Search results for 'tag:Grammar tag:Accents' matching tags 'Grammar' and 'Accents'

Re: What is the correct usage of the grave accent diacritical mark when used for quoting?

Tanit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:40:06 GMT

Anonymous
I am usually not at all pedantic about my grammar usage, however, I've picked up a habit of using paired and unpaired grave accents when quoting. For example, when referring to some `thing' or ``what have you''. What is the proper and correct usage of this diacritical mark in such contexts if at all appropriate?

Hi,

I guess you're asking about inverted commas ( ' ) and speech marks / quotation marks ( " ).
If that's the case, you could start from here.

What is the correct usage of the grave accent diacritical mark when used for quoting?

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:36:30 GMT

I am usually not at all pedantic about my grammar usage, however, I've picked up a habit of using paired and unpaired grave accents when quoting. For example, when referring to some `thing' or ``what have you''. What is the proper and correct usage of this diacritical mark in such contexts if at all appropriate?

Re: Please help me proofread...

samwalker — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:33:51 GMT

Hahahahaha! Very well??? I'm flattered...
I grew up in the states and had been there from one-year old til eight then I moved to Philippines and I'm now twenty. Been here for 12 years so I feel like my grammar sucks. I have been self-studying to maintain my accent and grammar. hehe Trying so hard to maintain everything given a completely different world and culture. hehe So.. thank you..

Hey, thank you for the clarification. Couldn't we use "Life was difficult.. (hypen) because I didn't.."?

Re: Whitesmoke.com review?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:05:35 GMT

Thanks for all the info. I was just about to purchase their software when I decided to do a last minute google for reviews.

I don't think I'll be purchasing it after all.

Its a pity really. I really need help when it comes to grammar and sentence construction. My english sucks.
Can I pretend its my second language? Perhaps I should start to practice a foriegn accent..

Re: Legitimising dialect discrimination

Jon Salt — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:38:56 GMT

I think the problem is that people conflate accent and dialect. Accent varies from region to region when people use standard English. Vocabulary and grammar vary very little, and guessing nationality online can be tricky. If someone with an average educational background cannot use the vocabulary and grammar of standard English (as well as their own dialect, perhaps) then they are probably not a very capable person, and wouldn't be ideal for a white collar job. The older they are, the truer that is.

Re: Tone contour

Avangi — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:33:58 GMT

New2grammar
I have no idea what those numbers represent. . . . . . you can say it louder of softer

Just as you could assign numbers from one to five to represent the loudness, or accent of the syllables in a sentence, you could represent the pitch level (Hertz) at which you speak/sing the vowel tones by a scale of one to five. Sometimes the pitch rises or falls on the vowel sound of a given syllable. That's why the OP represented the "dont" in each example by two numbers. (I believe there's a forum devoted to this sort of thing.)

You ask a girl if she'll go with you to a dance. She replies, "Don't you wish!" The pitch level would probably stay constant across "don't you" and then fall sharply on the short "i" vowel of "wish." There's probably a dwell at the higher level followed by a dwell at the low level, rather than a trombone style glissando, sliding down across the range, hence well represented by two numbers.

- A.

Re: would pour

RayH — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:24:18 GMT

New2grammar
It really sounds like would to me

Don't beat yourself up too much. Given his accent it comes out more like "wool" that "will" but nevertheless he means "will" so far as I can tell.

Re: "Estar pez"?

CalifJim — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:07:22 GMT

Grammar Geek
I don't know nuthin' 'bout birthin' no babies!

Actually, the original has "anything". Most whites remember it as less grammatical than it really was, due to interference from the accent, perhaps.

I don't know anything about birthing babies.

Re: What is the most easy accent in USA

Bldudas — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:51:57 GMT

No, mine. :)

Just kidding.That is like saying what is the easiest language to learn. All languages are different. Different sounds, grammar, etc. All accents and dialects are different too. It depends on where or if you even want to go to the United States and how good you are at learning a language.

Re: Posh accent!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:55:30 GMT

English has many different accents. It seems that a 'correct' accent is often seen as "posh". This means that people who speak with correct grammar and what is known as 'received pronunciation' (BBC English) are deemed posh. In general it makes certain sounds unheard (eg 'r' in long sound words such as 'hard') and it always uses full mouth movements.

My Spanish girlfriend studied at a place called 'Pronunciation Studio', and she learnt a load of things that I didn't know (and I am from England.) Her accent has changed and become morer neutral after studying there, but I'm not sure she actually sounds (or would want to) posh!! .

Good Luck!