How English sounds to non-English speakers

'Skwerl'. A short film in fake English. Made for Kino Sydney #47.

Brian Fairbairn has directed a number of stage shows, including a production of 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Karl Eccleston is a writer and language enthusiast.
Fiona Pepper is a Sydney based actor and graduate of WAAPA. She has appeared in short films and plays.
Thom Jordan is a Sydney based actor and filmmaker who regularly works on both sides of the camera.

June 2011

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Mason Lievense]

So the Sims got it right the first time.

[StylinOut]

That's because most people around the world recognize a few common words like "The" or "And" or any curse words. So people naturally pick up on a few words in between. That's probably why they did that. Just like a lot of people in the US understand a few Spanish words here and there.

[456258qwerty]

lol sounds like there drunk and high XD

[Ader Lan]

the fuck is this?

[LieutenantBowie]

Is it bad I understand this better than Spanish?

[ipreferns]

Meh

[Bearsca]

I love how they also simulate confusion and absurdity, as it's seen when you wouldn't know what's going on as you don't understand what's being said. That and the way your brain sometimes thinks it's English and tries real hard understanding it, in futile, of course.

[spemat31]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!! I love it

[Kristin Petitt]

A Russian-speaking friend of mine told me that English sounds like one, long, continuous "s" sound. To them, even a lot of t's and d's sound like softer or harder s's. Don't believe me? Read this comment out loud and listen for s's. :)

[JOEIsAwesomeMC]

Here is 1:19-1:58 translated.

NO, the crustacean is trapped, I mean, why the crust soldier for the magbalee nation, its for the grand a Mc-Chosen

Chosen for the magma line

Magma line my shit... Van ewe porn that she ran from moms bodacious sex speaking pour along for that.

Shit, a car, ah what way?

No rash way you pour along for that.

Yea sure... So I can steal that love that you want for her, uh, for the rats achoo's roll and, uh, that chads along way from the rain wood season all in.

[JOEIsAwesomeMC]

Here is up to 1:19 translated.

Here's lace want me to water that.

Shore... I bought you like light oh wrong snakes oh porn nation.

Sounds good... So I heard you offered in the wash today.

oh.

Yeah, that doles a ring butter face, cant breath that more at Elton John, did you flap out the lump bat come.

Yea, I come by the latrine.

I bled that prime baby bye the wrong front line today.

Oh, the raise meld the ash marine, tough for me to greed that treat.

[Mark Sterk]

I'm Dutch, and i'm fluid in Spanish, for example:

"Ola"