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View Full Version : Is there a way to find out if it's Parisian or Quebec French accent?

teacalm
03-01-2009, 02:59 PM
My kids are going through SYRWTL French 1. I scanned the pages of the lesson we're covering, and (we have) opens it up in Kurzweil 3000 where we choose the French voice to read the lesson.

How would I know what accent the French voice/reader have? I called Kurzweil 3000 and nobody there seems to be able to answer my question. Is there a certain way letters/words are pronounced that would give me an idea?

TIA.

Lyn
CleoQc
03-01-2009, 04:55 PM
vowels.

Quebec vowels are closer to English ones. They have very slight diphtongs in them. France vowels have no diphtongs. I'm talking about basic vowels sounds.

Also France French tends to be pitched higher. The mouth is kept closer than in Quebec French, which opens the mouth more, like in English. That makes the sound comes more from the back of the throat (although not quite).

I know I don't use the same mouth muscles when I'm in France than when I'm at home.
CleoQc
03-01-2009, 04:56 PM
Oh, and I'd bet anything you're getting France French, because it's SYRWTLF. That's British. Why would they cross the pond to get French speakers, when they can cross the channel?
teacalm
03-01-2009, 05:17 PM
vowels.

Quebec vowels are closer to English ones. They have very slight diphtongs in them. France vowels have no diphtongs. I'm talking about basic vowels sounds.

Also France French tends to be pitched higher. The mouth is kept closer than in Quebec French, which opens the mouth more, like in English. That makes the sound comes more from the back of the throat (although not quite).

I know I don't use the same mouth muscles when I'm in France than when I'm at home.


Thanks so very much, Cleo. The Kurzweil reader is France French, then. I noticed the vowels are clipped and the vowels do not sound the same as the English vowels. Comparing the internet radio stations of Quebec and France, I can almost hear now the differences.

On another topic, French is a beautiful language...and so is Spanish...and so is Latin. I dream of the day when I can pray in French. That would be so cool...at night, my thoughts will all be switching from one language to another.

I appreciate your help.

Lyn