Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Please help

Firstly I need to say that I am not sure why the following bothers me but it does.
A teacher at my school, who I consider a good friend, has great English but the way she says one word bothers me.
I want to ask everyone how you say the word we're ? Do you say it with the same pronunciation as the word 'where'? Or, do you say it more like 'weir'? Here is a sentence to make you think about it...
We're going to the festival where we will eat takoyaki.
Please help me. I say it the same as the word 'where'. I have told my friend this and she says yes and agrees but can't actually pronounce it this way. Her English is really good so it frustrates me because now the students pronounce it the same way as she does.....

15 comments:

Lauren said...

The Campys of Britland both say 'we're' the same sound as weir

Turning Japanese said...

That makes me happier... She just sounds kind of strange when she says it... She did spend a bit of time in the UK.

. said...

As a dyed in the wool Aussie I would say it as "where". Gaah...

Turning Japanese said...

Thanks for the extra Aussie input... At school back home we teach about them sounding the same!!!

Anonymous said...

I bet she's just doing the thing lots of Japanese do and trying to sound American.

. said...

But remember there are regional differences in Australia. For instance the way a crow eater says "school" gives them away. As for my banana bending accent am not sure....

Turning Japanese said...

Okay Goongirl... I am sad to have to ask this... but what is a crow eater? I do know however, that you are a banana bender. What am I (Victorian)? Hope it isn't too mean.

Lauren said...

Hey Alex...I thought maybe 'weir' was the 'Yorkshire' way of saying it too....but no...my bro says it that way too...and his accent is completely southern/london/oxford...erm...standard!

. said...

No actually you are a Mexican. Though we tend to refer to NSW residents as such. And a crow eater is someone from SA.....

I should link an Australian dictionary to my blog perhaps?

Victoria said...

i say weir

Paul Campy said...

I'm not sure whether standard is a compliment or not coming from you, dear sis.

Great post.. can / worms / open ;-)

. said...

My JTE had me use American pronounciation. Now I know I turn the full on Ozzie accent on with you lot but at school I use my posh Aussie accent and say CARNT not CANT. It felt so odd to use North American pronounciation

Turning Japanese said...

Yes Yes Alex you are more close to her pronunciation!!! Maybe that is why it sounds weird. I totally get that some people say it like 'weir' and some say 'where'!

J-girl said...

I think most Americans say weir.

Goongirl: Don't let JTEs make you change your pronunciation! The reason they have us here is for authenticity and to internationalis/ze. I've been asked to do British accents before and just tell them I can't accurately do it, so I'd better not do it at all.

. said...

Shin! It was awful my mouth felt all wierd. GAAH. Today I did both ways of saying can`t and CARNT. Eeek.