[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] GARY WARNER-Umlauts and Dialects

[Otto]

Gary Warner asked:
"  I am interested to know if they sound the same in all German words  
(assuming the same dialect).   I am also interested in how the sounds  
differ in the two most common German dialects, which not knowing any  
better I assume are high and low German."
----------------------
As mentioned before, There are many dialects of Flatland German, same  
for Middle German and highland German. Many.

The "proper umlaut sound" is about Standardized German.

There are rules that dictate the use of umlauts, the sounding of a  
vowel at the front of the tongue instead of the back of the tongue.
The 'method' of sounding out a 'front of the tongue' vowel creates a  
conflict between the precise speakers of standardized German and the  
speakers of German dialects.

The conflict is a simple one.
Precise speakers of standardized German purse their lips in sounding  
out an umlaut.

Speakers of dialects usually do not purse their lips and speak out  
the umlaut sound directly.

Try it-
Sound out the English long 'E' two or three times as you would  
speaking  English.  (same as Platt)
Now sound out the same English long 'E' two or three times with  
pursed lips. (the 'standardized' German sound)
That is it!

I know.
My Dortmund cousin browbeat me for years because I would speak out  
the umlauts without pursing the lips.  I'd learned from my parents a  
1920's high German with an East Prussian dialect twang. (and some  
really neat Polish and Russian cuss words)  Couple that with an  
American creative English and you see I am doomed when it comes to  
lip pursing. I am hopeless. . .  yet I communicate.

While in Berlin I attempted conversation with a river boat captain.  
He replied with a solid paragraph or so of speech. I was awed. I did  
not understand it. I asked cousin Peter what language does he speak?  
He answered, "German. . .  in a solid Berliner dialect."  On the  
Mosel I purchased zwei Flaschen Wein, they brought me zwo Flaschen  
Wein.   Standardized German is what one reads in a book.

Two things must be kept in mind, in reality, there is no such thing  
as a pure race or a pure language.
It is the use of language itself that makes us human.

. . .  Otto

                      " The Zen moment..." wk. of March 5, 2006
                      ________________________________
                         "Remove what isn't... What is remains."