Do you automatically assume that person is poor at English?
(British, American, Canadian or Australian accents don't count)
2007-06-03 11:14:18 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Joanne,
I'm talking about English speakers from countries where English is not the native language. It's perfectly possible for people from such countries to be fluent in English.
2007-06-03 11:21:34 · update #1
NO! My first boyfriend was from Colombia--he had a strong accent but probably had a better vocabulary than I (at the time! LoL) I recall he taught me the word "aggrandize"--I was 18 and insisted there was no such English word!--wrong-o.
Sometimes those who learn a second language learn it SO STRICTLY that their grammar and usage is better than an average native speaker.
2007-06-03 11:19:19 · answer #1 · answered by mementomoron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assume-every ones favorite meaning is. If you assume you make an a.. out of me and you. Well, I fall into this category and from being there I should say also: Ignorant people are everywhere. In my job I have been told that I don't know anything because on my accent. At times it is been defined as cute (which to me cute is a baby)But then again I have been in this earth long enough to now better so comments from people that don't know me are not a great concern. I know two languages and can read and write (some exceptions in grammar dept.) When they need a translator they come to me. NOW I am worth something because I help other people out. So I am assuming the other person is an idiot for only knowing one language....Just my humble opinion. Thanks for taking the time to read.......
2007-06-03 11:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by sandrota 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. A lot of my professors at MSUM spoke English as a second language and I never thought they were poor at English.
Joseph Conrade spoke English as a third langauge and wrote some of his best prose in it, such as Heart of Darkness.
2007-06-03 14:54:52 · answer #3 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume that the person has good english, but if they had a really thick accent then I sometimes assume that they have poor english. How terrible does that sound?
2007-06-03 11:17:34 · answer #4 · answered by DJ Moon Unit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I would know that the person is from a country where English is not their national language, and would do my best to understand what he or she was trying to say. I would also talk to the person. He or she might be very nice.
2007-06-03 11:23:13 · answer #5 · answered by barbwire 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No being Scottish I find they have difficulty understanding me, assume this is because regional accents are not hear in the media as often as Oxford English accents.
2007-06-03 11:21:13 · answer #6 · answered by northcarrlight 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope I have met many nationalities and I dont assume they are poor at English thats just their native accent that they have been using for years. I LOVE it when I meet foreign men and they have thick accents. Its so hot to me.
2007-06-03 11:17:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to listen more carefully. Also, if you're not sure what was said, say "I beg your pardon, I didn't get that." Or "I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand what you just said." If you say it politely, people will know that you mean well. They know they have an accent and they know it's sometimes hard for others to understand. But you also have to make the effort by listening especially carefully. Good luck.
2016-05-20 04:49:32 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way. In my experience I have found that the chances are the person speaks english just fine along with 1,2,3 other languages.
2007-06-03 11:18:56 · answer #9 · answered by ~~∞§arah T∞©~~ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What kind of accents are you referring to then? Are you trying to make a statement about non-english speaker?
It would be more interesting to ask this question about english speakers.
2007-06-03 11:19:00 · answer #10 · answered by joanna_jaunts 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋