Native English-Speakers ??

Native English-Speakers ??
Jun 19, 2006 15:37	#11
GRIZ326 Points: Join Date: Jun 12, 2006 Status: Offline	I actually missed some of apault's post, Pinetree. It is true that an American cannot understand the speech of a rank 'n file Irishman, Englishman, or Australian...so certainly the reverse must be true too. When I worked as a radio broadcaster there was a standard for announcers. We had to speak clearly, use correct speech, and NOT have a regional dialect. Of course, that standard was abandoned long ago, so the quality of speech on radio and television has deteriorated greatly. And that has a rippling effect into the audience population. The American-english spoken by both broadcasters and citizens is distressing poor right now...and peppered with vulgarity. The broadcasters on CCTV are very good, but they would not be good teachers english because they make many speech errors. On the other hand, spoken English is a living language. ...so China should be free to create its own Chinese variation of it just as America has. Hopefully, the Chinese varient of English will be better than the current American version.

Jun 19, 2006 15:37

#11

GRIZ326
Points:
Join Date: Jun 12, 2006
Status: Offline

I actually missed some of apault's post, Pinetree.

It is true that an American cannot understand the speech of a rank 'n file Irishman, Englishman, or Australian...so certainly the reverse must be true too.

When I worked as a radio broadcaster there was a standard for announcers. We had to speak clearly, use correct speech, and NOT have a regional dialect. Of course, that standard was abandoned long ago, so the quality of speech on radio and television has deteriorated greatly. And that has a rippling effect into the audience population. The American-english spoken by both broadcasters and citizens is distressing poor right now...and peppered with vulgarity.

The broadcasters on CCTV are very good, but they would not be good teachers english because they make many speech errors.

On the other hand, spoken English is a living language. ...so China should be free to create its own Chinese variation of it just as America has. Hopefully, the Chinese varient of English will be better than the current American version.

Jun 20, 2006 00:39

#12

APAULT
Points:
Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
Status: Offline

I agree with you GRIZ326.. the standard of English has deteriorated - regional and international accents are great. I have no problem with clear US English but it seems increasing hard to find. It seems to me that most US TV presenters are being paid by how fast they can get through their segment! There is a mistaken belief that that fast speach is exciting speach. It just ain't so!

'Goodness glacious me, Sir' but I can understand Indian English (and Chinglish) more readily than American as it is presented on TV. My cxollege students understand real English TV announcers and movies but struggle with American.

Yes, English is a living language, but if two or more versions change in different ways we cease to have communication. American is fast becoming a language in its own right, so lets not call it English! (Me prejudiced? Never!)

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