4 ms·

Another continental European here (also software developer). I know most non-native speakers will never learn "proper" English pronunciation (whether AE or BE o

Another continental European here (also software developer). I know most non-native speakers will never learn "proper" English pronunciation (whether AE or BE or Australian English I don't care) and international English is here to stay but, man, the many ways in people butcher English pronunciation (not because they pronounce everything as in their mother tongue – that's fine – but because they actually try to put on a native AE or BE accent) still makes my ears bleed on a daily basis.

Al-Khwarizmi 3y ago
Pronouncing English literally as if it were Spanish, French, etc. would make it impossible to understand. Every non-native English learner tries to imitate natives, to the best of their ability. I don't think there's any other way to learn. Some people relax and stop trying to improve once they notice that they get to a level where they are understood, though. And then, one can be aware of one's limits (I don't think I'll ever get to distinguish "ice" and "eyes", so I don't even try anymore). What you describe seems to be some kind of linguistic "uncanny valley" effect.
- codethief 3y ago
  Yes, that's probably a much better way to put it. Thank you :)
- ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
  > Pronouncing English literally as if it were Spanish, French, etc. would make it impossible to understand. I was chatting to a French-born colleague and he mentioned visiting the camping store "Millets". He pronounced it as a French word (something like "mi-ey") and I had no idea what he was talking about. It was unusual as otherwise his english was flawless.
  - wink 3y ago
    Hehe, or hearing Versace pronounced like ver-b and surf-ace ;) That also took a bit of thinking outside the box.
  - pjc50 3y ago
    Brits can occasionally run into this problem with US or Canadian place names that look like they ought to be of French origin, but really aren't pronounced that way. (someone else can provide examples)
    - kbp 3y ago
      Surely not in Canada?

Al-Khwarizmi 3y ago

Pronouncing English literally as if it were Spanish, French, etc. would make it impossible to understand. Every non-native English learner tries to imitate natives, to the best of their ability. I don't think there's any other way to learn. Some people relax and stop trying to improve once they notice that they get to a level where they are understood, though. And then, one can be aware of one's limits (I don't think I'll ever get to distinguish "ice" and "eyes", so I don't even try anymore). What you describe seems to be some kind of linguistic "uncanny valley" effect.

codethief 3y ago
Yes, that's probably a much better way to put it. Thank you :)
ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
> Pronouncing English literally as if it were Spanish, French, etc. would make it impossible to understand. I was chatting to a French-born colleague and he mentioned visiting the camping store "Millets". He pronounced it as a French word (something like "mi-ey") and I had no idea what he was talking about. It was unusual as otherwise his english was flawless.
- wink 3y ago
  Hehe, or hearing Versace pronounced like ver-b and surf-ace ;) That also took a bit of thinking outside the box.
- pjc50 3y ago
  Brits can occasionally run into this problem with US or Canadian place names that look like they ought to be of French origin, but really aren't pronounced that way. (someone else can provide examples)
  - kbp 3y ago
    Surely not in Canada?