Mary's Accent and Languages

[CrownPrincessJava]

Originally Posted by Princejohnny25

To me, Mary still sounds like an Australian. Of course its a much more refined English with a Danish flavouring to it, but still very aussie. It was especially noticeable during the Royal Jewels documentary that was just released. I think because she was interviewed in her own home and in private she was more relaxed and there for the aussie accent was more noticeable.

Completely agree. Her Aussie accent really came out in that documentary. When she was in Australia and conducted interviews, she still had an Aussie accent. It's hard to get rid of it. My sister-in-law has been in the US for years and her Aussie accent is still very prominent.

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by helenbeee

South Australian is very english sounding in its pronounciations. QLD and NSW and to a lesser degree Vic and Tassie have a much broader Aust twang.

I'd have to disagree re Victoria. Queenslanders accents are much more broad in comparison to those in Victoria. There is a distinctive rurality in the way Queenslanders talk. Victorian's and New South Welshman are more measured in the way we talk, yet we do not share the slight English lilt often attributed to South and Western Australian's.

Melbourne is largely regarded as the culturally refined/diverse hub of Australia and is a place of considerable European influence where as Queensland has a distinguishably organic presence throughout the state. It is both stereotypically and distinctively 'Australian' in this regard with a large Indigenous population and a predominately caucasion majority otherwise.

And while Queensland boasts a population of around 4 million +, Melbourne's population alone exceeds 4 million people and that is not including the states rural cities and towns.

Naturally, this all plays it's part with regional accents.

[ironical]

Originally Posted by Princejohnny25

To me, Mary still sounds like an Australian. Of course its a much more refined English with a Danish flavouring to it, but still very aussie. It was especially noticeable during the Royal Jewels documentary that was just released. I think because she was interviewed in her own home and in private she was more relaxed and there for the aussie accent was more noticeable.

Excuse me, where I can find this video?

[helenbeee]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Melbourne is largely regarded as the culturally refined/diverse hub of Australia and is a place of considerable European influence where as Queensland has a distinguishably organic presence throughout the state. It is both stereotypically and distinctively 'Australian' in this regard with a large Indigenous population and a predominately caucasion majority otherwise.

Im sure compared to NSW and QLD Victorians sound culturally refined. To me it sounds very australian with a really noticeable twang. This does of course vary to degrees throughout the suburbs. I wasnt have a dig at any of the states I was merely drawing from experiences having lived equally in 3 of its cities for the last 30yrs. Sorry if you were offended by my comments

[Madame Royale]

No, not at all Helen. No offence whatsoever

[IloveCP]

I admire Mary for working hard to learn Danish.I am currently learning to speak Swedish and it is not easy! More respect for Mary! She speaks it well!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Cant judge Mary's Danish, however its certainly difficult to learn a new language as an adult (and Danish doesnt sound easy to me), certainly she has made a better effort than her father in law Henrik.

Having said that, I dont find Mary a good speaker at all, she is not a natural to me for speaking publicly, even in her native language English she seems to be struggling in terms of being nervous, stumbling or finding the right words when asked question (last example in Washington).

I think some people are naturals, they can talk for hours without a script, some arent, they will always look stressed or heavily rehearsed. Each to his or her own talent.

[auntie]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Cant judge Mary's Danish, however its certainly difficult to learn a new language as an adult (and Danish doesnt sound easy to me), certainly she has made a better effort than her father in law Henrik.

Having said that, I dont find Mary a good speaker at all, she is not a natural to me for speaking publicly, even in her native language English she seems to be struggling in terms of being nervous, stumbling or finding the right words when asked question (last example in Washington).

I think some people are naturals, they can talk for hours without a script, some arent, they will always look stressed or heavily rehearsed. Each to his or her own talent.

Yes, I have noticed that she isn't a naturally charismatic speaker, like King Hussein was, or Prisident Clinton, but she is making her efforts, Danes out there, how is Marie in the speech enviornment?

[antonieta]

Originally Posted by auntie

Yes, I have noticed that she isn't a naturally charismatic speaker, like King Hussein was, or Prisident Clinton, but she is making her efforts, Danes out there, how is Marie in the speech enviornment?

Why is Marie called to this thread?
This' Mary's thread!

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by antonieta

Why is Marie called to this thread?
This' Mary's thread!

Given that both Mary and Marie are not natural Danish speakers it's obvious that comparisons will be made between how well they do. There's nothing wrong in that. I believe that Marie's Danish is better than Mary's? I have no idea, but it's what I've seen stated elsewhere.

[ricarda]

Marie is doing well in the Danish language but to say her Danish is better than Mary's is pure nonsense.
But we can always count on you when it comes to putting Mary down, EIIR.

[nwinther]

Originally Posted by EIIR

Given that both Mary and Marie are not natural Danish speakers it's obvious that comparisons will be made between how well they do. There's nothing wrong in that. I believe that Marie's Danish is better than Mary's? I have no idea, but it's what I've seen stated elsewhere.

I can assure you that is not the case. Mary has a much better command over the danish language both in vocabulary and pronunciation.
That said, it's obvious that Mary isn't indistinguishable from a "native" dane. However, her accent is very difficult to "lock down". Obviously she has a bit of english/(british?) accent but she might as well be an argentinean who's good at english who's beginning to learn Danish.

Sometimes I find Maries language to be influenced by her geography. She seems to be adapting to the local dialect in southern Jutland ("high" a's). On a side note, this indicates that she's spending considerable time with the locals. Aside from that, Marie has a markedly french accent although it's getting fainter.

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by ricarda

Marie is doing well in the Danish language but to say her Danish is better than Mary's is pure nonsense.
But we can always count on you when it comes to putting Mary down, EIIR.

How is that a put down? Did I say Mary's Danish was rubbish? No. Did I say that Marie's Danish was perfect? No. In fact, I quite clearly stated that I didn't know whose Danish was better, merely what I'd seen reported elsewhere.

I very, very rarely say anything about Mary at all; the Danish RF is very, very rarely mentioned in our media here so I don't know a whole lot about any of them. But if it makes you feel better to imagine that I'm some sort of hater, go ahead.

[Madame Royale]

english/(british?) accent

An accent can be at times hard to pin point when the indavidual speaks in their learned tongue. Personally, I can detect an accent but to my ear it resonates as Australian english.

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by ricarda

But we can always count on you when it comes to putting Mary down, EIIR.

I'm almost 100% sure she didn't mean to .... again

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by UserDane

I'm almost 100% sure she didn't mean to .... again

Or you could choose not to see things through Mary-tinted glasses and see it as a compliment to Marie? Or as me merely stating what I'd heard elsewhere?

But, we all know that anyone who makes anything other than glowing tributes to Mary is hounded out of the Danish forum, as discussed elsewhere.

[Muhler]

Let's get back on track, shall we?

Is it me you are referring to?
Because I have stated that Marie's pronounciation is very good indeed and she's is very easy to understand.
Mary has a more distinct accent, in that respect she's no different form other English speakers. Presumably it has something to do with different sounds.
The Æ and Ø sounds exists in the French language but not so much in English.
It is also my impression that learning languages is not one of Mary's most outstanding talents, while Marie speaks several, albeit more or less related, languages.
That doesn't detract from Mary. On the contrary in fact, it just means she has had to work even harder.

Mary's mastery of Danish is very good indeed. Even down to the idioms. Marie is not there yet. - She will eventually and I do believe she will end up speaking Danish with a less distinctive accent than Mary.

Mary's accent is charming because she actually master the language, in contrast to Prince Henrik, whose understanding of Danish is excellent indeed, but his spoken Danish is pretty bad and that annoys a lot of people.

Originally Posted by EIIR

Given that both Mary and Marie are not natural Danish speakers it's obvious that comparisons will be made between how well they do. There's nothing wrong in that. I believe that Marie's Danish is better than Mary's? I have no idea, but it's what I've seen stated elsewhere.

[Nice Nofret]

I have danish friends and tried to learn pronouncing some words or to relate the spoken danish to what is written .. for me, this language could be from another planet my tongue gets twisted and I cant get any sense into it .. so cudos who does take on that language..

EDIT: mothertounge - german; english, french, italian, and a bit of spanish; working understanding of Dutch, Swedish and Portugies

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by EIIR

Or you could choose not to see things through Mary-tinted glasses and see it as a compliment to Marie? Or as me merely stating what I'd heard elsewhere?

But, we all know that anyone who makes anything other than glowing tributes to Mary is hounded out of the Danish forum, as discussed elsewhere.

Of course I could. Will remember to do so the next time

Hounded? Doesn't sound good.

[ricarda]

Actually I don't expect anyone to make glowing tributes to Mary.
I just don't like posters who jump on every opportunity to say something negative (or merely stating what they heard elsewhere ). And then accuse those who comment on their constant negativity of hounding them out of the Danish forums.