What American English Sounds Like to Non-English Speakers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the perception of American English by non-English speakers, particularly through the lens of gibberish renditions of the language. Participants share thoughts on how American English might sound to those unfamiliar with it, referencing examples from music and personal experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the existence of gibberish versions of various languages and expresses curiosity about how American English is perceived by non-speakers.
  • Another participant shares a specific example of gibberish American English from a song, suggesting it might illustrate the topic.
  • A later reply comments on the video, expressing enjoyment but also stating that the unintelligibility of song lyrics in English makes it less strange or humorous than expected.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of amusement and curiosity about the topic, but there is no consensus on how American English sounds to non-English speakers or the significance of the gibberish example.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the familiarity of non-English speakers with American English and the nature of gibberish renditions are not fully explored, leaving room for further discussion.

CAC1001
So I have heard gibberish versions of languages, such as gibberish German or gibberish Japanese and gibberish Chinese, and even gibberish Russian (where you can't tell that someone isn't speaking the real language if you don't speak it). So I have always wondered what American English sounds like to other languages. Here is a song done in gibberish American English from the 1970s:

 
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Lol! Nice.
 
CAC1001 said:
So I have heard gibberish versions of languages, such as gibberish German or gibberish Japanese and gibberish Chinese, and even gibberish Russian (where you can't tell that someone isn't speaking the real language if you don't speak it). So I have always wondered what American English sounds like to other languages. Here is a song done in gibberish American English from the 1970s:


That video rocks!

Still, since half the lyrics of all songs in English are unintelligible even to Americans, it didn't sound particularly strange or funny.
 
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