Is there a need for all the pretense?
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But of course! Because when I wrote that post, I KNEW you would miss the intended sarcasm and I just had to jump at the opportunity that literally landed on my lap. You were like a sheep walking to the abbatoir all by its merry wee self... how could I pass up an opportunity like that?!Originally posted by Bloop...:Alright... I'm having too much fun to sleep.
I admire the way you plucked out that bit and chose to ignore the rest of it.
All said, you don't know me. You made a huge mistake by criticising my writing style and taking offence to my so-called 'bombastic' English. I don't miss insinuations, Bloop, and neither do I take kindly to them. -
...and you did it againOriginally posted by Rhonda:But of course! Because when I wrote that post, I KNEW you would miss the intended sarcasm and I just had to jump at the opportunity that literally landed on my lap. You were like a sheep walking to the abbatoir all by its merry wee self... how could I pass up an opportunity like that?!
All said, you don't know me. You made a huge mistake by criticising my writing style and taking offence to my so-called 'bombastic' English. I don't miss insinuations, Bloop, and neither do I take kindly to them. -
Some may becomes parrots to a certain extent because we want to gain acceptance by communicating in a way we think that the person normally communicates in...
Of course what some of these people may in fact be irritating/fake to others around us..
As for the "western is cool, lets copy" concept, how about this: Take a case of Singaporeans who studied in china on an extended exchange program.
They came back with the Beijing Accent. Some of them sounded like genuine Beijing natives, others sounded like wannabes.. And the reason for such a difference is individual parroting skill -
C'mon Rhonda... lighten up. This whole thread was started criticising a group of people for their "fake accents". You jumped in and pitched.Originally posted by Rhonda:But of course! Because when I wrote that post, I KNEW you would miss the intended sarcasm and I just had to jump at the opportunity that literally landed on my lap. You were like a sheep walking to the abbatoir all by its merry wee self... how could I pass up an opportunity like that?!
All said, you don't know me. You made a huge mistake by criticising my writing style and taking offence to my so-called 'bombastic' English. I don't miss insinuations, Bloop, and neither do I take kindly to them.
That makes you fair game. Just like my getting into it made me fair game.
"Don't throw rocks if you live in a house made of glass..." -
Wow! This thread has more entertainment value than a night at the movies!
Lemme go grab some popcorn and a soda, and I'll be right back...
MG -
No one said you can't drawl like a Texan. You have every right to put on an accent, just pull it off and no one will say a thing. But for crying out loud, you don't have to pull it off on an aunty who you can communicate with better in Singlish or Mandarin. Defeats all purpose of communication.Originally posted by Bloop...:That's right. You could also speak and type in Singlish. It is a recognised colloquial form of English, just like Cockney.
I stand my my rights to drawl like a Texan, speak like I have too much starch in my shorts like a Brit... or even fake an American accent like Doc.Fu Man Chu without being looked down upon by people who, in their own way, are putting on their own show...
Putting on our own show? I don't know what you're trying to prove here because the majority here is trying to air their views, whereas you are shooting down anyone who don't agree with you.
Speak or type in Singlish? Can lah! What your problem?
If you noticed my other posts some are peppered with Singlish as well. I'm not ashamed with typing or speaking in Singlish but there is a time and place for everything.
I do speak with an American accent as well when I speak to my Canadian and American collegues because I find that they underestand me better that way if I can't get through to them with my Singapore accented English.
What I was trying to say in my initial post was must we pretend to speak with my accent, even with our own fellow Singaporeans? Has it got to do with how the government's agenda is trying to mould Singapore to fit the Swiss model or whatever model???
Anyway, all of us are communicating badly here sicne we are all out of topic now -
The title read, " Is there a need for all the pretense"Originally posted by Bloop...:C'mon Rhonda... lighten up. This whole thread was started criticising a group of people for their "fake accents". You jumped in and pitched.
That makes you fair game. Just like my getting into it made me fair game.
"Don't throw rocks if you live in a house made of glass..."
I just cited the fake accent thingy as an example and suddenly it is a thread of criticising a group of people for their "fake accents"
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You can speak like a Texan all you want. The question would be 'why'. Why speak in a manner such that the people you are trying to communicate with may not understand?Originally posted by Bloop...:That's right. You could also speak and type in Singlish. It is a recognised colloquial form of English, just like Cockney.
I stand my my rights to drawl like a Texan, speak like I have too much starch in my shorts like a Brit... or even fake an American accent like Doc.Fu Man Chu without being looked down upon by people who, in their own way, are putting on their own show...
I believe the main grudge of the topic creator was that she felt the lady at the supermarket was trying to exert a sense of superiority by speaking in a manner that sounded awkward.
EDIT: Err...grammer mistake. Yup. -
Thank you MrIllusion. That is exactly what I felt!Originally posted by MrIllusion:You can speak like a Texan all you want. The question would be 'why'. Why speak in a manner such that the people you are trying to communicate with may not understand?
I believe the main grudge of the topic creator was that he felt the lady at the supermarket was trying to exert a sense of superiority by speaking in a manner that sounded awkward. -
So did you!Originally posted by Bloop...:...and you did it again -
*SheOriginally posted by MrIllusion:I believe the main grudge of the topic creator was that he felt the lady at the supermarket was trying to exert a sense of superiority by speaking in a manner that sounded awkward.
No hard feelings.
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Speak for yourself!Originally posted by Bloop...:C'mon Rhonda... lighten up. This whole thread was started criticising a group of people for their "fake accents". You jumped in and pitched.
That makes you fair game. Just like my getting into it made me fair game.
"Don't throw rocks if you live in a house made of glass..." -
Any problems communicating with Australian Vics though? I spent a long time in New Jersey and New York before spending another 3 years in Melbourne.Originally posted by elindra:No one said you can't drawl like a Texan. You have every right to put on an accent, just pull it off and no one will say a thing. But for crying out loud, you don't have to pull it off on an aunty who you can communicate with better in Singlish or Mandarin. Defeats all purpose of communication.
Putting on our own show? I don't know what you're trying to prove here because the majority here is trying to air their views, whereas you are shooting down anyone who don't agree with you.
Speak or type in Singlish? Can lah! What your problem?
If you noticed my other posts some are peppered with Singlish as well. I'm not ashamed with typing or speaking in Singlish but there is a time and place for everything.
I do speak with an American accent as well when I speak to my Canadian and American collegues because I find that they underestand me better that way if I can't get through to them with my Singapore accented English.
What I was trying to say in my initial post was must we pretend to speak with my accent, even with our own fellow Singaporeans? Has it got to do with how the government's agenda is trying to mould Singapore to fit the Swiss model or whatever model???
Anyway, all of us are communicating badly here sicne we are all out of topic now
Everytime I spoke to them I ended up going, "What the fuc...". Mentally of course. Those guys don't even understand New Zealanders!!!
"Cheese Burger and a Coke" ... "CHEese BURger and A COke"... Two different languages altogther as far as they're concern
In the mid 90's, if you stood outside any Hungry Jacks in Victoria and you would have seen see a bunch of Kiwis and me going, "What the fuc...?"... -
I guess its all in the feel anyway.. that lady wanted to speak in an accent at an supermarket because it makes her feel good about it..
Bystanders like us would see that theres no "need" for it, its uncalled for.. but from her point of view maybe she finds it absolutely necessary as part of the feel good package? -
Originally posted by Kuali Baba:*She
No hard feelings. -
Originally posted by Rhonda:Speak for yourself! I never went "You attacked me!! I don't take that lightly!!!
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Wow... you're like a superhero. THE SIDE-STEP QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE!!!Originally posted by Rhonda:So did you! -
And you daresay you kept to the point in all your posts so far?Originally posted by Bloop...:Wow... you're like a superhero. THE SIDE-STEP QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE!!! -
( Don't worry.. I'm not gonna pull you down with meOriginally posted by DriftingGuy:I guess its all in the feel anyway.. that lady wanted to speak in an accent at an supermarket because it makes her feel good about it..
Bystanders like us would see that theres no "need" for it, its uncalled for.. but from her point of view maybe she finds it absolutely necessary as part of the feel good package? 
)
...but exaclty. Just like I felt they didn't need to use certain words that they did.
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I'm not side stepping points... I take them head on!!!Originally posted by Rhonda:And you daresay you kept to the point in all your posts so far?
Besides, maybe I'm going too fast for you. But my point is - just as fake accents aren't required. Big words and flairful language is also not required.
Just as you choose to do it anyway... Some people may choose to speak with an accent anyway too.
Hence, my bit about everyone putting on a show in their own way. So one group should really not put down another. (That's where the elitist bit comes in).
(uh.. typo) -
No problems communicating with them. I have no problems speaking to Brits with a heavy cockney accent that sounds like he some farm hand when he is not.Originally posted by Bloop...:Any problems communicating with Australian Vics though? I spent a long time in New Jersey and New York before spending another 3 years in Melbourne.
Everytime I spoke to them I ended up going, "What the fuc...". Mentally of course. Those guys don't even understand New Zealanders!!!
"Cheese Burger and a Coke" ... "CHEese BURger and A COke"... Two different languages altogther as far as they're concern
In the mid 90's, if you stood outside any Hungry Jacks in Victoria and you would have seen see a bunch of Kiwis and me going, "What the fuc...?"...
The one race I can't understand when they speak English are the Scotts with their heavily accented English.
Then again why are we talking about this now because we are sooo off tangent and this topic will end up in pluto if we don't turn it around! -
No what i meant was that the lady at the supermarket did what she felt was necessary to feel good by imitating a poor american accent... which others felt was unnecessary..Originally posted by Bloop...:( Don't worry.. I'm not gonna pull you down with me )
...but exaclty. Just like I felt they didn't need to use certain words that they did.
The question is "is there a need?" yes for the lady's point of view but no from our point of view.. If i were elindra, I would feel goosebumps.. I have my fair share of fake accents and the experience was uncomfortable -
...ditto to big words and fancy-schemancy language when teeny-tiny words and plain grammer will do. 'why' ?Originally posted by MrIllusion:You can speak like a Texan all you want. The question would be 'why'. Why speak in a manner such that the people you are trying to communicate with may not understand?
I believe the main grudge of the topic creator was that she felt the lady at the supermarket was trying to exert a sense of superiority by speaking in a manner that sounded awkward.
EDIT: Err...grammer mistake. Yup. -
...and I meant that they may feel that their use of words was necessary, but from my point, was it?Originally posted by DriftingGuy:No what i meant was that the lady at the supermarket did what she felt was necessary to feel good by imitating a poor american accent... which others felt was unnecessary..
The question is "is there a need?" yes for the lady's point of view but no from our point of view.. If i were elindra, I would feel goosebumps.. I have my fair share of fake accents and the experience was uncomfortable
I've also had my fair share of people using weird accents around me. I find it hilarious actually. This lady I met one night was giving me directions. She was going, "At Hyatt, you go.. uh.. urm.. arh.. er.." Like she was digging deep for some meaningful word that would guide me home... but she continues with, "left!". Loved it...
(alright... getting late. Too many typos) -
And perhaps, you do not read well.Originally posted by Bloop...:I'm not side stepping points... I take them head on!!!
Besides, maybe I'm going too fast for you. But my point is - just as fake accents aren't required. Big words and flairful language is also not required.
Just as you choose to do it anyway... Some people may choose to speak with an accent anyway too.
Hence, my bit about everyone putting on a show in their own way. So one group should really not put down another. (That's where the elitist bit comes in).
(uh.. typo)
I do not deliberately use 'big words and flairful language' because the words just flow from me as I type my posts. I do not sit here and induce a royal headache thinking of how to make my posts articulate and what-not. I type as I think.
You aren't as open-minded nor as magnanimous as you are trying to make yourself sound because look who dealt the first blow in criticising my post?
You are being elitist yourself, if you haven't already noticed. So, don't play the self-righteous card.