Whose Pronunciation is Right?

[jargon_dudette]

My professor said that pronunciation of any English word (except for proper nouns) are correct as long as it is intelligible. Since the English language now is not limited to Americans and British and that it is spreading all over the world, spoken by many, the pronunciation should no be STANDARDIZED. That as long as the person you are talking to can understand your pronunciation, it's correct. What say you, gods of Mt. English?

P.S
have not logged in for such a long time. Miss being here!
Hello Richard.

[jctgf]

Originally Posted by jargon_dudette

My professor said that pronunciation of any English word (except for proper nouns) are correct as long as it is intelligible. Since the English language now is not limited to Americans and British and that it is spreading all over the world, spoken by many, the pronunciation should no be STANDARDIZED. That as long as the person you are talking to can understand your pronunciation, it's correct. What say you, Gods of Mt. English?

P.S
have not logged in for such a long time. Miss being here!
Hello Richard.

i am only a student and i think your teacher is 100% correct.

it's a pitty that such a complicated language is the "universal" one.

i feel like "borrowing" something from the others...don't u?

regards

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by jargon_dudette

My professor said that pronunciation of any English word (except for proper nouns) are correct as long as it is intelligible. Since the English language now is not limited to Americans and British and that it is spreading all over the world, spoken by many, the pronunciation should no be STANDARDIZED. That as long as the person you are talking to can understand your pronunciation, it's correct. What say you, gods of Mt. English?

P.S
have not logged in for such a long time. Miss being here!
Hello Richard.

Good to see you back.

Language changes, but there are still basics that mean everyone using it can understand each other. If the "correct" pronunciation of words is ignored, you will find comprehension becoming increasingly difficult. The rhythm and pattern of speech varies enormously, and unless you are used to a rhythm it can be difficult to understand.

If an English speaker learns a foreign language, it is the "correct" pronunciations that are learned, not the dialectical ones.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Anglika

If an English speaker learns a foreign language, it is the "correct" pronunciations that are learned, not the dialectical ones.

I disagree. Here are my reasons, Anglika.

What else is BrE or AmE or AuE or CdE but dialectal?

Most ESL students will never have perfect pronunciation [or grammar or naturalness] for they start too late and the window of opportunity for a perfect acquisition of a second language closes forever.

But that's not a problem. The only measure that's really important is, communicativeness.

[seba_870701]

Hi guys.
I agree entirely with Anglika! If the pronunciation and/or grammar were not standardized, we all would have great difficulty in understanding each other. Thus, in most of the schools in Poland (in my college as well) RP is thaught, because it gives no trace of speaker's origin! I believe it's the most universal and the easiest to comprehend dialect of English.. unlike to many regional ones!

[David L.]

I live in Scotland where we all speak English; but I can't understand what people in Ayrshire are saying because of their pronunciations eg "bill" pronounced as "bell" as one example. To extrapolate from what certain respondents are advocating, and for us all to 'say it any way you like', then verbal communication is doomed! Even deaf people have standardized sign language, instead of just flapping their arms around.

[jargon_dudette]

Originally Posted by seba_870701

Hi guys.
I agree entirely with Anglika! If the pronunciation and/or grammar were not standardized, we all would have great difficulty in understanding each other. Thus, in most of the schools in Poland (in my college as well) RP is thaught, because it gives no trace of speaker's origin! I believe it's the most universal and the easiest to comprehend dialect of English.. unlike to many regional ones!

What's an RP

[Tdol]

Hi, how are you?
Intelligibility is the most important test of pronunciation. Many are moving away from looking at approximation to native speaker pronunciation as such a key factor. I don't see anything wrong with this. Dictionaries are littered with alternative pronunciations of words and it is impossible to choose one and say that this is the only correct form. However, I think that the language will self-standardise as the requirements for international communication increase.

RP = Received Pronunciation

[seba_870701]

Originally Posted by David L.

I live in Scotland where we all speak English; but I can't understand what people in Ayrshire are saying because of their pronunciations eg "bill" pronounced as "bell" as one example. To extrapolate from what certain respondents are advocating, and for us all to 'say it any way you like', then verbal communication is doomed! Even deaf people have standardized sign language, instead of just flapping their arms around.

My teacher of British Literature speaks like that.. I spend most of her lectures wondering what is she talking about, because I can hardly recognise some words that she (according to RP rules) mispells!

[Tdol]

Whereabouts is she from?