http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aEnglishuser&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:Englishuser'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dialogue/2/dmhrz/Post.htm#312105Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:27:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:312105englishuserHi Nona, there are (a few) people who can say oh hello to sound like air hair lair. Out of curiosity: How often do you meet people who speak with that accent? Do you have any friends or relatives, for instance, who tend to speak that way? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Dialogue/dmhrz/post.htmSat, 06 Jan 2007 22:49:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:311547englishuserHello, Man A: Try pronouncing the word 'a-i-r'. Man B: Air. Man A: Good. Now try pronouncing the word 'h-a-i-r'. Man B: Hair. Man A: Excellent. Now try the word 'l-a-i-r'. Man B: Lair. Man A: Splendid. Now put them together and what have you got? Man B: Air, hair, lair. Man A: Welcome to Sandhurst. Do you get the joke? Source: Taylor, A (2006). A plum in your mouth . Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/StandardEnglishElitismSortAgree/dmzhh/post.htm#311461Sat, 06 Jan 2007 18:18:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:311461englishuserHi Nona, Could you tell us what your accent is like? How would you describe it? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/NonNativeAccents/2/dwdqn/Post.htm#310008Wed, 03 Jan 2007 14:16:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:310008englishuserThis is a bad thing about British culture but it can be seen as pretentious to correctly pronounce foreign words, especially proper nouns. Broadcasters and announcers on the BBC are supposed to do their utmost to ensure they pronounce foreign proper names correctly. There are always people who will complain if and when they fail. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanLearnerBecomeNativeSpeaker/8/dgmzj/Post.htm#309533Mon, 01 Jan 2007 23:03:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309533englishuserThus, in order to receive "native speaker status" (and by this I mean that people assume she is a native speaker of English.), she could get away with speaking less than perfect British English, whereas she would have to speak with an absolutely *perfect* North American English accent in order to be thought to be a native speaker here. We also need to consider that there are many different accents of North American English, just as there are many British English accents. You might well pass for a native speaker from New York in Alabama, for instance, although a New Yorker would be able to place you for a foreigner (or at least not a New Yorker). This isn't only about non-native speakers v. native speakers, but also about members of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CanLearnerBecomeNativeSpeaker/8/dgmzj/Post.htm#309473Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:32:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309473englishuserWhat do you mean, Marvin? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DefiningAmericanEnglish/4/dkvzc/Post.htm#309352Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:42:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309352englishuserI've also heard that they don't use "have gotten", as in "I've gotten several books from my uncle." as it's considered slightly archaic or something. Yes, that's correct. The past participle 'gotten' is indeed obsolete in most British dialects. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatBooksDoYouAdviseMe/2/dljqj/Post.htm#309351Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:36:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309351englishuserThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is short and about love But not very easily read... Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoStandardSpeakersAdaptUsage/3/dkpln/Post.htm#309193Sun, 31 Dec 2006 17:58:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309193englishuserSo, milky, did you find Her Majesty's accent easy to understand? Do you think anyone who is proficient in English would have trouble understanding Her Majesty? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/IsAmericanEnglishLazyEnglish/6/bhwl/Post.htm#309070Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:48:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309070englishuserThe males adopt the changes in the hope of seeming more attractive to the younger females But why are the changes lead by women? It could also be the other way around, couldn't it? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatBooksDoYouAdviseMe/dljqj/post.htm#309068Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:45:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309068englishuserHi MrPedantic, You wrote: Besides which, many of the books native speakers read when learning English are translations Yes, but we need to keep in mind that people might be learning other languages than English as well. For instance, Anon might be a student of French. If that is the case, I think Anon had better focus on French literature as part of his or her French studies. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/IsAmericanEnglishLazyEnglish/5/bhwl/Post.htm#309049Sun, 31 Dec 2006 09:24:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309049englishuserWhat's interesting is that these changes are led by younger female speakers. Older speakers and male speakers adopt these kind of changes later. Yes, that really is interesting. Why are the changes led by younger female speakers in particular? What about younger male speakers? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatBooksDoYouAdviseMe/dljqj/post.htm#309048Sun, 31 Dec 2006 09:17:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:309048englishuserHe wrote in French Why should Anon like to read his books in translation? There are many good novels that you could read that were written in English. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatBooksDoYouAdviseMe/dljqj/post.htm#308973Sun, 31 Dec 2006 00:15:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308973englishuserHi Ruslana, But maybe The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry could help you. Did Antoine de Saint-Exupéry write in English? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/IsAmericanEnglishLazyEnglish/5/bhwl/Post.htm#308972Sun, 31 Dec 2006 00:10:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308972englishuserHi Marvin A., You wrote: It's associated with California English and Valley girls for the most part. Valley girls? It would be nice to learn something more about the Valley girl dialect/accent of North American English. I hope you, Marvin, can help me out. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FormAdressLetterMotivation/dlxjv/post.htm#308970Sun, 31 Dec 2006 00:00:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308970englishuserHi Anon, I don't think you need to address the recipient of the letter at all if it's a personal statement. Referees typically write "To Whom It May Concern", but this might sound somewhat arrogant if written by the applicant himself/herself. Dear Sir/Madam would also be all right, and wouldn't sound silly at all in a context where you don't know that much about the admissions officer who is going to deal with your application. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanLearnerBecomeNativeSpeaker/7/dgmzj/Post.htm#308969Sat, 30 Dec 2006 23:54:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308969englishuserHi Marvin A., I should add that you're probably less likely to notice foreign sounding in British-sounding English than in American-sounding English. If a foreigner did address you in something that sounds almost exactly like your own dialect, but with a very slight foreign tinge, I think you'd still notice it almost immediately. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AbbreviationTelephoneNumber/dllcd/post.htm#308945Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:53:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308945englishuserHi Marvin A, The plus sign (only one is required) signifies the international dialling code (00 in many countries). Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoStandardSpeakersAdaptUsage/3/dkpln/Post.htm#308903Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:15:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308903englishuserHi milky, Did you listen to HM's Christmas message? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/LowerClassAccent/5/dhgpm/Post.htm#308848Sat, 30 Dec 2006 16:28:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308848englishuserHi MrPedantic, That may well be because in England, there are many more people with "aristocratic" accents than aristocrats. So you learn to be a little wary Why exactly do you need to be wary if someone, who is not English nobility, sounds like an aristocrat? People speak with different accents for various reasons, one of which is that no one would understand you if indeed you spoke with your native accent. If your accent is difficult to understand, you might like to change the way you speak. URP is easy for most people to understand; hence looking down on people who speak with that accent really doesn't make any sense to me. Fortunately, as Marvin pointed out, you can safely use URP in North America. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/LowerClassAccent/5/dhgpm/Post.htm#308607Sat, 30 Dec 2006 00:22:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:308607englishuserIt doesn't sound at all funny to us. In fact, most of us think of that style accent as being "the" British accent. It seems like a very aristocratic British accent is appropriate in English-speaking countries and communities all over - with the possible exception of Britain. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/MerryChristmas/dlzxp/post.htm#306441Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:13:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:306441englishuserHi Cool Breeze, I also want to say that I symphatize with all those who have had to put up with Helsinki English for so long. Helsinki English? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Abbribation/dlvqq/post.htm#306174Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:38:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:306174englishuserHi Ruslana, You said: The only exeption, though, - "lol") I think 'lol' is appropriate only in very informal writing such as chatting in a chatroom. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HasAnyoneMaltaLearningEnglish/dwmdv/post.htm#306172Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:33:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:306172englishuserHi Openmind, it makes much more sense to travel to an 'English speaking' country such as the US or the UK. There you will have plenty of authentic (real life) situations where you can practice and improve your English. Of course, this also depends on the student's English skills. Highly advanced students seldom learn that much in real life situations. For students, whose English is at a near-native or native-like level, I'd recommend academic studies in the field of English literature or Applied English linguistics. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WithVoicedAndUnvoicedTh/dlzvw/post.htm#306156Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:23:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:306156englishuserHi Kooyeen, You asked: I'd like to know more about those two ways of pronouncing with . For example, is one way more common? Is one way more related to certain regions? 'The unvoiced way' is common when 'with' is followed by a voiceless consonant. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Accents/dlzbp/post.htm#306094Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:21:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:306094englishuserHi Philip, 1) No, I believe Western American English accents are closer to British English from the past. The western part of the United States used to consist of more isolated communities than did other parts of the country. 2) It depends on the American/British accent. General American is closer to earlier British English accents than RP (quite a new accent) and most other accents familiar from the south-east of England. On the other hand, some regional British accents retain many features typical of earlier accents of English. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Avatars/3/cljg/Post.htm#305862Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:37:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305862englishuserHi Elena, What about your own avatar? Wouldn't it be good for you as a moderator to set a role model for other users in this respect? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AmIAllAlone/dlvbp/post.htm#305860Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:33:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305860englishuserHi, dull and dole have different vowels This is true for most accents of English, I should think. bag-beg have identical vowels In the past, some speakers of URP had the land-lend merger just like you do. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/GlottalStop/dlvrb/post.htm#305775Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:42:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305775englishuserHi Ruttonjee, Is glottal stop common in BBC English What is BBC English? Do you mean PSP or RP or URP or Estuary English or something else? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoStandardSpeakersAdaptUsage/2/dkpln/Post.htm#305766Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:18:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305766englishuserHi milky, My wife is almost native, been learning English for 32 years, and doesn't understand Hugh Grant, Laurence Olivier, etc. There are different types of RP. HM The Queen's idiolect is easy for most people to understand. Why don't you listen to Her Majesty's Christmas message this year? I'm sure your wife will understand The Queen. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HiReallyDesiringChangeAccent/dldkd/post.htm#305762Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:13:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305762englishuserHi Anon, How about contacting a voice coach in your area? Also, are you sure you'd like to learn a Scottish accent? URP is just as nice... Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AccentsMoviesVarieties/4/dknzb/Post.htm#305756Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:09:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305756englishuserGeneral American. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoStandardSpeakersAdaptUsage/2/dkpln/Post.htm#305690Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:39:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305690englishuserHi Nona, Speedwise, maybe. Accent-wise, no. You've made it clear that URP accents can be quite difficult to understand. How do you explain that most learners of English - including those whose English proficiency is very limited - can understand The Queen? Perhaps she rabbits away at high speed when she is with family and friends? Yes, she probably speaks a little faster when she is with family and friends. Even her accent changes when she doesn't speak publicly. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoStandardSpeakersAdaptUsage/2/dkpln/Post.htm#305520Tue, 19 Dec 2006 23:20:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305520englishuserHi Nona, You said: I know I have to slow down when I'm speaking to certain people I know Indeed. Speaking like HM The Queen is good. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowDoYouSayShopping/dlcqw/post.htm#305517Tue, 19 Dec 2006 23:15:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305517englishuserA. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowDoYouPronounceSang/dlcdn/post.htm#305332Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:01:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305332englishuserHi, I use /æ/. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWith230/2/dcjzg/Post.htm#305173Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:43:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305173englishuserHi Marvin A., I wish I could hear you, or someone else who speak English with your accent, speak. Any link suggestions? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowToolPronounceWords/dlbnv/post.htm#305159Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:36:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305159englishuserHi Discusman, So vase should pronounce the "a" as the "a" in f a ther? Yes. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AccentsMoviesVarieties/3/dknzb/Post.htm#305106Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:36:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305106englishuserHi Grammar Geek, You wrote: I can assess how "American" someone sounds, and I can tell a painfully wrong British one, but I can't tell the difference between "almost right" and "completely right" British. I'm not surprised. In general, it's quite difficult to tell if an accent sounds right unless you speak with that accent yourself. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AccentsMoviesVarieties/3/dknzb/Post.htm#305103Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:33:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:305103englishuserHi Kooyeen, It seems many non-American actors try to change their accents when acting, often trying to use an American accent. On the other hand, American actors sometimes might change their accents If a Briton is cast as American in a film, then it is his or her duty to speak with an American accent (or their best imitation of it). Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PronunciationOfBased/dbwrv/post.htm#304910Sun, 17 Dec 2006 23:28:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304910englishuserHi Marvin A., I think your pronunciation of 'Polk' is nonstandard. What do you think? Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AccentsMoviesVarieties/2/dknzb/Post.htm#304863Sun, 17 Dec 2006 19:38:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304863englishuserHi Marvin A., 'Subway' in British English refers to a tunnel under a road for use by pedestrians. 'Subway' as a brand name is known in the UK, too. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BritishAccents/3/dwdvg/Post.htm#304724Sun, 17 Dec 2006 11:16:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304724englishuserHi Marvin A., Because he grew up in North America and then moved to England, he probably noticed that English use for many words that Americans used and thus he started hypercorrecting himself. A North American often hypercorrects himself when putting on a British accent. Of course! Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AccentsMoviesVarieties/2/dknzb/Post.htm#304631Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:22:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304631englishuserHi Marvin A., In fact, the only *noticeable* differences is that they leave out their r's at the end of words and pronounce /æ/ as sometimes. Well, there are some other differences as well, ranging from how the 'dark l' is used to how the vowels and diphthongs are realised. I am sure we could make a long list with differences between General American and RP English, but you're still right, of course: the differences are still much less prominent than most students of English would think. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AccentsMoviesVarieties/dknzb/post.htm#304630Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:19:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304630englishuserHi Kooyeen, then American English should sound very natural to British people Yes, it does. British people can understand mainstream American English very well. I guess there's less British English in the US than American English in the UK, nevertheless it seems that British English sounds natural too... Much less. Your average American isn't really exposed to British English in his or her everyday life. Many British accents are difficult for most Americans to understand, with the exception of RP and some other 'less pronounced' British accents.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AQuestionAboutU/dkqhn/post.htm#304615Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:01:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304615englishuserHi Kooyeen, I realized that my English teachers were a bunch of morons. they just have had idiot teachers. Please don't blame your teachers. I am sure they did all they could to help you and your colleagues learn English. If you learn English at school you should know that your teachers need to stick to a particular curriculum. They cannot pay too much attention to pronunciation if the syllabus requires grammar studies, for instance. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BritishAccents/3/dwdvg/Post.htm#304613Sat, 16 Dec 2006 19:55:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304613englishuserHi Marvin A., You wrote: but no dialect (that I'm aware of) uses . There might be dialects that you're not aware of that use . It could also be an idiolectal rather than dialectal feature, but this seems less likely. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BritishAccents/2/dwdvg/Post.htm#304529Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:58:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304529englishuserHi Nona, Actually, Loyd Grossman was born in Boston. He was educated in the US and in Canada, and moved to England as a twenty-five-year old. I suppose the fact that he pronounces some of the words with the /a:/-sound has to do with his North American origins. Englishuserhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ChaucersCanterburyTales/dkqrh/post.htmFri, 15 Dec 2006 19:59:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304324englishuserHi everyone, Are you familiar with Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales ? Did you read or study the original text or did you read Chaucer's masterpiece in translation? How well can you understand Middle English (feel free to take a look at the below excerpt from the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales )? Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury. 1 Whan that Aprille, with hise shoures soote, 2 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote 3 And bathed every veyne in swich licour, 4 Of which vertu engendred is the flour; 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 6 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 7 The tendre croppehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoStandardSpeakersAdaptUsage/dkpln/post.htm#304314Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:41:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:304314englishuserHi milky, Yes, I think they should. Or, alternatively, and I feel I like this idea even more, Indians should be allowed to use Indian English in Europe and North America as well. Englishuser