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Accents

One of the things that you quickly learn when traveling in other countries is that it helps to adopt a stereotypical accent. When you say, "Schönen Tag," (Good day) you should try to say it in a stereotypical German accent. It sounds really weird to the locals if you don't. Same thing with "Bonjour" in French or "Ciao" in Italian. Just run with the stereotypes. If you're not mumbling the ends of the words, you're not speaking French properly. If you're not moving your hands, you're not speaking Italian properly.

 In Zürich, a lot of people speak English. In fact, I suspect that for most people, their preferred language order is Swiss German, English, then Hochdeutsch (High German -- what they speak in Germany). But, they all learn English from other Swiss people, so they speak English with a pronounced accent.

I've picked up that accent. A lot. I don't do it when I'm speaking with other native English speakers or with anyone who doesn't speak German, but almost without noticing, I drop into a sort of insane "Deutschlish" accent when speaking with Swiss people. 

I noticed it when friends from America were visiting. We went to a restaurant, and I talked to the waiter in English. After we left, my friend asked why I was speaking like that. My response? "Like what?" Apparently, my accent was so strong as to be nearly unintelligible to native English speakers.

 Now, if only I could learn German more quickly.

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