Pronunciation watch

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There must be some German experts on the forum?

[jean]

There are some real Austrians pronouncing it in the link I gave in #922. Why won't they do?

[french frank]

There are some real Austrians pronouncing it in the link I gave in #922. Why won't they do?

Because, as you said, it was 'take your pick'. I suppose what was meant was 'Is there the equivalent of an 'RP' pronunciation among German speaking people?' Speaking a foreign language with a mass of different regional accents would be a bit bizarre - hence the need felt for a standard pronunciation. I'd say S =Z, 'a' is short and u = oo. No need to make the final 'g' a distinct 'k'.

Supplementary: What about speaking German with an Austrian accent?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A native Salzburger (admitedly giving an interview in French) pronounces it thus (around 25 - 35 seconds in):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9KdO5W0odI

... nice piano playing, too!

[jean]

Because, as you said, it was 'take your pick'...

I had to say that because one of the three pronunciations there was a bit odd, as you noted - but the first two are what you'd expect, the vowel exactly the same as Karajan's.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks, ferny. That's good enough for me.

[french frank]

Just one of the three pronunciations given is a bit odd - the first two in that link, and Karajan's as well, are much the same, aren't they?

Yes, but what you'd expect (not sure about the Z v S?).

[I've heard Swiss German pronouncing an S in e.g. Samedan - but consulting a Swiss national, I've NEVER heard Samedan remotely pronounced in this way. The stress is on the second syllable all right, but neither the second nor the third syllable resemble what I've heard, and the town is right in the territory of the Rhätische Bahn, a region where I've travelled a lot :-) . I also find reputed English and French pronunciations based on guesses. Which is presumably what Sawltsburg is, a guess by people who've never been there and never heard it spoken.

[jean]

Yes, but what you'd expect (not sure about the Z v S?).

Germans (and Austrians?) nearly always voice the s, don't they? And they sort of swallow the l.

EA never told us why he asked, did he?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

EA never told us why he asked, did he?

Speaking in the 3rd person, he just wanted to know.

[jean]

I just wondered why he wanted to know.

(I posted a useful reply to his original question, but he didn't acknowledge it so I thought he wasn't speaking to me.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

He wishes to apologise for his rudeness.

[jean]

I accept his apology (but I'd still like to know why he asked the question).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

He does not want to say anything further until he has seen his solicitor.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

He does not want to say anything further until he has seen his solicitor.

Ah! Mrs EA won the argument, did she?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A question really. I see on the Guardian's sport section the word "Barça" (short for Barcelona). I can see why the cedilla is used, as the "c" is followed by an "a", so without it, the "c" would sound like a "k". But in Spanish, the soft "c" sounds more like our "th". So is the cedilla used in this way in Spanish?