distinctive manner of oral expression.

[lifftchi]

Every so often people will comment on how slight my accent is, and I'll usually go "what accent?" because of course I think the way I speak is perfectly and entirely normal. (Because, as my cat would say, Ich bin AmerikanerBut I have noticed one pair of sounds that I can't seem to make correctly and unambiguously: Alan vs. Ellen. Do you pronounce

Comments

I'm telling you, it's the smile

[anonymous]

I know a few other second generation Japanese guys who smile all the time. I don't think it's a Japanese accent... it's a 'smiling man' accent. It gets especially distinctive when you are irritated or angry (but, of course, still smiling.)

Oh, yeah, the 'air of inflapability' that the smile gives you?

[anonymous]

only lasts until someone has been around long enough to tell when you are actually, ah, flapped. at that point the smile doesn't help.

Re: Oh, yeah, the 'air of inflapability' that the smile gives you?

[lifftchi]

Yes, but you are like some kind of flapping factory. Also, I eventually decided to play up my irritation a notch, in hopes of increasing productivity.

Re: Oh, yeah, the 'air of inflapability' that the smile gives you?

[anonymous]

And did it work? I mean, playing up the irritation?

Re: Oh, yeah, the 'air of inflapability' that the smile gives you?

[lifftchi]

Relative to what? I mean, we got the book out, so that's vaguely suggestive.

Re: Oh, yeah, the 'air of inflapability' that the smile gives you?

[anonymous]

it's true!