Category: culture

Hello Everybody,

Have you ever considered how wonderful the sound of a language is? And, at the same time, how different and sometimes amusing a non-native speaker sounds, especially when their pronunciation reflects their native language?

In my personal experience, even though I strive to speak the languages I know very well and try to hide my native accent, my Italian intonation still comes through! It is quite amusing, especially when I speak Spanish. To tell you the truth, I often get asked, “Where are you from?” by people. At this point, I think it would be helpful to share a bit of my background so you can understand the different language influences I’ve absorbed over the years.

I lived in Seville for six years and one year in Palma de Mallorca, where I met many Caribbean people. As a result, my accent is a unique blend of Andalusian and Cuban! Curious, isn’t it? Many Spanish speakers ask if I am from the Canary Islands because there is a significant population of Cubans there who mix Castellano with Cuban expressions. I must admit, I am like a sponge, absorbing the sounds I hear around me.

The same happens with Portuguese speakers who ask me if I am Brazilian because I learned Brazilian Portuguese. Thanks to my several Brazilian friends who help me practice, I sound quite Brazilian, or so they say!

But now let’s talk about those who use their native accents to speak another language. Spanish speakers, particularly those from mainland Spain, caught my attention. They speak English with their native sounds, which can sound quite unusual. For example, English words beginning with “s” are pronounced with an “es” sound, as in Spanish. It is challenging for them to drop the “e“:

Study – estudy (Spanish pronunciation)

School – eschool

Spain – Espain

The word Google is often pronounced “Googel,” and the letter “h” is pronounced like the Spanish “j” with its guttural sound, so “hip-hop” becomes “ji-jo.” This can be confusing for native English speakers, who may struggle to understand due to these pronunciation differences.

It is not entirely their fault, as Spain extensively dubs TV programs and films, making it harder to learn proper English. Additionally, they are quite nationalistic, translating almost everything from English to Spanish.

Conversely, Italians often mix English and Italian, sounding Americanized, but they also face challenges due to extensive dubbing.

I have heard Portuguese speakers speak English well, despite their nasal sounds. Norwegians, including myself, tend to sing when speaking English, influenced by their native intonation. I have been told my English carries a mix of Italian, Spanish, and Norwegian accents by my American friends, hehehe!

What about American or English speakers speaking Spanish or Italian? Forgive me, but it sounds amusing (in a good way, of course)!

First, their “r” sound and, particularly among Americans, their “t” sound often comes out as “d“:

Ristretto – ristredou (American pronunciation)

Salita – salida

Vecchietta – vechieda

Lastly, Germans (even though I do not know German, their accent when speaking Italian caught my attention) speak Italian with a very pronounced accent, substituting “ge” with “ce“:

Germania – Cermania (German pronunciation)

Gente – cente

How funny do we all sound? And how beautiful is every language, with all its pros and cons?