Foreigners that sound the most clearest when speaking English (living, land)
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Are you seriously arguing that all English dialects spoken in England are equally clear?
Considering that Americans are foreign English speakers then yes I am! Assuming that American accents are the 'norms' to judge this by is somewhat arrogant at best! What's next? The French don't speak French clearly! The Spanish are not good at Spanish!!?
Considering that Americans are foreign English speakers then yes I am! Assuming that American accents are the 'norms' to judge this by is somewhat arrogant at best! What's next? The French don't speak French clearly! The Spanish are not good at Spanish!!?
I said nothing about American accents, I simply take issue with this statement:
Quote:
However the English speak it is the clearest English
Many English-speakers in England use local dialects that are generally considered nonstandard, difficult for nonlocals to understand, and in other words, "not very clear." That is not an arrogant thing to say; it's a simple statement of fact. The "clearest" English is not defined as "any English uttered by any English person."
Within any language, some dialects are perceived as more "clear" (and you can take that to mean standard, official, educated, or prestigious if you like), and others are less "clear." That includes French dialects in France, Spanish dialects in Spain, and any other language that has different dialects in its home country.
My experience in Europe has been: the Dutch speak excellent, clear English, followed by the Germans, Austrians, and Swiss.
Italians often add an 'uh' sound at the end of words when speaking English. It gets old fast. French and Spanish speakers are so-so when using English.
I agree with Happy in Wyoming, lower class British dialects are difficult to understand. They sound awful, worse than those strong 'Strine accents.
Considering that Americans are foreign English speakers then yes I am! Assuming that American accents are the 'norms' to judge this by is somewhat arrogant at best! What's next? The French don't speak French clearly! The Spanish are not good at Spanish!!?
You live in the UK, of course you can understand those weird sounding dialects. Most non British people cannot, I'm certain.
Don't get so upset over an internet forum post, for goodness sakes.
You live in the UK, of course you can understand those weird sounding dialects. Most non British people cannot, I'm certain.
Don't get so upset over an internet forum post, for goodness sakes.
I admit my post is a bit 'tongue' in cheek but I'm sure you get my point no? Who decides what 'clear English' is exactly? I need subtitles for some American TV because I can't understand what they are saying, I certainly understand Australians better, to me Australians are foreigners that speak the clearest English. I think it needs to be remembered that Americans are 'foreign' English speakers just as much as anybody else. As English is........well English then I think you have to say that the 'clearest' foreign English speakers are the ones that sound most English! Just like the clearest French speakers are the ones that sound most......French!
Foreign is relative to every people’s nationality. To me, an English person speaking English is a foreign person speaking a foreign language.
Foreign language is a term applied to languages that aren't natively spoken by most people of a country, that aren't part of an ethnic minority native to the country, or that aren't used for general instruction and by the media. So, obviously English isn’t a foreign language in the USA.
The thread title is a bit confusing maybe, and somewhat contradictory to the expressed in the first post, which I guess it’s intended to explore where in the world where the English language isn’t natively spoken by most people (so it’s a secondary language for them), the spoken English is most articulate and emulates its standard phonologies best. I agree on that people from the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands are the best.
I admit my post is a bit 'tongue' in cheek but I'm sure you get my point no? Who decides what 'clear English' is exactly? I need subtitles for some American TV because I can't understand what they are saying, I certainly understand Australians better, to me Australians are foreigners that speak the clearest English. I think it needs to be remembered that Americans are 'foreign' English speakers just as much as anybody else. As English is........well English then I think you have to say that the 'clearest' foreign English speakers are the ones that sound most English! Just like the clearest French speakers are the ones that sound most......French!
Quote:
Originally Posted by easthome
However the English speak it is the clearest English, it is THEIR language after all, I argue that the Americans are NOT the clearest foreign speakers of English but perhaps that honour goes to the Dutch?
Many Brits acting in American made movies to TV shows. Use American accents. But most Americans love the British to Irish accent. But its more the King's or Queens accent they mean. Not the other kinds of dialects then it is hard to understand by Americans. If the Queen and Royals speak. We understand it all. Surprised the standard US/Canadian one .... needs typed out words to read for you today.
You do know the Scandinavians/Dutch sound more like American accents too.....
Foreign is relative to every people’s nationality. To me, an English person speaking English is a foreign person speaking a foreign language.
Foreign language is a term applied to languages that aren't natively spoken by most people of a country, that aren't part of an ethnic minority native to the country, or that aren't used for general instruction and by the media. So, obviously English isn’t a foreign language in the USA.
The thread title is a bit confusing maybe, and somewhat contradictory to the expressed in the first post, which I guess it’s intended to explore where in the world where the English language isn’t natively spoken by most people (so it’s a secondary language for them), the spoken English is most articulate and emulates its standard phonologies best. I agree on that people from the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands are the best.
The US is just one of many foreign countries that has taken this European language to an extent that it has pushed out the native language.
Many Brits acting in American made movies to TV shows. Use American accents. But most Americans love the British to Irish accent. But its more the King's or Queens accent they mean. Not the other kinds of dialects then it is hard to understand by Americans. If the Queen and Royals speak. We understand it all. Surprised the standard US/Canadian one .... needs typed out words to read for you today.
You do know the Scandinavians/Dutch sound more like American accents too.....
The Dutch/Scandinavians speak English with English accents, Jan Molby even sounded Scouse.
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