Do you have more anxiety speaking French than Spanish? If so, do you think that might have something to do with a sort of snobbish idea about how French is supposed to sound? I haven’t studied other languages but I have this idea that though pronunciation is important, there is more emphasis placed on the way French sounds—the French accent. I haven’t heard anyone say about an American speaking Spanish that they have a terrible American accent but I have heard many people comment on terrible American accents while speaking French, even if their pronunciation is good.
I absolutely have more anxiety with French. I think some of it has to do with how I learned it (see story above) and some has to do with the differences in the languages. French, like English, seems to require more precise pronunciation than Spanish (and probably Italian). You can get a sound wrong in Spanish and still be understood which isn’t always the case in French or English. E.g. My husband sometimes tries to pronounce really clearly when he speaks English, but he applies Spanish pronunciation so he says things like “thity” when he means “city”. Someone who isn’t used to his accent has no clue what he’s saying. Many of my students complain that English speakers don’t understand them unless they say things “perfectly “ . They think we’re being snobby, too! 🤣 Personally, I think it’s a bit of both.
Do you have more anxiety speaking French than Spanish? If so, do you think that might have something to do with a sort of snobbish idea about how French is supposed to sound? I haven’t studied other languages but I have this idea that though pronunciation is important, there is more emphasis placed on the way French sounds—the French accent. I haven’t heard anyone say about an American speaking Spanish that they have a terrible American accent but I have heard many people comment on terrible American accents while speaking French, even if their pronunciation is good.
I absolutely have more anxiety with French. I think some of it has to do with how I learned it (see story above) and some has to do with the differences in the languages. French, like English, seems to require more precise pronunciation than Spanish (and probably Italian). You can get a sound wrong in Spanish and still be understood which isn’t always the case in French or English. E.g. My husband sometimes tries to pronounce really clearly when he speaks English, but he applies Spanish pronunciation so he says things like “thity” when he means “city”. Someone who isn’t used to his accent has no clue what he’s saying. Many of my students complain that English speakers don’t understand them unless they say things “perfectly “ . They think we’re being snobby, too! 🤣 Personally, I think it’s a bit of both.