t know if you can hear the "sound" of a language you’re fluent in, or you native language, because the phonemes are processed directly into meanings, and not into auditory implulses…? Well, whenever I hear a dialect of english from new york or New Jersey, it feel s "home-y" because its how I grew up hearing people…I find American english, to be a little "nicer sounding" to my ears. Some british accents come acrosss a little strong, unless they’re light or London based. Australian, New zealand and african english all sound good to me. I like accented english a lot too…idk why…
I wish I had the time etc. to cultivate a Midlandish to Geordie accent for my English. Those seem to come easier to Swedes than Kentish.
I suppose I could make a fair imitation of USAian sounds when speaking to a US person, but I couldn’t identify and probably couldn’t imitate for example South African or Aussie accents.
[quote author=J_22_M link=board=translate;num=1121851929;start=0#3 date=07/20/05 at 11:02:49]I don’t know if you can hear the "sound" of a language you’re fluent in, or you native language, because the phonemes are processed directly into meanings, and not into auditory implulses…? Well, whenever I hear a dialect of english from new york or New Jersey, it feel s "home-y" because its how I grew up hearing people…I find American english, to be a little "nicer sounding" to my ears.
All that makes sense to me.
[quote author=J_22_M link=board=translate;num=1121851929;start=0#3 date=07/20/05 at 11:02:49]Some british accents come acrosss a little strong, unless they’re light or London based. Australian, New zealand and african english all sound good to me.
That last part sounds conflicted… Australian and New Zealand English accents are very strong. Just my opinion.
I agree with J, as regards ‘hearing’ the accent.
I like all accents… They reveal the diversity and liveliness of the language.
Idk, I find British distinctly "harder" than New Zealand or Australia accents… No one else probaly does, though. Its a small distinction, the same as between two shades of blue…
Are you and J trying to force all American members of the Agora, to quit in disgust?
Look what I said:
A lot of people here think that English, especially American English, is too nasal. Also the English R is amusing to some people.
I didn’t say ME. English is so much in me that I don’t know what I think about it anymore. Criticizing or praising it would be like criticizing or praising me.
I like english Rs…they’re easy. Your tongue doesn’t have to trill or rolll or…anything. I do find Russian rs easier than spanish or french… Someone once told me that to them english and dutch have almost the same accent, so that it sounds like english, but you can’t understand the words. Yeah…and she spoke russian…just fyi
J
Katy, don’t let the other nations think we’re senstitive…haha, i’m just kidding. Just wanted to say it…
Two things I know about English of Chinese-speaking Singaporean population are that they clip every vowel and all codal consonants and that tones always sneek into their notorious Singlish.
Several days ago, I was thoroughly impressed with a speech that a Singaporean trainer delivered, except for the way she divided participants into "panashis" so we can try out a group game she designed to help us learn the importance of self- "maahstariiiiy" (first syllable in rising, middle high-flat and the third acute descending tones).
