Research Question about Danish Speakers Learning English

Hello Everyone,

I am an American doing some research for a book I am writing and wondered if you could give me some input. I hope you don't mind me using this forum to do that. I just discovered your wonderful site today.

For both the teachers and Scandinavian speakers out there, how difficult is it for a Danish native speaker to learn English? And what are the reasons why one immigrant (from Denmark) would learn English so well that he or she would have a barely discernable accent, and another person from the same country for about the same number of years retain a very heavy accent so that it is difficult at times to understand him? The person with difficulties came to the USA many years ago, in the early 1900s, with no English skills at all.

It may be a naive question, but I am trying to understand the reasons for this person's difficulty: is it simply a matter of individual differences? And if so, what makes one person "better" than another in learning a language than another? Is it wiring in the brain? Or could it be that there are other things at work like a speech impediment that goes beyond simple language issues (the person in question had difficulty with "R's" for example, pronouncing them like "W's")

Thanks very much! Any input would be much appreciated. Happy Holidays, Everyone.

Regards,

Laura

Hi CB,

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it! Very interesting about the Danish grammar, this is helpful! 

About the other issue related to accents--you are absolutely right, we are all very different and some people are just not as good at learning other languages. I definitely don't expect everyone to be the same, the world would be a pretty boring place! :-) I am one of the types that could never manage the National Anthem-- I guess I may qualify as being tone deaf!

I suppose what intrigues me is what is going on physically in the brain or body that accounts for the accent differences? Why does one person retain an accent perceived by others as thick and hard to understand while another person barely keeps their original accent? I am not sure if that can question be answered here or anywhere, for that matter, but I thought I would ask. I really appreciate it, and have a very Happy New Year!

Regards,

LAura

Anonymous wrote:

what are the reasons why one immigrant (from Denmark) would learn English so well that he or she would have a barely discernable accent, and another person from the same country for about the same number of years retain a very heavy accent so that it is difficult at times to understand him?

The most significant factor is likely to be the age when the person arrived. The younger you are the less difficuty you are likely to have.