From: Arnaud Fournet
Message: 61400
Date: 2008-11-05
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick McCallister" <gabaroo6958@...>
Dialect/accent is interesting. I have had no problem understanding Spanish
anywhere I've ever been and find the differences very minor on the whole.
French professors and speakers tell me the same about Quebecois, although to
me it sounds more like Polish than French. I lived for a year at the NY,
Québec, Ontario border and only received Canadian TV. I could understand the
news and science/informational programs perfectly, I had problems with
regular TV shows and couldn't get anything at all when I heard call-in and
local content. People assured me that they understood my French perfectly
but I could barely understand anything they said.
But lots of Americans say the same about Chilean and Cuban Spanish and other
forms that I find very easy to understand.
Arnaud: Is Québecois really that hard?
==========
It's definitely recognizable from about all words they say.
Everything is slightly or hugely modified.
But I think the same happens between general American and RP English.
The other day, I was waiting the bus and two persons came and it became
obvious after two seconds they were from Quebec.
But their Quebec accent was not a problem.
The real problems arise with fast speech, because the odd features tend to
become so salient you get lost.
But this situation also exists with the broken French some youngsters speak
among themselves.
I think the more you hear Quebec French and the more you get used to it.
That's true with any language.
There's a very funny site with Quebec French sketches
that is rather well-known :
http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/index.php
I'm not sure I would be able to dub everything in my own French
but I understand enough to enjoy it.
Among my favorites : la prise d'otage and le pilote
Arnaud