spoiler

Context: I watched some Mandarin-TV show and apparantly there are kids with strict parents that would be disapppointed when the kid’s English language class scores are low…

So I feel so awkward just… being abroad and know English lol.

spoiler

I wonder how a foreigner visiting China would feel if I traveled there started speaking English to them? Do they instantly know I’m actually an American Citizen? Or would they get confused for a few seconds before I have to explain my situation to them?

  • Lembot_0006@programming.dev
    24·
    1 day ago

    Hmm. Yes, learning foreign language as adult is difficult while using the language you constantly use from the beginning is easy.

  • √𝛂𝛋𝛆@piefed.worldEnglish
    12·
    1 day ago

    My favorite surprise language is very very Asian looking with a hillbilly southern accent and slang. Really any distinctly atypical phenotype mixed with redneck is fascinating. I can easily opt out of my southern accent. It is not my default. I find it funny how some people cannot switch it off.

      • Holytimes@sh.itjust.works
        3·
        18 hours ago

        My brain went straight to shampoo from ranma 1/2 in overhauls and a flannel…

        You have given me much joy and reminded me a show I haven’t thought of in 20 years. Thank you.

    • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
      7·
      24 hours ago

      What I found interesting is that this (for me) is so clearly modulated by exposure. So according to my brain:

      • Asian-background person speaking my native language with a native accent: completely normal
      • Asian-background person speaking German with a native accent: STRANGE! INTRIGUING! WOW!

      I mean it’s obviously not strange, and yet.

      Unrelated, but I also find it hilarious when you can identify a distinctive regional accent in someone’s foreign language. I once heard someone speaking German with an Irish accent, for example. It’s not even weird thinking about it, but it still sounded funny!