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

[Gary Warner]

Annegret,

Thanks for the additional instruction.

Gary

At 12:29 PM 05/08/06, Annegret Krause wrote:
>It's not so easy for me to explain the pronunciation of German vowels,
>because my English is not so good ;-)), but I'll try it:
>
>A-Umlaut (ä) sounds like ea in "meadow", or e in "best", in some words a
>little bit longer
>
>O-Umlaut (ö) sounds like colonel, the name Möller for example. George
>Shoning is right.
>But there is another, a longer form. You have to speak it with more
>pursed lips. This form you hear in König
>
>And the best explanation for U-Umlaut (ü): long E with pursed lips
>(Krüger). But there is also a shorter form (Müller) without an English
>equivalent. Try it!!
>
>
>Annegret
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org
>[mailto:ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org] On Behalf Of Gary
>Warner
>Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 6:02 PM
>To: Otto; S G G E E
>Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] GARY WARNER-Umlauts and Dialects
>
>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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>
>
>
>
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