What are the idiosyncrasies of Chinese-accented English?

[b0mbrman]

A random question, I know, but what are the tell-tale signs of an English speaker who learned Chinese as their first language?

Dropped letters? Substituting one sound for some other? Some vowel extended?

 

[destrekor]

"Engrish"

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Are we being stereotypical or not? Because my dad, who's been in the US for 32 years, can speak unaccented English with correct grammar.

Otherwise:

L = R
Not knowing how to conjugate some verbs for correct syntax ("How come this no do that," "How come you can no" as my aunt says)
Hearing a giant "err" sound in words (depends on region of origin)
Ai-yah
"How come you no get A? You bring shame to famiry" and about 43 bajillion other variations

 

[RavenSEAL]

They teach mathematics in College and have a really thick accent...

 

[sdifox]

pacing and intonation would be my guess. Problem with R.

 

[b0mbrman]

Are we being stereotypical or not? Because my dad, who's been in the US for 32 years, can speak unaccented English with correct grammar.

Otherwise:

L = R
Not knowing how to conjugate some verbs for correct syntax ("How come this no do that," "How come you can no" as my aunt says)
Hearing a giant "err" sound in words (depends on region of origin)
Ai-yah
"How come you no get A? You bring shame to famiry" and about 43 bajillion other variations

I can explain more, but we're trying to catch these idiosyncrasies in precisely the sort of people who speak unaccented English with correct grammar.

 

[sdifox]

I can explain more, but we're trying to catch these idiosyncrasies in precisely the sort of people who speak unaccented English with correct grammar.

err, whut? if they speak in unaccented English with correct grammar, you just know they ain't originally from USA :biggrin:

 

[b0mbrman]

err, whut? if they speak in unaccented English with correct grammar, you just know they ain't originally from USA :biggrin:

:biggrin:

 

[dascoyne]

Russell Peters does the best Chinese accent I've ever heard.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

err, whut? if they speak in unaccented English with correct grammar, you just know they ain't originally from USA :biggrin:

I can explain more, but we're trying to catch these idiosyncrasies in precisely the sort of people who speak unaccented English with correct grammar.

If anything, my dad has some trouble with understanding figures of speech, even if it's not really one.

For instance, the other day was his birthday, and I surprised him by going to visit him (8 hour round trip drive). The first thing I said was, "What, you think I wouldn't come back to celebrate your 50th?" and he got all offended. He thought that that was incredibly unfriendly, even though we all know there's nothing offensive about it.

I can't use an idiom on him, he doesn't get it. If he needs to use one, he'll just say "There's a saying in Chinese that goes xxxx" and explain it to me. He also doesn't know complicated words very well, so if there's a way to explain it to him using simple vocabulary/layman's terms I'll do it.

His job requires him to teleconference, so I guess that's what helped him brush up on his skills quickly. If there's something specific you're looking for just let me know and I'll think a bit.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

It's fRied Rice, you pLick!

 

[dascoyne]

It's not as much about pronunciation as it is about tone.

for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIijBLnIKDI

 

[quikah]

This is a bit more subtle, but mixing up gender pronouns is big one.

 

[b0mbrman]

Russell Peters does the best Chinese accent I've ever heard.

How do you define "best?"

 

[OCGuy]

I'm so roneryyyyy

 

[Imp]

Depends on if they're Cantonese or Mandarin speaking.

Most of the Engrish you hear is from Cantonese speakers, Hong Kong area emigrants. I look for a really "open throat", deep sounding, sort of mumbled tone.

I don't hang with Mandariners, though we have many at work, so I can't realyl put my finger on what to look for. I guess really slow, stretched out talking...?

 

[OCGuy]

Also, be careful of them playing jokes. Especially putting pee-pee in your coke.

 

[b0mbrman]

Depends on if they're Cantonese or Mandarin speaking.

Most of the Engrish you hear is from Cantonese speakers, Hong Kong area emigrants. I look for a really "open throat", deep sounding, sort of mumbled tone.

I don't hang with Mandariners, though we have many at work, so I can't realyl put my finger on what to look for. I guess really slow, stretched out talking...?

I'd say Mandariners would probably make the most sense...

 

[b0mbrman]

Hm... here are some more thoughts:

short a => long a
short e => long a
short i => long e
l => r
weak Rs *or* overcompensated Rs
th (as in this) => d

gerund form of verbs where it's not necessary
Singular form where plural would be correct

 

[Imp]

Another thought... pretend you're wretching/barfing, then try to speak - that's how cantonese is spoken to a degree. It's really "open throat" and/or "relaxed throat" type of speaking.

 

[b0mbrman]

Another thought... pretend you're wretching/barfing, then try to speak - that's how cantonese is spoken to a degree. It's really "open throat" and/or "relaxed throat" type of speaking.

Hm... can you spell out an example phonetically?

I can't quite visualize (auralize?) what you mean

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Depends on if they're Cantonese or Mandarin speaking.

Most of the Engrish you hear is from Cantonese speakers, Hong Kong area emigrants. I look for a really "open throat", deep sounding, sort of mumbled tone.

I don't hang with Mandariners, though we have many at work, so I can't realyl put my finger on what to look for. I guess really slow, stretched out talking...?

I have no clue what you're talking about... I'm Cantonese, grew up around my Cantonese-only grandparents, lived in Vancouver for awhile, and don't recall any guttural deep-sounding tones. I can somewhat understand the opened throat feeling saying some sentences aloud, but it's not too different from me speaking English. Whenever I talk with family it never sounds like they're barfing while speaking.

My entire family is from Hong Kong. If anything I'd put the Engrish on Mandarin-folk. Ever hear someone from Beijing speak? EerrrrrRrRRRrR

 

[bononos]

A random question, I know, but what are the tell-tale signs of an English speaker who learned Chinese as their first language?

Dropped letters? Substituting one sound for some other? Some vowel extended?

Its not just mispronounced letters but its also the shoehorning of Chinese grammatical rules for informal speech so sentences can be very terse and relies alot on context for its proper meaning - eg. is it a statement/question/sarcasm??