How American have you become?
Mar 15th 2005, 1:12 pm
#76
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Laurie1st
IAlso, several have mentioned that they have had to slow down their speech. Is that because it makes it easier for people to understand you, or do we just speak slower?
Mar 15th 2005, 3:19 pm
#77
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Re: How American have you become?
My daughter (almost 15 months) loves being read too, one of her favourite books is about a little girl who takes her toy zebra to bed with her... I always try to say Zee-bra instead of Zeb-ra because I would like her to learn the american pronunciation... I don't want her to stand out when she starts school... you know how cruel kids can be... however when I take to my (american) husband I always pronouce my Z the english way.
In the 2+ years we have been married we still argue over the proper way to say oregano.
Ash
In the 2+ years we have been married we still argue over the proper way to say oregano.
Ash
Mar 15th 2005, 3:29 pm
#78
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
My daughter (almost 15 months) loves being read too, one of her favourite books is about a little girl who takes her toy zebra to bed with her... I always try to say Zee-bra instead of Zeb-ra because I would like her to learn the american pronunciation... I don't want her to stand out when she starts school... you know how cruel kids can be... however when I take to my (american) husband I always pronouce my Z the english way.
In the 2+ years we have been married we still argue over the proper way to say oregano.
Ash
In the 2+ years we have been married we still argue over the proper way to say oregano.
Ash
uuughh one american pronunciation that grates is zeeee instead of Zed. Dont know why.
How does your hubby pronunce Origami then?
Mar 15th 2005, 4:11 pm
#79
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by ImHere
How does your hubby pronunce Origami then?
I pronounce it O-re-ga-no
He pronounces it O-reg-a-no
Some day I will meet an authentic Italian to ask... knowing my look s/he will say it a completely different way!
Ash
Mar 15th 2005, 4:21 pm
#80
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
Origami??? you mean Oregano
I pronounce it O-re-ga-no
He pronounces it O-reg-a-no
Some day I will meet an authentic Italian to ask... knowing my look s/he will say it a completely different way!
Ash
I pronounce it O-re-ga-no
He pronounces it O-reg-a-no
Some day I will meet an authentic Italian to ask... knowing my look s/he will say it a completely different way!
Ash
Mar 15th 2005, 11:03 pm
#81
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Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Missouri
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by izibear
I think that was my first shocker. I had a teenage girl staying with us (my best friend and her kids moved over stateside a month after we did), and her friends would waltz into the house, walk right past, and not even say hello. I saw red for a while, and informed the kid to kindly point out to her friends that I expected to at least be greeted in my own home.
Mar 15th 2005, 11:37 pm
#82
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
Origami??? you mean Oregano
I pronounce it O-re-ga-no
He pronounces it O-reg-a-no
Some day I will meet an authentic Italian to ask... knowing my look s/he will say it a completely different way!
Ash
I pronounce it O-re-ga-no
He pronounces it O-reg-a-no
Some day I will meet an authentic Italian to ask... knowing my look s/he will say it a completely different way!
Ash
No I mean Origami. If her pronounces Oregano with different emphasis how does he pronounce Origami which has similar phoenetics.
does he say O-rig-a-mi or O-ri-ga-me
Mar 16th 2005, 12:23 am
#83
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by ImHere
No I mean Origami. If her pronounces Oregano with different emphasis how does he pronounce Origami which has similar phoenetics.
does he say O-rig-a-mi or O-ri-ga-me
does he say O-rig-a-mi or O-ri-ga-me
I hope you don't worry about this sort of thing too much.
Mar 16th 2005, 12:26 am
#84
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by dbark
I have two teenagers and all of their friends behave in the same way. My daughter (who moved over with me from the UK) knows better than to come and go without saying hello and goodbye, but my stepson usually forgets. He will come in, grab something to eat, then go again, leaving me feeling like I'm just Cinderella (get out the violins!)
Mar 16th 2005, 2:41 am
#85
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by fatbrit
Coming up 5 years in the US, accent hasn't changed, but basic noun vocabulary has. Don't think my accent ever will change as I lived many years outside English-speaking countries. So these days I put gas in the car, take out the trash, and do the back yard. It's too hard to fight it any more...
that's why I get a kick from this site 
I would say that yes after 8 years my accent has changed but the American's still know I'm not one of theirs
Mar 16th 2005, 3:00 am
#86
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Lion in Winter
I hope you don't worry about this sort of thing too much.
Mar 16th 2005, 3:09 am
#87
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Re: How American have you become?
I stop and get coffee and a Danish each morning from Circle K. Thats kinda like an American past time. Or maybe it's a fat bastard thing?.
Mar 16th 2005, 3:38 am
#88
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by ImHere
No I mean Origami. If her pronounces Oregano with different emphasis how does he pronounce Origami which has similar phoenetics.
does he say O-rig-a-mi or O-ri-ga-me
does he say O-rig-a-mi or O-ri-ga-me
NC Penguin
Mar 16th 2005, 3:41 am
#89
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Pimpbot
I stop and get coffee and a Danish each morning from Circle K. Thats kinda like an American past time. Or maybe it's a fat bastard thing?.
I've never understood why Americans generally eat and drink when driving/riding in a car. I can understand for long distance journeys perhaps but not for commutes, driving to stores, and other short distances/drives (less than 3 hours say).
My USC spouse is the same too. He's always been like that.
NC Penguin
Mar 16th 2005, 3:55 am
#90
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Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
I've never understood why Americans generally eat and drink when driving/riding in a car. I can understand for long distance journeys perhaps but not for commutes, driving to stores, and other short distances/drives (less than 3 hours say).
