the knack or how to get it

[theladyrose]

Thought question of the day:

Why is it that people who speak English with a non-native accent are generally considered charming and/or cool, but American accents in other languages are considered to be ugly and uncouth?

In other words: French-accented English is considered to be very sophisticated, while if you speak very "American" sounding Italian people will make fun of you.

Comments

[madbard.livejournal.com]

Sublimated envy.

[lacesilkvinyl.livejournal.com]

Politics. Subtle, subtle politics.

Also because you're going from a Germanic language to a Romance language, whereas the French are doing the opposite. They give a very pretty, flowy quality to the brash nature of English.

[dfordoom.livejournal.com]

I suspect that if you talk very Australian-sounding Italian you'll probably get made fun of as well.

Possibly it's because some accents just don't go with some languages. I suspect that Germans who speak French with strong German accents probably get laughed at as well. Whereas French with an Italian or Spanish accent probably sounds more natural.

French-accented anything sounds sophisticated, though, because the French are sophisticated!

Al (yes, I'm a bit of a Francophile)

[dancing-avenger.livejournal.com]

French-accented English = love.

had to say it.
some people from other countires love maerican or canadian accents though! it's weird.

[dragonfly66.livejournal.com]

because they are *bitches* and we are many. that is why.