Talking to foreigners...

[Easy 10]

When I'm talking to foreign people in english, I keep catching myself putting on a RUBBISH foreign accent, in a pathetic attempt to help them understand me better.
We have had a couple of young french students stay with us this week, and their english was crap (better than my french, mind). Every time I spoke to them, I sounded like a cross between Claudio Ranieri and Seve Ballasteros, and I COULDN'T STOP DOING IT.

Is it just me, or does anyone else unwittingly talk in silly accents to foreigners ?

 

[Beach Hut]

Yep - guilty as sin on that front.

However much I try to be helpful I sound stupid.

 

[Braders]

i can't do foreign languages (speaking )

i struggle with english let alone ....

 

[Gully]

As a young child I had the habit of mimiking the accent of non English people visiting our family home, used to happen quite often as half the family is Irish, apparently it drove the olds up the wall and the visitors thought I was taking the pee, but hey I was a kid and had no idea what I was doing, fortunately for zee German neeboors I hazz grown out of eet.

 

[seagull over spain]

Me to but the problem is i'm the forigner so talking to the Spanish not only in an odd accent but I throw in non existent words sounding Spanish but really adjusted English.

 

[Terrace Dandy]

Is it just me, or does anyone else unwittingly talk in silly accents to foreigners ?

Not at all easy, I work on the new home office site in London, The site has 4,000 workers on it and 98% are french. They expect us to speck french but I haven't a clue apart from one word........Falaermrbush.

They understand that ok.

 

[Easy 10]

I'm glad its not just me then.
Several times I've walked away slapping my forehead this week after saying something like "You are enjoy ze deena tonight, ya ?"

*cringe*

 

[Braders]

Re: Re: Talking to foreigners...

Not at all easy, I work on the new home office site in London, The site has 4,000 workers on it and 98% are french. They expect us to speck french but I haven't a clue apart from one word........Falaermrbush.

They understand that ok.

what does it mean though?

 

[Ernest]

I sound stupid.

Can't disagree with that

 

[oapdodge]

I just end up talking louder,like I do to old people.

 

[Beach Hut]

Can't disagree with that

Better mood now ?

 

[Ernest]

Better mood now ?

You put me in a bad mood with your stupidity, can't wait to see your tattoo as odds on it will be spelt 'Baech Hit'

 

[Beach Hut]

Watch out as Terrace Dandy will be after you

 

[Ernest]

Watch out as Terrace Dandy will be after you

Who ?

 

[Beach Hut]

Who ?

 

[Ernest]

You're not a schizophrenic these days with 2 ID's are you

 

[Beach Hut]

You're not a schizophrenic these days with 2 ID's are you

Nope but clearly you don't read other threads

 

[Ernest]

Nope but clearly you don't read other threads

Pray tell me dear boy what I should be reading

 

[Beach Hut]

Terrace Dandy hates us

 

[Ernest]

Terrace Dandy hates us

Really , it is all your fault