What accent do you think in? (1 Viewer)

[Zé Tahir]

For all those who don't live in an English speaking country, what accent do you think in when you write? I can sometimes tell by the words people choose. I obviously think in an American accent since I live here, but I've gotten used to spell things the British way. I've noticed I do in my essays too lol (hope the teacher doesn't think I've miss spelled them )

Anyways thought it'd be interesting to know :toast:


ps: Martin and Erik...hmm...I'm interested to know.

 

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[ReBeL]

Knowing that all my studying was based on American books, I think I can't deal easily with those books by British authors...

I had an exception when one of my professors tried to annoy us and imposed a book for "Strategic Management" for a British author claiming that he is the best in the area...

Reading that book was one of the most difficult things I faced during my MBA...

 

[Slagathor]

English. Well I used to anyway. On Dutch schools they usually try to teach you British English (as they call it, doubts the Scots would agree but alright) and I've also lived in England for a while back in 2002.

As Martin would say: I'm Tony Blair.

Though I've noticed that since this summer I've started to shift to the American accent. My thoughts are almost completely in American now, my speech is catching up. I only use the Tony English when I feel it's appropriate nowadays (ie presentations at uni etc). I don't particularly like the sound of it.

EDIT: at least I don't have a Dutch accent. Those are hiiiideous.

 

[Martin]

I've rejected British English from the get go :tongue: In Norwegian schools, that's what they aim for (and fall rather short of), but it's futile, seeing as just about everything on tv is American. My teachers used to tell me it's fine, just as long as I'm consistent with it, which I have been. Frankly there's something very disturbing about a Norwegian trying to sound British, but unable to master the accent. They fail more gracefully with American I'd say. For my sake it's always been a lack of interest in England in favor the US.

The odd thing is that I've adopted English as my first language, it used to be Norwegian.

 

[Falafel]

arabic english
american

 

[Slagathor]

I've rejected British English from the get go :tongue: In Norwegian schools, that's what they aim for (and fall rather short of), but it's futile, seeing as just about everything on tv is American. My teachers used to tell me it's fine, just as long as I'm consistent with it, which I have been. Frankly there's something very disturbing about a Norwegian trying to sound British, but unable to master the accent. They fail more gracefully with American I'd say. For my sake it's always been a lack of interest in England in favor the US.

That's pretty much the same situation as in Holland. Our teachers used to say the same thing (just be consistent). But they also meant writing according to American spelling rules which I (back then) thought was a lil' tricky seeing as all our books were in Brit spelling. So I figured I should stick with British English, didn't really have a preference, just thought it would be the easiest thing to do.

Very few Dutch people attempt to master a British accent though. I'm sure you've noticed it's all American with a thick Dutch accent underneath.

The odd thing is that I've adopted English as my first language, it used to be Norwegian.

Yeah same here, used to be Dutch but since I lived in England, I even dream in English.

 

[Martin]

But they also meant writing according to American spelling rules which I (back then) thought was a lil' tricky seeing as all our books were in Brit spelling. So I figured I should stick with British English, didn't really have a preference, just thought it would be the easiest thing to do.

Is it that hard? I just used to cut every humour and replace every organisze.

Very few Dutch people attempt to master a British accent though. I'm sure you've noticed it's all American with a thick Dutch accent underneath.

Not really. I mean I've come across quite a few who do a decent job of British. But it's very rare for someone to have a crystal clear accent. When I was in NL on vacation as a kid, I was stunned by how well people spoke English here. 10+ years on, I know the language quite a bit better and I see the flaws, but it's still a formidable standard.

Yeah same here, used to be Dutch but since I lived in England, I even dream in English.

 

[Slagathor]

Is it that hard? I just used to cut every humour and replace every organisze.

Yeah but I didn't know all the ins and outs at the time I chose for Brit stuff (of course the teacher made it sound like it was hard).

Not really. I mean I've come across quite a few who do a decent job of British. But it's very rare for someone to have a crystal clear accent. When I was in NL on vacation as a kid, I was stunned by how well people spoke English here. 10+ years on, I know the language quite a bit better and I see the flaws, but it's still a formidable standard.

Hm where did you find those people?

I found this little book the other day containing all the stereotype mistakes Dutch people make, I bet you've heard most of them by now. The one you pointed out was in there as well ("make an exam")

 

[Martin]

Hm where did you find those people?

Shop assistants

I found this little book the other day containing all the stereotype mistakes Dutch people make, I bet you've heard most of them by now. The one you pointed out was in there as well ("make an exam")

mhm. But they're not glaring errors, they're tolerable. You wouldn't forgive Norwegian mistakes that easily, they're horrible. That was done "wery vell"

 

[Slagathor]

mhm. But they're not glaring errors, they're tolerable. You wouldn't forgive Norwegian mistakes that easily, they're horrible. That was done "wery vell"

Oh ouch.

Worst one I've ever heard was this professor at university who kept literally translating "Dat gaat niet" ("That won't work").

"That doesn't go"

Maybe I should go...

 

[Martin]

I can see why it's a problem. You have phrases that don't make any sense to me. Like "dat kan". can what? Language quirks really, it's a sin to translate them.

 

[Geof]

I don't know. I probably mix it up, with a slight dominance for american, as the movies, tv shows, music I watch/listen in English are mostly american.

And there's no way I'm giving up my mother languages up for English. It's my third language, I sometime read a book in English, it's very practical and all, but it stops there.

 

[Slagathor]

I don't know. I probably mix it up, with a slight dominance for american, as the movies, tv shows, music I watch/listen in English are mostly american.

And there's no way I'm giving up my mother languages up for English. It's my third language, I sometime read a book in English, it's very practical and all, but it stops there.

Giving up?

What's your second language?

 

[Geof]

Giving up?

What's your second language?

Dutch

 

[Slagathor]

Dutch

Was that voluntary? Cause if so: why learn it?

 

[Geof]

Was that voluntary? Cause if so: why learn it?

My father's from Flanders (but spoke French at home) and always insisted in us kids being bilingual, so I went to school in Dutch since kindergarten basically.

It's not that bad. And should I work in Belgium, it might actually be very useful.

 

[Seven]

That's pretty much the same situation as in Holland. Our teachers used to say the same thing (just be consistent). But they also meant writing according to American spelling rules which I (back then) thought was a lil' tricky seeing as all our books were in Brit spelling. So I figured I should stick with British English, didn't really have a preference, just thought it would be the easiest thing to do.

Very few Dutch people attempt to master a British accent though. I'm sure you've noticed it's all American with a thick Dutch accent underneath.



Yeah same here, used to be Dutch but since I lived in England, I even dream in English.

Why is that the Dutch have a so much stronger accent than most Belgians? Not that we all speak English so well, it's just that we seem to have an easier time mastering a certain accent in foreign languages.

 

[Geof]

Why is that the Dutch have a so much stronger accent than most Belgians? Not that we all speak English so well, it's just that we seem to have an easier time mastering a certain accent in foreign languages.

Not untrue. The Dutch Erasmus students (Amsterdammers) have huge Dutch accents when they speak German.

 

[Slagathor]

Why is that the Dutch have a so much stronger accent than most Belgians? Not that we all speak English so well, it's just that we seem to have an easier time mastering a certain accent in foreign languages.

I would imagine it has something to do with the relatively much smaller native culture in Flanders. Literature, movies, TV, radio, music etc are all much bigger scenes in Holland than they are in Flanders. Meaning it's easier to stick with your own language than it would be in Belgium (even if the other language isn't English, but French or German).

My father's from Flanders (but spoke French at home) and always insisted in us kids being bilingual, so I went to school in Dutch since kindergarten basically.

It's not that bad. And should I work in Belgium, it might actually be very useful.

I suppose that's true. Although the Walloon interns here tell me they use English to speak with their Flemish counterparts.

Not untrue. The Dutch Erasmus students (Amsterdammers) have huge Dutch accents when they speak German.

Terrible isn't it I worked very hard to get rid of it. I should point out though, that those Dutch accents are usually native to people from the Randstad area. The rest of us don't suffer that syndrom so badly.

 

[Geof]

I suppose that's true. Although the Walloon interns here tell me they use English to speak with their Flemish counterparts.

yeah, I even got friends who pretend to be French tourists when they have to speak Flemish.