kandalf
08-04-2011, 09:20 PM
I have some funny experience regarding how non-native english speaker speak english Word. I will share some and you are welcome to share your experience.
WOO!
If you learn Chinese (Huayi/Putonghua), you will learn that pinyin letters are not pronounced as non-Chinese thought. For example, 'Q' is pronounced as "Ch" while "D" is pronounced as "T". So, instead of pronouncing the infamous Emperor "Qin Shi Huang Di", you should pronounce it "Chin Se Huang Ti".
There are even consonants which are not spoken when combined by a specific vocal. For example, you should pronounce "Yi" as "Ee" instead of "Yee". You should also pronounce "Wu" as "Oo" instead of "Woo".
One day, my pronounciation-nazi Indian friend corrected me for pronounce "Women" as simply "WOmen". He said, "No no no.. you should said 'WooMen'". I replied, "okay.. 'WooMen'". He was satisfied, "Yep. like that".
My Chinese friend, "how is the word should pronounced?".
"Wooo Men", answered the Indian.
The Chinese imitated, "Ooooooo Men".
The Indian unhappy, "No no no no no no.. WoooMen".
The Chinese repeated, "Ooooooo Men".
"No no no.. Woooooo"
"Oooooooo"
"No no no no no no.. Woooooooooo"
"Ooooooooo"
And I laughed in front of them.
WOO!
If you learn Chinese (Huayi/Putonghua), you will learn that pinyin letters are not pronounced as non-Chinese thought. For example, 'Q' is pronounced as "Ch" while "D" is pronounced as "T". So, instead of pronouncing the infamous Emperor "Qin Shi Huang Di", you should pronounce it "Chin Se Huang Ti".
There are even consonants which are not spoken when combined by a specific vocal. For example, you should pronounce "Yi" as "Ee" instead of "Yee". You should also pronounce "Wu" as "Oo" instead of "Woo".
One day, my pronounciation-nazi Indian friend corrected me for pronounce "Women" as simply "WOmen". He said, "No no no.. you should said 'WooMen'". I replied, "okay.. 'WooMen'". He was satisfied, "Yep. like that".
My Chinese friend, "how is the word should pronounced?".
"Wooo Men", answered the Indian.
The Chinese imitated, "Ooooooo Men".
The Indian unhappy, "No no no no no no.. WoooMen".
The Chinese repeated, "Ooooooo Men".
"No no no.. Woooooo"
"Oooooooo"
"No no no no no no.. Woooooooooo"
"Ooooooooo"
And I laughed in front of them.