Klarinet Archive - Posting 000415.txt from 1994/10

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Chris Castillo's interesting on idea on language influence
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 14:56:41 -0400

Chris has some terrific ideas. Some pan out. Other may not. Most
recently he voiced the thought that, perhaps, language differences could
be responsible for differences in sound characteristics at a national
level. He offers the supporting evidence that certain sounds in French
do not exist in English and could contribute something that Americans
can't do.

Nice thought Chris, but I don't think this one will fly. There is a great
deal of difference in regional accents in the U.S. People from Brooklyn speak
in a way that is absolutely impermissable anywhere else (and may be impossible
for a non Brookynite to reproduce; i.e., toity doity poiple boids = thirty
dirty purple birds). Other regional differences in English exist that are, to
some extent as distinct from one area to another as American English is from
British English, maybe more. But those regional differences don't add up to
an inherent Brooklyn sound, or a Philadelpha sound.

Besides, I speak French. So why don't I sound like Delecluse? Delecluse spoke
English. Why doesn't he sound like Stanley Drucker (or did he)?

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================

   
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