Lingusitics English Language Struggles: Overcoming Problems

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The discussion centers on the challenges faced by non-native English speakers when trying to understand movies and spoken English, particularly in dialects or genres that may use slang or fast-paced dialogue. A user from Russia expressed frustration after watching a horror film, "Do Not Knock Twice," finding it difficult to comprehend despite knowing the vocabulary. Others shared similar experiences, noting that listening comprehension can be particularly challenging, with factors such as dialects, accents, and cultural references complicating understanding. Suggestions included watching different types of content, such as BBC programs, to improve listening skills. The conversation also touched on the nuances of language learning, including the difficulties of translating idiomatic expressions and the impact of cultural context on language use. Overall, the thread highlights the complexities of mastering English as a second language, especially in informal or colloquial settings.
  • #31
Klystron said:
I have read that the Southern United States and certain remote areas such as Appalachia speak English with archaic accents derived from the 16th and 17th Centuries.
If you go to certain places such as Tangeir Island Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay, the natives still speak Elizabethan English. The dialect is called High Tider or Hoi Toider . When I heard it, I could not even identify is as a variant of English.

French in Quebec or in New Orleans, are very different than French in France.

But you can find similar variations in Europe, for example:
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  • #32
When I lived in Germany in the 50's there was a joke in German that I can't recall but the punchline was something like "We couldn't understand him - he's from Bavaria".
 
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  • #33
phinds said:
When I lived in Germany in the 50's there was a joke in German that I can't recall but the punchline was something like "We couldn't understand him - he's from Bavaria".
Oh, so he presumably was 'Bayerische', as in 'Bayerische Motoren Werke'?
 
  • #34
sysprog said:
Oh, so he presumably was 'Bayerische', as in 'Bayerische Motoren Werke'?
Yes, I said he was was from Bravaria so of course he was Bravarian (or in German, Bayerische)
 

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