# Some More Language Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-more-language-questions/728917 "2015-08-26T03:55:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-more-language-questions/728917/41 "2015-08-27T22:14:58Z")
> [@pianodave](#): > > So then, if English is not your native language, did you ever think your own language was comparatively harder or easier than others you heard as you grew older? I’m thinking about small Japanese children being taught to raise tone or drop tone to signify different words, German children being taught an umlaut, etc. Umlauts are not easy to handle, at least in my opinion. I am having trouble with understanding why diphthongs are hard for people? I would have thought it’s only hard because it’s something new, not because mechanically it’s harder. > > I would also mention that I hate when people speak Spanish with an American twang…you know, “Comowe estahs” and “dawnday estah ehl banyo?” > > I wonder if Spanish speakers hearing this “butchery” are put off like I am? I feel the language should be respected and spoken with as much authenticity as possible. My native language is easy to me because it is my native language. 😉 Trying somewhat objective, I tend to think that it may be easier in the “what you see written is what you pronounce” thing, but it may be harder for others in things like what you mentioned initially, verb conjugation. I mean, as a native, I seldom stop and think about what’s the correct form. Do you do that with English? They are hard because the sounds are not ones we use in our primary language. It doesn’t matter necessarily how “mechanically easy” it is, it is something non-natives have to adapt and learn. I’m sure some of the nasal sounds in Portuguese and French are mechanically easy for natives and killers for others learning to speak it. In Spanish, the ñ sound is mechanically a breeze to me, yet English speakers have trouble with it, for example. As long as they’re trying, I don’t care how it sounds. If they want some correction, I give it to them, but I don’t mind usually. Only when they’re trying to show off and clearly they’re not up there, does it annoy me. But if they’re trying to be helpful or are not putting on airs (undeservedly), if they want some practice I don’t mind the accent. I have one in English as well. For authenticity… well, I was a bit annoyed by the comment on “proper English”. What is proper and how it gets decided have been touchy subjects many times, and it is a sensitive point to me. Again, if you can understand what is being said and no major errors are committed, and they’re trying their best with no signs of joking… then you should have no issue accepting their accent as what comes with the territory and their speech as authentic as you can get them to do it. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-more-language-questions/728917/42 "2015-08-27T22:21:08Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Consider that Japanese and German children actually DON’T have to be taught those aspects of their language – they acquire them naturally by virtue of growing up in their respective speech communities. Yes, this. To follow, I doubt little native-French schoolchildren had to spend hours go through how to pronounce the guttural R. Just like little kids Spanish-speaking places do not have to go over “proper” pronunciation of _ñ_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-more-language-questions/728917.md?page=2)