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Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

sayafter.me

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Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#91

Post by rdl »

nedwin wrote: post #90
rdl wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much all non-native speakers who want to learn English that I've ever met do want to learn American English specifically, particularly those who want to work in America. (I prefer South African English, personally, but I think the commercial market is strongly in favor of American English.)

"Your anecdotal evidence is wrong - I want the opposite" "No, your anecdotal evidence is wrong." "My anecdotal evidence is right."

The context here was "people who are having a hard time working in the US tech industry/being funded by US VCs due to accents". Obviously if you intend to work in the UK or another country which uses a different accent, it makes sense to learn in that accent. IIRC the phone bank people in Asia actually train people in specific accents based on the client for this very reason.

(A totally fluent UK/IE/etc English speaker probably is fine in any context, but I don't think someone learning from a webapp is starting from that point. If you are going to be a moderate speaker, it is better to be moderate in the target accent.)

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#92

Post by [deleted] »

rdl wrote: post #91
nedwin wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Your anecdotal evidence is wrong - I want the opposite" "No, your anecdotal evidence is wrong." "My anecdotal evidence is right."

The context here was "people who are having a hard time working in the US tech industry/being funded by US VCs due to accents". Obviously if you intend to work in the UK or another country which uses a different accent, it makes sense to learn in that accent. IIRC the phone bank people in Asia actually train people in specific accents based on the client for this very reason. (A totally fluent UK/IE/etc English speak…

[deleted]

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#93

Post by [deleted] »

rdl wrote: post #91
nedwin wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Your anecdotal evidence is wrong - I want the opposite" "No, your anecdotal evidence is wrong." "My anecdotal evidence is right."

The context here was "people who are having a hard time working in the US tech industry/being funded by US VCs due to accents". Obviously if you intend to work in the UK or another country which uses a different accent, it makes sense to learn in that accent. IIRC the phone bank people in Asia actually train people in specific accents based on the client for this very reason. (A totally fluent UK/IE/etc English speak…

[deleted]

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#94

Post by kmfrk »

rdl wrote: post #87
lewisflude wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people who don't speak English are outside the Americas, and so it doesn't make sense for them to learn the American variation of English. However, I agree that it should be an option.

Pretty much all non-native speakers who want to learn English that I've ever met do want to learn American English specifically, particularly those who want to work in America. (I prefer South African English, personally, but I think the commercial market is strongly in favor of American English.)

European with a British accent representing.

More anecdata for you.

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#95

Post by jhome »

indefatigable wrote: post #47
te_chris wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all people want American English thank you very much. Every time I'm forced to type 'color' a small part of me dies.

Wot wot pip pip cheerio get the torch line's engaged eat some crisps there's a good chap.

That's not a mature response. I've look at your other comments and you look like you've made some worthwhile contribution but this comment is not what I visit HN daily for.

I agree with te_chris, it is not only arrogant but incorrect to make that assumption. I don't actually mind using 'color', but you live in a small world if you think that only a certain accent is relevant.

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#96

Post by StavrosK »

Killah911 wrote: post #52
gojomo wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! To help those who know the recent kerfluffle moreso than My Fair Lady : "Why Can't The English Learn To Speak" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhninL_G3Fg

LOL, he says "your language is the language of Shakespeare, Milton and the Bible"... I wonder if it was meant to be funny , out of ignorance or arrogance... As I've posted before, there is this sort of inherent imperialist bias people have with someone who does not have a good command or English. A hundred years ago, it may have been an indication of class (and to some degree still is today). But to look down and be…

> As I've posted before, there is this sort of inherent imperialist bias people have with someone who does not have a good command or English.

I think that's true in any language. I see this in myself sometimes, and I have to consciously correct myself that one's accent or grasp of a foreign language has nothing to do with intelligence or any other quality other than time spent practicing.

> I personally have several accents in English and I subconsciously switch from one to another depending on whom I'm speaking with.

Not being a native English speaker, I do this too. My American accent is just as fake as my English one, but I think people are used to you speaking a certain accent, and switching seems fake to them. I'll have to start talking to the next Englishman I meet with an English accent, and see how they react when I switch to an American one, which is what I usually use.

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#97

Post by celticjames »

rdl wrote: post #87
lewisflude wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people who don't speak English are outside the Americas, and so it doesn't make sense for them to learn the American variation of English. However, I agree that it should be an option.

Pretty much all non-native speakers who want to learn English that I've ever met do want to learn American English specifically, particularly those who want to work in America. (I prefer South African English, personally, but I think the commercial market is strongly in favor of American English.)

I used to teach English to non-native speakers. All of them wanted to learn English with an American accent. I think they are actually doing themselves a disservice because they fail to understand the subtle differences of class status an accent signals. A more British inflected accent is an easy way to signal higher education and status to an American. They go a bit gaga for British accents. It's also easier to fake a British accent.

Re: Founder with an accent? Free offer from SayAfter.me

#98

Post by rdl »

celticjames wrote: post #97
rdl wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much all non-native speakers who want to learn English that I've ever met do want to learn American English specifically, particularly those who want to work in America. (I prefer South African English, personally, but I think the commercial market is strongly in favor of American English.)

I used to teach English to non-native speakers. All of them wanted to learn English with an American accent. I think they are actually doing themselves a disservice because they fail to understand the subtle differences of class status an accent signals. A more British inflected accent is an easy way to signal higher education and status to an American. They go a bit gaga for British accents. It's also easier to fake…

The weird thing in the Middle East is (outside of Saudi) most of the formal instruction was in British English, but everyone watched US tv, and the demand was generally for a American English (even after 9/11 and the unwelcoming US immigration policy).

Same thing in China and Thailand; I don't know about other countries.

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