[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Speaking 'properly' or not

[Ladi lyndi]

Mary Ann wrote:
 
And let's not forget the Dutch "g", which sounds as if 
you're in need of someone performing the Heimlich manoever on you. ;)

That gutteral Dutch "g" (said *way* down the gutteral) is a sound 
similar in a few other languages.  It seems to be one of those 
sounds that you either learn as a child or you never master it, a 
lot like the English "th". .... Also, coming from the southeast Netherlands my gutteral "g" is very gentle compared to Dutch northerners.

The Netherlands may be small but there are an astounding number of 
dialects.  I moved to Canada when I was very young so I'm only 
familiar with universal Dutch and my parents' provincial Limburg 
dialect.  If I travel to any neighbouring province I honestly cannot understand a word of those local dialects.  It provides hours of 
amusement for some distant relatives who IMO should learn another 
hobby.

Lynn:
 
Understanding about the different dialects may help you understand my dilemma in learning Dutch.  I had two teachers in "taal school" (language school).  One spoke with a Limberg accent and the other spoke with a Frisesean accent.  The teacher from Friesland taught the words but the one from Limberg administered the tests.  I swore they were speaking two languages.  LOL  I definitely have gone with the Limberg accent with my Dutch - it was much easier on the throat.
 
I commented on the number of accents and was told, indignantly, that Americans have different accents too.  When I pointed out that in the US, one usually had to drive a distance of which the equivalent would bring someone from Holland to another country and not just walking across the street, I received a hearty laugh in reply.
 
I agree about the "th" as well.  My husband can made the sound if he thinks about it and tries.  Usually his "th" sounds like a "d" which does make sense given many of the English spellings of Dutch words, i.e. Netherlands rather than Nederlands, The Hague rather than Den Haag, use the "th" sounds in place of the "d" sound.  While our daughter was raised with both languages, her first spoken language was Dutch and I'm having the dickens of a time getting her to say "th".  
 
Lynn
(who thinks it is not just your relatives who need a new hobby when it comes to laughing at people who try to speak Dutch - also some in Den Helder)


 

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