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

[Gary Warner]

Otto,

I do not follow about the long E sound in the word Platt.    To me a 
long E sound is the first letter in the word "eagle".

Gary

At 08:24 PM 05/07/06, Otto wrote:
>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."
>
>
>
>
>
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