Stress Archives - Language Miscellany

Stressing Pelé

Since the Brazilian footballer Pelé died last month, we have been treated to many TV clips of this uniquely brilliant player. One thing that struck me is how British football commentators have changed the way they pronounce his name over the last 60 years. Change in stress pattern In commentary from the 1958, 1962 or…… Continue reading Stressing Pelé

How German speakers pronounce English

Someone’s first language tends to cause consistent errors when they speak a second language. I’ve always found it interesting see what types of error people make in speaking (or writing) English they have learnt as a foreign language. Those errors can be useful pointers to the features of the speaker’s first language. Spotting those errors…… Continue reading How German speakers pronounce English

Is Russian difficult for English speakers?

I’ve sometimes heard people describe Russian as a difficult language for native English speakers. It is, indeed, a little more difficult for such learners than languages related more closely to English, such as other Germanic languages or the Romance languages. On the other hand, it is probably less difficult for them than completely unrelated languages.…… Continue reading Is Russian difficult for English speakers?

It could sometimes be translated by the adjective "country", as in "country dance", but it wouldn't often be appropriate. This…

Thanks. What nuances exist in champêtre but not in rustic or rural? (or viced versa)

It's usually translated as "rustic" or "rural", but I don't think that either word comes close.

Maybe we could now translate Begrenzung as social distancing. I think alienation effect is now a term of art as…

Thanks, I'd overlooked the non-binary view. I too had considered 'immediate', but I don't think it does enough to force…