How English sounds to non-speakers

tres · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:24

I've always wondered this. I mean, we can stereotypically (and maybe a touch of racism) say that Asian people all speak with the tongue in cheek "ching chang chong" etc. French are another example, where you could probably speak gibberish and another could guess what language you are imitating.

http://amog.com/offbeat/english-sounds-nonenglish-speakers/

The above is interesting!

Twentyone · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:31

Davies_M · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:49

Certainly doesn't sound attractive...

Greenlizard0 · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:51

Reminds me of a scene from 'Allo and 'Allo years ago. Von Smallhausen and Herr Flick ended up going "faw faw fawfaw!" trying to imitate English.

bledd · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:54

That italian singers 'english' song is amazing, it sounds like english, but has no english words, lol

batsy · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:54

was in my local chinese last friday night and the person infront of me asked for creamofsomeyoungguy //

Nix · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:55

Good thread. I really enjoyed watched those videos actually.

The Argentine band's video actually made me smile, hehe.

bledd. said:
That italian singers 'english' song is amazing, it sounds like english, but has no english words, lol

Absolutely.

ReeVo.uK · 9 Feb 2010 at 23:56

Interesting haha.

Sin_Chase · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:03

The Italian song is awesome.

I just said in IRC to a friend:

"sounds English but cant understand *****

"

Nitefly · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:04

bledd. said:
That italian singers 'english' song is amazing, it sounds like english, but has no english words, lol

I thought exactly the same - good thread

stulid · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:06

English must sound like god speaking to be honest.

TriedandTested · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:15

bledd. said:
That italian singers 'english' song is amazing, it sounds like english, but has no english words, lol

It's great! Listening again! :cool:

Cosimo · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:21

TriedandTested said:
It's great! Listening again!

Same here. I've just been told to turn it down.

bledd · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:22

Just listened to that song again, and linked it on facebook

Thread rated 5* for that alone

arknor · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:26

batsy said:
was in my local chinese last friday night and the person infront of me asked for creamofsomeyoungguy //

creimovsumyunggai!

digipeep · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:29

I enjoyed watching the 1st video, that Italian one, got bored watching the others.

syke · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:30

Very interesting, that song is catchy too!

Cosimo · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:41

bledd. said:
Just listened to that song again, and linked it on facebook

Thread rated 5* for that alone

I've put it in the YouTube thread.

agnes · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:44

I think the 2 main accents people relate 'British' English to would be cockney "awight mate" and a classic old Oxford dictionary word perfect upper class accent "Oh jolly good show chaps, now, some brandy please, pip pip".

As for American, well, I would say a Texas or southern America is what everyone things an American sounds like "Well hideeeee hooooo".

ags

Lightnix · 10 Feb 2010 at 00:54

agnes said:
I think the 2 main accents people relate 'British' English to would be cockney "awight mate" and a classic old Oxford dictionary word perfect upper class accent "Oh jolly good show chaps, now, some brandy please, pip pip".

As for American, well, I would say a Texas or southern America is what everyone things an American sounds like "Well hideeeee hooooo".

ags

Whenever I think of American I think of a very strong Boston accent.