A poll for non-native English speakers
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Category: Topics not related to music
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=55798
Printed Date: November 27 2024 at 06:38
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Topic: A poll for non-native English speakers
Posted By: NotAProghead
Subject: A poll for non-native English speakers
Date Posted: February 21 2009 at 19:52
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Please, vote only if English is not your first language! Imagine, you are listening to some album in English. - Lyrics are neither primitive nor extremely complex. - They are not intentionally adsurd. - Lyrics can contain idioms, references to some historical events and persons etc. - Singer has good pronouncation and sings in what we call more or less common English (no exotic dialects). Do you understand lyrical contents when you are listening to songs or you need '"helpers"? Answers like "I'm listening to music and don't care about lyrics are not accepted"!
------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Replies:
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 21 2009 at 19:59
| First option for me. I only have trouble understanding lyrics in English when the singer has a distinctive vocal style (e.g. death growls) which makes understanding hard even for native speakers. |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: February 21 2009 at 20:05
Raff, I just thought: "Who, the hell, is so brave to vote that understands everything". I see it's you, so no questions.  I pointed out in the post that "Singer has good pronouncation", though growling and "eating" words are not our case. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 21 2009 at 20:21
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I won't vote in your poll for obvious reasons but I am curious to see how it turns out. I know little of other languages in terms of speaking or reading or even writing that I understand, yet can speak a little, writing, forgettaboutit .  English is often a sponge for words in other languages sometimes as well as a producer. I think the way this works so well is that English originated from many older languages in the first place... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: February 21 2009 at 20:35
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I'm curious about results too. I chose the option "I need lyrics and sometimes a dictionary", but it's often so hard to understand which meanings of familiar words are right in every particular case. For example only the verb "to get" (bitter tongues say it will replace all other verbs in English soon ) can bring you lots of headache.Another difficult thing is phrases that are common in English-speaking countries, but missing in dictionaries.
------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: February 21 2009 at 20:40
I'll follow you...  ------------- Guigo ~~~~~~ |
NotAProghead wrote:Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 02:42
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When I really pay attention to the lyrics I usually understand most of
it. If not just by listening then with the lyrics sheet. Of course
there are lots of words I don't know yet, but usually in such cases I
get the big picture. Maybe not with bands like Bad Religion using lots
of political jargon. But I dare say I'm better than the average Finnish Joe in English, I always got the highest grades without much trying. God bless subtitled TV series and movies, they really teach you a lot. ------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 02:48
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I think I understand most of it ... depending on the situation. For some songs even the native speakers need assistance. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: easytargets
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 03:11
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I think I need dictionary from time to time and if lyrics
are very complex I prefer to listen to their melody prior
to their meaning. ------------- The water rushes over all cities crash in the mighty wave; the final man is very small, plunging in for his final bathe |
Posted By: Diaby
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 03:26
I went with the fourth one. I find it very funny, when I start listening to a song, I hardly understand anything, then I take a lyrics sheet, learn the text and after that everything become so obvious  ------------- yeah |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 06:37
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I am a native speaker of English, but I must say that I often don't understand everything that is sung in that language. it depends a lot on the artist and the mix. had I not read the lyrics of "Ship of Fools" by VdGG from their live album "Vital", for example, I would have understood only half of it. the line "they offer kisses like piranhas to the soft flesh of your feet", for example, sounded like "the abacus is like a runner at the soft end of the street". yeah, I know, makes no sense, but that's what I heard. some singers have the habit of slurring consonants, some are mixed too much in the background. Friede has the same problem with German bands. she says that, for example, she hardly understands a word of the song "Henriette Krötenschwanz" from the first album of Amon Düül 2. the English language, by the way, has so many words that I am quite certain every native speaker will need a dictionary from time to time, whether reading a book or listening to lyrics. I know I do, and I read a lot and certainly know a lot of words. but I would like to see anyone who is able to read James Joyce's "Ulysses" without a dictionary. in fact Joyce used a dictionary when he wrote it, or actually several ones, not only an English one. the English language has about double as many words as the German one. this has historic reasons; due to the 1066 invasion many French words entered the English language. the German language makes up for it with its ability to create compound words -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 06:41
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Most of the times I understand the general meaning, I might miss a few words... To fully understand the lyrics, I suppose I need a lyric sheet |
Posted By: June
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 07:05
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I'm comfortable saying I understand everything.
I don't listen to much music that involves death growl anyway.
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Posted By: Tuzvihar
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 08:04
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If I've got the lyric sheet I can understand almost everything. And if I once listened to a song with its lyric sheet before me I usually don't need it anymore (the lyric sheet that is). Second option for me then.
------------- "Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent." Charles Bukowski |
Posted By: JayDee
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 08:11
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I understand almost everything, that is clearly sung in English.
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Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 08:14
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I'm far from understanding the lyrics entirely, sometimes I follow the music more than the lyrics. I think the only album where I know the lyrics almost by heart is Aphrodite's Child 666, because I devoured it so much over the years. I can add to that some classic prog songs, but that's about it. I don't use the lyrics sheets much, except I get them in the booklet, which makes it an entertaining listen. Bands like Rush have easy lyrics, meanwhile I don't even bother with Mars Volta. ------------- 
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Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 13:24
| A lyric sheet would be welcome in most cases. But this may be the case because my ears are stuffed. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 18:04
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I understand about 85% without lyric sheet, but some singers are easier to understand and we can up that to 95% or even 96.7%. Of course, I'm not including black or death metal albums here... If anyone can understand more than 1.76 % of what Cannibal Corpse is singing about, please... I'll take whatever you're taking...  ------------- 
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: February 22 2009 at 23:20
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though i have i improved my english, sometimes it's still difficult to understand some songs and iit's lyrics, i would choose option number 5, though i use to read the lyric sheet actually ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 01:33
| I need the lyric sheet in order to understand 100% - but then I rarely feel the need to. |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 02:26
I'm bilingual. Can I vote? 
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 08:06
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English is an easy language to understand, compared to some other languages (I did French for 6 years in high school, followed an extra course, and where I live I hear French almost every day, and still it's difficult to master it well.). I understand the biggest part of what I hear, and from what I don't understand, the biggest part is because of people not articulating well, but I still learn new words through prog and other music. I voted "everything" because that comes closest. It's seldom that I need a lyric sheet. |
Posted By: omri
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 10:41
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I voted for number 5 - need help only when lyrics are complicated. Usually I don't use a lyric sheet but I hate it when it's missing cause sometimes I don't get the exact word and then I take out the sheet and get the idea. For example I thought that the word in JT's "Wind up" were : "Your'e a poorer man than me cause you lick the boots of death for not a thing" but when I checked it I found out that the ending is "born out of fear". The meaning did not change dramatucaly but still ..... ------------- omri |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 11:14
depends on whether English is one of your language, and you've been bilingual for all your life. That would kind of make you a native English speaker, wouldn't it?  ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Anaon
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 12:22
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I voted "I need lyric sheet". It depends on the singer, sometimes I understand most of the lyrics but I like listen to music with the booklet to read the lyrics ;)
------------- My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/ My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/" rel="nofollow - http://groovesandmemories.com/ |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 12:34
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Well I lived in England for 1 year and a half, without that short-living I would be needing studying English in school. I mean, I do have English in school, but talking in english in a country for 1 year and a half, makes it so easy. Obviously, for lyrics and some other kind of stuff, I sometimes PREFER lyric sheet, and in TV case, subtitles but in english. I suppose this is 'Other' |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 12:42
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Fifth option, I guess.
------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: Philéas
Date Posted: February 23 2009 at 18:22
| I generally understand everything, but sometimes it can be hard to hear what a singer is singing because of the way he/she sings it, or because of production issues. But this can be the case with Swedish (my mother tongue) lyrics too. |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: February 24 2009 at 12:37
| Lyrics sheet and dictionnary, especially if I'm listening to Yes (Anderson, what do your lyrics mean???) or Napalm Death and Carcass (not only the vocals, but above all for the vocabulary!) |
Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: February 24 2009 at 14:28
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I started to understand more as my english got better - after 7 years I understand almost everything but I never pay attention so it really doesn't matter.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: February 24 2009 at 16:35
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I focus more on the melodies myself, although I do understand very much english! ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: markosherrera
Date Posted: February 25 2009 at 22:53
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Lyrics and sometimes a dictionary ,for some words
------------- Hi progmaniacs of all the world |
Posted By: Noak
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 13:36
| I have never had any trouble understanding English. I have looked up certain words every now and then mostly of curiosity, like Schizoid and Equilibrium. |
Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 17:18
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I chose option number 5. I mostly understand everything but, every now and then, a word, play on word, reference, mispronunciation, etc pops in and I don't get it.
-------------  
RIP in bossa nova heaven. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 10:28
 . A lot of bands` lyrics are almost impossible to understand particularily bands whos mother tongue is not English.------------- |
Posted By: Etneciv
Date Posted: March 04 2009 at 15:55
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Viva Mexico!!!!!!
and Russia too if you want 
I need lyric sheet only, and once again... Viva Mexico ------------- Imagination is the key to my lyrics, the rest is painted with a little science fiction - Jimi Hendrix |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: March 04 2009 at 16:23
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^ Viva Mexico and all other countries too! ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Trial and Error
Date Posted: March 04 2009 at 21:11
While not true for Cannibal Corpse, I do understand about 50% of the English lyrics in the more famous black metal bands. You get used to it. The more mid range clearer growls like melodeath are exactly the same as most singers with a slightly more difficult accent. Anyway, I don't usually listen to lyrics, but if I do, I get most of it. A lot is depending on the mix, though, and the problems that may arise are because of my inability to hear the word, not to understand what it means. I have a similar stance in German, although I will hear lyrics even if I don't listen, unlike in English where it stays an instrument for the duration of listening unless I want it to be something else. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Trial_And_Error/?chartstyle=SidebarRed1"> 
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Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: March 05 2009 at 19:14
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Pretty much everything. I mean, of course, there are singers like Cedric Bixler which are sometimes borderline understandable (I doubt a native english speaker can "get it" all), but other than that, yes... everything
------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: March 06 2009 at 15:49
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Speaking english when your mother tongue is some other idiom is more commonplace today than before (merci, Internet, gracias) . I am amazed that so many non-english PA members use Shakespeare's tongue so eloquently. Mind you there are a few who need a decoder but vive la difference! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: March 09 2009 at 16:04
| I understand almost everything. |
Posted By: omri
Date Posted: March 10 2009 at 14:27
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I am thinking of doing this very same poll but for non native kobaian speakers ! ------------- omri |
Posted By: AtlantisAgony
Date Posted: March 10 2009 at 14:35
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I usually understand the lyrics, unless their too complex or sung in an unclear way. So option 5 for me. ------------- proggity prog prog |