willemvanoranje
Curitibano
Yeah, it's like that for most of us.. we get taught by TV first! My accent changed from 100% American/Dutch to the big mix after watching more English programs and getting to know some Aussies!
Which of those nations do you expect to win a WC Title during your lifetime ?
- Thread starter Marla_Singer
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SonicX
Emperor
As long as you get rid of that awful Dutch accent in your English, you'll be fine.
Rhye
's and Fall creator
It was different for me instead.
Italian are taught an horrible mix of US and British English (often British words with American accent), with an italian intonation.
After following some advanced English lessons with a teacher from Manchester, I realized this, and I learned to distinguish accents.
Now that I can do this, I can tell which accents are pleasant to my ears (Northern English, Irish, Cockney) and which accents aren't (Scottish, American (especially Texan)).
So, I started to re-educate myself to pronounce all the words. I watch films (not movies, hehehe) in English when I'm interested in learning that accent (such as In the name of the father = northern Irish; Best = Manchester; Quadrophenia = Phil Daniel's cockney; Michael Collins = Irish), and watch the rest of the films in Italian.
Italian are taught an horrible mix of US and British English (often British words with American accent), with an italian intonation.
After following some advanced English lessons with a teacher from Manchester, I realized this, and I learned to distinguish accents.
Now that I can do this, I can tell which accents are pleasant to my ears (Northern English, Irish, Cockney) and which accents aren't (Scottish, American (especially Texan)).
So, I started to re-educate myself to pronounce all the words. I watch films (not movies, hehehe) in English when I'm interested in learning that accent (such as In the name of the father = northern Irish; Best = Manchester; Quadrophenia = Phil Daniel's cockney; Michael Collins = Irish), and watch the rest of the films in Italian.
Gr3yL3gion
Voice of Madness
Too bad I can't get rid of my chinese accent. People immediately identify me as chinese whenever I speak, bleh.
SonicX
Emperor
Practise ... it is possible, I got rid of my Flemish accent (although I'm usually seen as a Texan because I didn't get of the tonal system I use in my dialect)
Only the length and tone of my sounds are perhaps still too much native-influenced, but the vowels and consonants are "assimilatable" if you try hard enough
Only the length and tone of my sounds are perhaps still too much native-influenced, but the vowels and consonants are "assimilatable" if you try hard enough
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
American accents are really different. My favourite US accent is certainly the one from the Old South. It sings 
, that's beautiful.
, that's beautiful.SonicX
Emperor
That's what I mean, my dialect (Limburgian) is a tonal language and that's why the other Dutch speaker always laugh at us, because we "sing" we speak using various tones and tone lengths.
And that, I can't really get rid off
And that, I can't really get rid off
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
Well, the only difference is that Dutch is the ugliest language ever. No matter how you can speak it, it remains desperately ugly. I understand why Wallons don't want to learn it, only Switzerdeutsch can compete in uglyness with Dutch.SonicX said:That's what I mean, my dialect (Limburgian) is a tonal language and that's why the other Dutch speaker always laugh at us, because we "sing" we speak using various tones and tone lengths.
And that, I can't really get rid off
This being said, Dutch people are pretty cool.
SonicX
Emperor
Why is ugly ? It sounds so very different ... a foreigners who hears a Dutch speaker from Amsterdam, Hasselt and Bruges would probably not even know they're the same language.
Gr3yL3gion
Voice of Madness
I suppose it's funny at times because it's hard for people to identify my ethnicity. I could pass on as two ethnic groups if I want to everytime I want to 
@Sonic X I'll try, if only I get to find a speaker to practice with me. I speak mandarin\chinese dialects most of the time. Any english speakers here also prefer localised English, which can be too broken most of the time...
It'll be cool if I can learn some of my ancestors language, too bad it's practically impossible to find people who can speak dutch or portuguese here
Anyway, aren't we gone too off topic here?
@Sonic X I'll try, if only I get to find a speaker to practice with me. I speak mandarin\chinese dialects most of the time. Any english speakers here also prefer localised English, which can be too broken most of the time...
It'll be cool if I can learn some of my ancestors language, too bad it's practically impossible to find people who can speak dutch or portuguese here
Anyway, aren't we gone too off topic here?
Rhye
's and Fall creator
I agree that Dutch is ugly. As much as French sound is beautiful.
farting bob
ThEy MaDe Me Do iT.
What about german? i wouldnt call it ugly but it is about as anti-sexy as you can get.
MCdread
Couldn't she get drowned?
- Joined
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- 5,348
German is good to be spoken in fury when you wake up, it gives you energy for the rest of the day.
The most barbarous languages of Europe are definitely dutch and spanish.
@Gr3yL3gion:
I heard there's a neighbourhood in Malacca where they still speak a hybrid form of portuguese and a local tongue, coming back from the portuguese ocupation of the city in the XVI century.
The most barbarous languages of Europe are definitely dutch and spanish.
@Gr3yL3gion:
I heard there's a neighbourhood in Malacca where they still speak a hybrid form of portuguese and a local tongue, coming back from the portuguese ocupation of the city in the XVI century.
SonicX
Emperor
Why does everyone find Dutch so ugly ?
The Flemish Dutch is actually a very soft language compared to German or the Slavic languages.
The Flemish Dutch is actually a very soft language compared to German or the Slavic languages.
MCdread
Couldn't she get drowned?
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2001
- Messages
- 5,348
Unfortunately I don't have much experience with flemmish dutch (although I'm a great fan of flemmish bands: dEUS, Zita Swoon, Soulwax, 2 Many DJs, Kiss My Jazz, etc. 
), but the northern version doesn't look very advisable for someone with throat problems. 
), but the northern version doesn't look very advisable for someone with throat problems. 
SonicX
Emperor
View the link I have posted in the "European competitions" thread, that is Flemish Dutch. The big difference probably is the G sound which is way softer in FlemishMCdread said:Unfortunately I don't have much experience with flemmish dutch (although I'm a great fan of flemmish bands: dEUS, Zita Swoon, Soulwax, 2 Many DJs, Kiss My Jazz, etc.
Rhye
's and Fall creator
MCdread said:
In fact, German is excellent for giving orders to dogs. In a certain sense, I like German too.
Each language seems having its best application.
For example, I absolutely love Spanish football commentary! (And English too...)
I have no idea about Italian. Being my mother language, I can't see how it sounds from anybody who's not italian. Can you answer to this? I'm quite curious...
willemvanoranje
Curitibano
If you name Dutch you guys probably aren't very fond of the Scandinavian languages either hehe.. I like my language.. and as our Belgian friend said, if it's the roughness that makes you hate Dutch language (which I'm quite sure is the reason), you can't complain about Flemish. It's almost French!
And if you don't like nasal sounds, never learn Portuguese! The ã is easy, the ão is already a bit harder.. but then some nasal stuff just pops up in the middle of a word without any warning from special letters, so you can only learn it by experience..
Btw, I know quite a few Germans that like Dutch..
And if you don't like nasal sounds, never learn Portuguese! The ã is easy, the ão is already a bit harder.. but then some nasal stuff just pops up in the middle of a word without any warning from special letters, so you can only learn it by experience..
Btw, I know quite a few Germans that like Dutch..
