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[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I feel the same way. I find your story very interesting. I, on the other hand, am horrible at pronunciation. I can read languages, but don't try to make me speak them. I guess it's embarassment from trying to speak a foreign language with a southern accent. Nothing ever sounds right.

I just tell people I'm from Southern Germany, or wherever.

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

You obviously didn't have my voice teacher. All arias/lieder/chanson must not be sung until you are able to recite them as a poem, and fluidly give both a literal and poetic translation. And trust me, "Tell me What Love Is" =/= "Voi Che Sapete". Tried that one.

LOL. No, my voice teacher also expected us to know exactly what we the words meant as well. Still, though, as Anna Russell said (I think about French art song), "It doesn't really matter if you know what the words actually mean so long as you can pronounce them properly."

And my teacher gave up on French with me. Nevermind that I studied French 2 years in highschool and my teacher was the French diction teacher, singing + French + me = disaster. Even now, I can barely eek out an acceptable Habanera, and that's about it.

We had to take either French or German as a language, and for the other language we had to take a class on pronunciation. Yes, after 3 years of French in High School, I took a class on how to pronounce French. The thing is, there actually are differences in pronunciation in sung and spoken French -- things like a silent "e" may not be silent when sung. Who knew?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

We had to take either French or German as a language, and for the other language we had to take a class on pronunciation. Yes, after 3 years of French in High School, I took a class on how to pronounce French. The thing is, there actually are differences in pronunciation in sung and spoken French -- things like a silent "e" may not be silent when sung. Who knew?

You'll definitely enjoy this - when my German diction teacher was younger and studying in Vienna, they wouldn't allow her to sing any songs with the German word "bist" in them (and yes, that seriously eliminates most of your vocal selections). She could not say "bIst" to save her life, and even now still has students help her pronounce it during diction class.