How English sounds to non-speakers.

[juneau]

Just come across this on another forum and it's funny and quite scary at the same time.

Now we've probably all done a stereotypical imitation of another language with Chinese ('Ching, chang, chong' anyone?), French, German, and Italian being the obvious ones. But has anyone ever thought, what happens when non-English speakers do the same for us?

As a neat little exercise, I have compiled a list of videos to show what English sounds like to people around the world. As English speakers, we have a lot of fun imitating what certain languages sound like to us, such as French, Italian, and Chinese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JhuOicPFZY

One Great example from Family guy.

Let’s turn the tables and see what other people think we sound like.

1. The best of the best: Adriano Celentano- Prisencolinensinainciusol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcUi6UEQh00

Italian singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, and tv host Adriano Celentano wrote this amazing in 1972. The video itself is pure eye candy, and the words are what English sounds like to a non-native speaker, and they’re pure gibberish. Celentano has stated that the song is about incommunicability in the modern age, and prisencolinensinainciusol is supposed to stand for “universal love.” Amazing.

[This is a very strange watch. It sounds like English.... but you just can't understand any of it.]

2. English as interpreted by a 9-year old Japanese boy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLZhclvLbfI

This is what English sounds like to a little Japanese boy. It sounds like a lot of barking, with “rock and roll” and “English” thrown in there for good measure.

3. English according to a peculiar French dude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRR_gKFT6ds

This strange French fellow does a surprisingly good imitation of English, along with a few other languages. Kind of interesting.

4. Bulgarian woman attempts Mariah Carey on “Music Idol.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQt-h753jHI

Valentina Hasan attempting Mariah Carey’s “Without You” on the Bulgarian version of American Idol. Ridiculous.

[Possibly the funniest thing i've ever seen! Ken Leeeee!!!]

5. Argentine band attempts English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyqLPRx0GRg

An Argentine band, Masticar, wrote this song in the mid-90s to show how they felt English sounds.

6. A German Quicky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2GYNMuTpg8

Here is a short clip of a German guy talking in fake English.

7. Russian attempting a Texas Accent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abn1Ffd9CEY

He also tries to do other languages as well, amusing.

8. Another French person attempting English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLs6i-2vYpk

This girl sounds like she’s speaking Chinese or something.

9. Large Peruvian sings fake English song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3bxFuLkT10

This is very, very strange…

10. Argentine girl does a great fake English impression.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dll1eisDDfg

You have to go to Youtube to watch this one because embedding was disabled, but it’s well worth the click. One of the better English impressions on Youtube.

So there you have it. To non-english speakers we sound like idiots.

[Skud]

I'm a native speaker and I hear plenty of folks who sound like idiots! ba dump bom!


I couldn't understand the words of the the song by the Italian comedian, but I could understand the school girls and dancers!

The last vid, the lady from Argentina, looks and sounds almost exactly like a young lady from Venezuela who rides on one of my night routes. A very nice lady and I never laugh at her English, which after two years in Madison is quite good.

Anyway, nice post Juneau...you really did some digging. Kudos to all who take a moment to try to see from the perspective of others.

[K PhaNTOM]

As a 3 language speaker, I enjoy the look of people who hear me talk in anything other than English. And I always mention their name or look at them to make them think I'm talking about them. Got me in a little bit of trouble once... but nothing a smile can't fix

[Skud]

As a 3 language speaker, I enjoy the look of people who hear me talk in anything other than English. And I always mention their name or look at them to make them think I'm talking about them. Got me in a little bit of trouble once... but nothing a smile can't fix

I can believe the three language part, but not the part about you getting into trouble...really shakes my world.

[juneau]

I couldn't understand the words of the the song by the Italian comedian

But didn't it sound slightly familiar? It sounds like English but it isn't.

[Hammy]

the thing that blew my mind in Adriano Celentano- Prisencolinensinainciusolthat is that the women actually had meat on them- I mean those women look WAY healthier than the women on Television today. Much more beautiful than the stick figures who carry a diet of protein shakes and cocaine.

Then again, I love mediterranean women...soooo......

[FieryDragon]

the thing that blew my mind in Adriano Celentano- Prisencolinensinainciusolthat is that the women actually had meat on them- I mean those women look WAY healthier than the women on Television today. Much more beautiful than the stick figures who carry a diet of protein shakes and cocaine.

Then again, I love mediterranean women...soooo......

+1 These women in the 70's video were hot. Now they are Cougar status.

[Minerva]

Hah ...you should hear my workmates/friends when they try to imitate American accent. In fact, I have a friend at work that imitates "my American accent" (For all of you I wouldn't have any, but for my friends here... I do !!!) It's so curious and funny at the same time.
Then again, my English is a mix of catalan-spanish-american accent.

[LadyBug]

Everyone here thinks that understanding DougBob with his accent is trying...my southern accent is way worse. I went to a foreign country and tried to speak their language...they were very gracious and just stared spellbound as I spoke. That is pretty much the way I was looking at the videos. Some of them did really amazing not to understand a word of what they were saying though. I never thought about their being distinct dialects to each region of each country in the world. We won't catch it but those that are familiar with us will. I like your accent Minerva, I think it is easier to understand than mine

[Hammy]

I shared this song with my buddy and he is turning it into a mix for this weekend at the club (Adriano Celentano- Prisencolinensinainciusolthat)

He was like OMG This is AWESOME.

[juneau]

I shared this song with my buddy and he is turning it into a mix for this weekend at the club (Adriano Celentano- Prisencolinensinainciusolthat)

He was like OMG This is AWESOME.

He should do Ken Lee too.

[Skud]

So there you have it. To non-english speakers we sound like idiots.

Oh, one more thought on this one (it came up after my first post): since we sound like idiots to them, and they are able to ridicule us, I guess it's okay for us to ridicule them again! Whew, I'm glad we're all on the same page again!