Tell It Like It Is
Someone was talking to me this week about the Koran. She was a posh white English woman in her mid-40s who tried to be really well spoken and pronounced the Arabic words in an Arabic accent. I thought it sounded authentic, but I also thought “oh puhr-leeeese”. She’s like those people that have to say the names of pastas in really bad “Shaddupa Yo Face” accents.
She went on: “And some passages about Mughhkhhhamhedd are written just like many Christian phrases.” Except that she didn’t pronounce Christian with a Hebrew accent. To an Arab, her bad Arabic accent, probably would have sounded like an English person trying to sound like an Arab. It was really off-putting. If you’re talking English, you should pronounce things the way you speak English. You dont have to go all Maurice Chevalier when you say “cul de sac” and you don’t have to say “zeitgeist” in a comedy German accent. In fact, you shouldn’t say “zeitgeist” at all. Just say it how you talk.
No one is impressed that you know the origin of words. You just sound mental. These words are in the English language. Some say they were given to us, some say they were nicked. I like to think we are holding them for safekeeping, Elgin marbles style. What matters is they are ours now.
I’m not saying you need to pronounce Paris as Pareee, but draw a line between authenticity and parody. When you talk about places in India, don’t try and do the accent. You will end up sounding like Peter Sellers or a racist.
Also, newsreaders now say “Newcastle” with a Geordie accent. Why? Do they have to pronounce things in their native accent. Do we have to say “Nu Yoik”, “Meheeco Seety”, “Brisbin” or “Noi Zilund”? It doesn’t make it more authentic, it makes it incredulous bollocks*.
I’m sure broadcasters on Tyneside they don’t pronounce the nation’s capital as “Laaaahndon”, because that’s how Cockneys say it. Talk how you talk, we’ll get what you mean.
*not to be confused with Incredulus Bolax - the state bird of Tasmania
May 27th, 2005 at 9:36 pm
I’ve noticed that the wonderful Kiwi’s can’t help but say Ireland with a slight Irish accent.
And when I pulled my partner up about it she thought and said it was probably because they’re trying to differentiate between “the islands” (Pacific Ialsnds; Fiji etc) and “Ireland”
October 13th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
But when actually speaking another language (y’know … talking) it’s better to try pronounce things properly, ain’t it?