Comments on: How to say Tomato?

By: JC

JC — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 03:37:00 +0000

The funny thing about “American English” is that it isn’t even that. Boston speaks way different from what is considered American English as does Louisiana (to name just two). Yes, there is what is considered a “mainstream” accent, but it certainly isn’t everyone and it’s pretty much just based on Hollywood, for better or worse.

I am curious. Is there a similar expectation for English speakers learning Korean? Is a certain accent expected or liked more? For example, if you learned Korean in Busan and did a day trip to Seoul, would you get reactions because the expectation is foreign face = Seoul Korean dialect or accent?

By: Becca Manner

Becca Manner — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 02:25:00 +0000

I like teaching my husband English that is specific to my region of America (사투리 if you will) though of course he is free to speak as he likes. Just as it’s good for Hugh to know Australian English and it’s it’s good for me to know 대구 사투리 it is beneficial for my husband to understand my hometown English style as well. Like you said, general American English is what people are already exposed to so it’s easily understandable. So, of course, hearing a range of accents and dialects and so on is not only good for education and opening up more resources but is fun as well. I really enjoy having friends from all over and learning new English all the time. ^^

By: eleanor

eleanor — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 14:36:00 +0000

The other day in class, I said “can’t” in my South African (more British way) and I had some sassy student “correct” my pronunciation to the American (very nasal sounding) “can’t”. I jokingly gave him a hard time about it (especially because bratty students whose English isn’t super great shouldn’t be “correcting” me when I’m not saying anything wrong.) The obsession with American English is rather annoying.