Comments | topum: Brittier than Brits

topum

Brittier than Brits

Nov 11, 2020 00:44

One thing that makes me laugh is non-Brits putting on an OTT British accent (for the new folks here, I am not British and not a native speaker myself obviously). Actually, I mean not just non-Brits but non-native English speakers, because I have never met a non-Brit native speaker who did that. I do not count Madonna, she is generally nuts. And by ( Read more... )

english, uk, london

Comments 4

bluemeanybeany November 10 2020, 23:52:29 UTC

I like it the other option - when the non-English speakers have been corrupted such that you can tell which British person they've been hanging around with.

Like my German penpal her English is impeccable and proper, but every now and then she'll say specific words in what is basically a "Wallace and Gromit" accent, because she learnt how to pronounce them off me. Most of it's perfect because she learnt in a proper posh German school and has never lived here full time. But then every now and then there's clear, obvious evidence of the existence of me.

And it's glorious. It's the British equivalent of grafitti tagging her like she's a railway carriage.

topum November 12 2020, 23:15:51 UTC

That's much better and much more subtle than graffiti tagging. A very British way to graffiti tag. I love the Yorkshire accent.

remlap November 11 2020, 06:36:42 UTC

I sometimes teach exam English. Like the exam overseas students have to sit to get an English score to get into universities in the US, Aus, etc. It sounds a lot like this, they try to remember the silliest of idioms and a whole host of vocabulary they have no idea how to use in context just smattered around the place. Sometimes amusing, mostly annoying.

topum November 12 2020, 23:10:33 UTC

Yeah, it is a lot like this. I am not a native speaker and I often find it ridiculous, I can imagine how annoying it can get for you. Analysts at my desk used to ask me to review their MBA application essays (not for English but in general) and many non-native speakers used to get ridiculous trying to sound "sophisticated". I think those MBA admission officers at Harvard/Stanford/Wharton/MIT/Columbia facepalm themselves a lot reading those essays from foreign applicants. I know I did.