| Expression: "Pain in the neck" | Trust politicians? |
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 #1 (permalink) Wed Sep 06, 2006 15:30 pm Nuance or ‘new ants’? |
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I’d be particularly curious to hear your opinion on the following question:
Does it sound natural to you when people pronounce words of foreign origin as in the languages they came from (when speaking English)? I mean, words that have not been anglicised, phonetically or orthographically, though they have become part of the English language.
Or does it sound as if you wanted to show off? Because that’s how I feel when I don’t say words like entrepreneur, fianc?, blas?, gar?on, nuance, hors d’oeuvre, d?j? vu, voyeur, apr?s-ski, ? la carte, Renault, Mercedes, etc. the English way. As a matter of fact, I feel a bit like the cartoon character Dexter saying ‘omelette de fromage’! |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| #2 (permalink) Wed Sep 06, 2006 16:51 pm Nuance or ‘new ants’? |
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| Conchita wrote: |
| Or does it sound as if you wanted to show off? Because that’s how I feel when I don’t say words like entrepreneur, fianc?, blas?, gar?on, nuance, hors d’oeuvre, d?j? vu, voyeur, apr?s-ski, ? la carte, Renault, Mercedes, etc. the English way. As a matter of fact, I feel a bit like the cartoon character Dexter saying ‘omelette de fromage’! |
What do you understand to be "the English way", Conchita?
I think the "English" pronunciation of all your examples is pretty similar to the pronunciation in the "original" language. (At least in AmE) However, I do remember "Renault" being pronounced differently back in the 70s. I think advertising was responsible for changing that to a more French pronunciation. 
People in the US pronounce "Braun" the same as "brawn". Since I live in Germany and "know better," that pronunciation drives me crazy whenever I'm back in the US for a visit.
Maybe Jamie can tell us how people are pronouncing "DaimlerChrysler" in the US nowadays. 
I've also noticed that the British pronunciation of "pasta" seems to be different from the American pronunciation....
Amy |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
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| #3 (permalink) Wed Sep 06, 2006 18:19 pm Nuance or ‘new ants’? |
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Thanks, Amy, for your (as ever) interesting comments.
| Yankee wrote: |
| What do you understand to be "the English way", Conchita? |
Pronouncing with English r’s, to start with, not pronouncing the French nasal sounds (an, in, on, un), typically pronouncing some vowels as diphthongs, in one word... with an English accent!
I must say I enjoy the English hallmark on ‘foreign’ words. As you said, though, the examples I gave are normally pronounced very close to the original language. |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| #4 (permalink) Wed Sep 06, 2006 21:40 pm Nuance or ‘new ants’? |
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Hi!
Conchita, Hi and hope you have had a wonderful holiday. And the same time I?d like to apologize as I opened a new topic on a theme that rather fits to your?s! 
Interesting that you mentioned Renault. I, formerly, always was thinking its pronounciation were "Reno", but the public campaign suggested Renault to be spoken "Renou".
Nice that you?re back again
Michael |
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Fan Of Arabian Horses
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
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Location: next to Dortmund , Europe
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| #5 (permalink) Wed Sep 06, 2006 23:33 pm Nuance or ‘new ants’? |
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Thanks, Michael. And you have absolutely nothing to apologise for.
Regarding the pronunciation of 'Renault', most Spanish people say [re'nol] (!). |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| Expression: "Pain in the neck" | Trust politicians? |
