Disappeared and Abducted Children and Young Adults => Madeleine McCann (3) disappeared from her parent's holiday apartment at Ocean Club, Praia da Luz, Portugal on 3 May 2007. No trace of her has ever been found. => Topic started by: Carana on September 06, 2013, 05:11:08 PM
Title: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 06, 2013, 05:11:08 PM
I'm confused.
According to Luz, everyone in the Algarve is conversant with English.
Was Amaral fluent in English or not?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 06, 2013, 09:35:26 PM
Ask DCI to PM you his evidence that he IS, because he has posted on this forum that he is but he doesnt want to reveal his *source* which *proves* he is LooooL
>@@(*&)
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Rachel Granada on September 06, 2013, 10:00:55 PM
Something tells me that Amaral understands English when it suits him.
Well it would be good if your intuition could be substantiated by anything remotely concrete here, of course in the absence of DCIs shyness in revealing such concreteness LoooooL >@@(*&)
Eta
Oh dear, we have gone so off topic, happens alot with Mr Amaral doesnt it? @)(++(*
Back to topic then
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Admin on September 07, 2013, 12:27:20 AM
Ask DCI to PM you his evidence that he IS, because he has posted on this forum that he is but he doesnt want to reveal his *source* which *proves* he is LooooL
>@@(*&)
Maybe DCI will send the information to us.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Benice on September 07, 2013, 07:11:02 AM
Something tells me that Amaral understands English when it suits him.
I agree Rachel, IIRC he understood the question the reporter asked him (twice) in English, on the occasion when his reply (in Portuguese) was mis-reported because it sounded as if he'd said ''F=ck the McCanns'' in English.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 07, 2013, 09:45:45 AM
I agree Rachel, IIRC he understood the question the reporter asked him (twice) in English, on the occasion when his reply (in Portuguese) was mis-reported because it sounded as if he'd said ''F=ck the McCanns'' in English.
Indeed misreported and how long before it took the BBC East Midlands to issue an apology for a blatant lie ?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Chinagirl on September 07, 2013, 10:51:05 AM
So what DID he say?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 10:55:35 AM
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Chinagirl on September 07, 2013, 11:03:50 AM
I don't know what he said which is why I asked the question. "Ask" doesn't sound anything like the other word ....
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 07, 2013, 11:10:20 AM
I've heard around four variations of what he may have said.
The most likely (IMO) would have involved "falar" (talk) and "com". BBC East Midlands thought they'd heard something else, and bleeped it out as a precaution. They should have checked with a native speaker before doing so.
Yet another probable instance of a misunderstanding due to language difficulties...
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 07, 2013, 11:13:12 AM
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: AnneGuedes on September 07, 2013, 11:17:12 AM
He said "fala com os McCanns !" - have a talk with the McCanns ! It was caricature ethnocentrism to suppose Mr Amaral, who likely understands reasonably English, would answer in English, and rudely at that. This incident illustrates what the public can expect from certain "reporters".
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 11:19:13 AM
I've heard around four variations of what he may have said.
The most likely (IMO) would have involved "falar" (talk) and "com". BBC East Midlands thought they'd heard something else, and bleeped it out as a precaution. They should have checked with a native speaker before doing so.
Yet another probable instance of a misunderstanding due to language difficulties...
No, Carana, it had nothing to do with misunderstanding, it is an instance of what happens when people are narrow minded, unfortunately.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 07, 2013, 11:32:46 AM
No, Carana, it had nothing to do with misunderstanding, it is an instance of what happens when people are narrow minded, unfortunately.
The BBC (as do most media) bleep out offensive terms. "When in doubt, cut it out".
The fact that it was bleeped out, led people to make assumptions that he had indeed said something rude. In this instance, in all fairness, I doubt that he did.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 11:33:08 AM
No, Carana, it had nothing to do with misunderstanding, it is an instance of what happens when people are narrow minded, unfortunately.
Absolutely Anne. Martin Brunt was also there and he, through his interpretations, knew exactly what Amaral had said. I can't believe the BBC couldn't run to a interpreter for O'Sullivan.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 11:33:55 AM
The BBC (as do most media) bleep out offensive terms. "When in doubt, cut it out".
The fact that it was bleeped out, led people to make assumptions that he had indeed said something rude. In this instance, in all fairness, I doubt that he did.
You doubt ? Are you still not certain ?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: AnneGuedes on September 07, 2013, 11:42:00 AM
That "doubt" sadly makes me feel the weight of a certain xenophobia hidden behind condescension.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: ferryman on September 07, 2013, 11:43:54 AM
In the scheme of things, and in the light of what Amaral is proven beyond all doubt to have falsely accused the McCanns of, I don't, personally, give a flying fig ...
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: ferryman on September 07, 2013, 11:51:50 AM
That "doubt" sadly makes me feel the weight of a certain xenophobia hidden behind condescension.
Xenophobia is fear or irrational hatred of foreigners, perhaps displayed by Dr Amaral in his act (he tells us in his book) of having UK police put under surveillance as soon as they arrived in Portugal.
Scorn and contempt for Amaral is based in reasons wholly incidental to his nationality.
I have contempt for Amaral and he is Portuguese.
I have disdain for Grime and he his British.
PJ Inspector Dias was, for my money, the outstanding policeman in the Madeleine investigation (at least of those whose reports we read; I reserve judgment on those whose reports we don't)
And Dias is Portuguese
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Chinagirl on September 07, 2013, 12:23:58 PM
Well said, Ferryman. 8@??)(
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 07, 2013, 12:54:07 PM
It's hard to be certain as it was... bleeped out. I therefore have not heard it first hand.
I have no problem with the idea that what he was alleged to have said may be a misunderstanding.
May be ? Even though Martin Brunt, who was there at the time, denies Amaral said any such thing ?
You have no first hand knowledge of what Kate wrote in her book but believe it implicitly, yet when faced with something that besmirches Amaral's character, even when faced with direct evidence to the contrary, you find it hard to be so categorical, why is that ?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 07, 2013, 01:06:47 PM
Xenophobia is fear or irrational hatred of foreigners, perhaps displayed by Dr Amaral in his act (he tells us in his book) of having UK police put under surveillance as soon as they arrived in Portugal.
Scorn and contempt for Amaral is based in reasons wholly incidental to his nationality.
I have contempt for Amaral and he is Portuguese.
I have disdain for Grime and he his British.
PJ Inspector Dias was, for my money, the outstanding policeman in the Madeleine investigation (at least of those whose reports we read; I reserve judgment on those whose reports we don't)
And Dias is Portuguese
IRRATIONALITY personified.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 07, 2013, 01:17:01 PM
May be ? Even though Martin Brunt, who was there at the time, denies Amaral said any such thing ?
You have no first hand knowledge of what Kate wrote in her book but believe it implicitly, yet when faced with something that besmirches Amaral's character, even when faced with direct evidence to the contrary, you find it hard to be so categorical, why is that ?
None of which makes any difference to the fact that Amaral understood the question - which was asked in English.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 02:18:46 PM
None of which makes any difference to the fact that Amaral understood the question - which was asked in English.
Or it coud simply have been a stock answer to anything asked by the English media. Seems Amaral saw no need to engage with the reporters, and justify his position, as the McCanns did.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 07, 2013, 02:37:00 PM
Or it coud simply have been a stock answer to anything asked by the English media. Seems Amaral saw no need to engage with the reporters, and justify his position, as the McCanns did.
He'd been justifying his position for years... and for some time afterwards.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Benice on September 07, 2013, 02:40:48 PM
Or it coud simply have been a stock answer to anything asked by the English media. Seems Amaral saw no need to engage with the reporters, and justify his position, as the McCanns did.
Sorry Faith that doesn't wash with me. IIRC he wasn't standing giving an interview - he was walking past. He didn't need to give any reply at all - but he chose to - and his reply proved that he understood the question - which was asked in English.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 02:55:32 PM
Sorry Faith that doesn't wash with me. IIRC he wasn't standing giving an interview - he was walking past. He didn't need to give any reply at all - but he chose to - and his reply proved that he understood the question - which was asked in English.
I don't really care if it washes with you Benice. The fact remains 1) Amaral did not use any kind of profanity and 2) Directing any question aimed at him towards the McCanns does not mean he understood that a particular question.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Benice on September 07, 2013, 03:17:59 PM
I don't really care if it washes with you Benice. The fact remains 1) Amaral did not use any kind of profanity and 2) Directing any question aimed at him towards the McCanns does not mean he understood that a particular question.
1) I don't believe he said 'F=ck the McCanns' - it just sounded as if he had. Having been asked the question in English I think it was simply presumed at the time that his reply was also in English. and
(2) I don't believe anyone would answer ANY question asked of them in public - if they had no idea what the question was because they didn't understand the language it was asked in. That would be a very silly thing to do.
However IMO the nature of his reply - albeit in Portuguese - showed that he had actually understood the question perfectly.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: DCI on September 07, 2013, 03:34:03 PM
So when he was going to come over here for a conference in 2009, the one Bennett arranged, that never happened was he going to speak in Portuguese? I could just see the rush with his fans going to learn the language. Hasn't Bennett spoken to him by phone too? and what about Grenville and his son, when they gave him his fridge magnet, in Portugal?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 07, 2013, 03:43:31 PM
So when he was going to come over here for a conference in 2009, the one Bennett arranged, that never happened was he going to speak in Portuguese? I could just see the rush with his fans going to learn the language. Hasn't Bennett spoken to him by phone too? and what about Grenville and his son, when they gave him his fridge magnet, in Portugal?
What is this thing about 'fans' ?
He was on the investigation for a short time, before being removed.
Meanwhile, how long have you giving 'fan' support to the Mccanns ???
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: DCI on September 07, 2013, 03:52:36 PM
He was on the investigation for a short time, before being removed.
Meanwhile, how long have you giving 'fan' support to the Mccanns ???
Would you prefer his supporter/audience?
Being on the investigation for a short time, before being removed, wasn't stopping him coming over here, to be the keynote speaker at a conference regarding her disappearance.
I've been a supporter of the McCann's for 6 years and 4 months, to be exact!
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 07, 2013, 04:07:11 PM
Being on the investigation for a short time, before being removed, wasn't stopping him coming over here, to be the keynote speaker at a conference regarding her disappearance.
I've been a supporter of the McCann's for 6 years and 4 months, to be exact!
So you're a 'fan' then ? 8((()*/
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 04:14:41 PM
Being on the investigation for a short time, before being removed, wasn't stopping him coming over here, to be the keynote speaker at a conference regarding her disappearance.
I've been a supporter of the McCann's for 6 years and 4 months, to be exact!
Oh you're a little more than that DCI 8(0(*
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: faithlilly on September 07, 2013, 04:17:17 PM
1) I don't believe he said 'F=ck the McCanns' - it just sounded as if he had. Having been asked the question in English I think it was simply presumed at the time that his reply was also in English. and
(2) I don't believe anyone would answer ANY question asked of them in public - if they had no idea what the question was because they didn't understand the language it was asked in. That would be a very silly thing to do.
However IMO the nature of his reply - albeit in Portuguese - showed that he had actually understood the question perfectly.
Then it's only your opinion Benice and simply one amongst many.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: DCI on September 07, 2013, 04:22:45 PM
So when he was going to come over here for a conference in 2009, the one Bennett arranged, that never happened was he going to speak in Portuguese? I could just see the rush with his fans going to learn the language. Hasn't Bennett spoken to him by phone too? and what about Grenville and his son, when they gave him his fridge magnet, in Portugal?
Ooh I'd forgotten about fridge magnet night - thanks for the chuckle! Not so funny however, was Green using his Downs Syndrome son to gain sympathy and publicity.
Sorry, back on topic... yes, the question of the conference that Amaral was invited to. He didn't show of course, but I can't see Bennett paying for an interpreter.
FWIW, I do believe that Amaral was mis-quoted, and did not say "F** the McCanns". However, to echo other posters it does rather give the game away that he understands a lot more English than he is letting on, IMO.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 07, 2013, 06:44:51 PM
This reporter is so obviously lying or hard of hearing along with his colleagues...oh well BBC EastMidlands would be biased, wouldnt it? Nice try but his peurile stunt backfired in the end. @)(++(*
Just listen to the brass neck passing it off as a fact. LooooL
What was HIS problem? No interpreters? What was the point of asking english colleagues?
Brunt used them to ask what was said, no problem there.....
>>>>>
Martin Brunt, from Sky News who was in Lisbon covering the book banning trial was the only reporter who tried to set the record straight, he wrote the following in his Sky News blog on January 15, 2010:
Life of Crime - My New Best Friend
Spare a thought for my new best friend Goncalo Amaral.
I’m beginning to think the former detective in the Madeleine McCann case has a point when he complains about the British media attacking him.
My Beeb colleague accused him of saying “F*** the McCanns” in an alleged off-guard moment when we all followed him out of court the other day.
What he actually said was “Fala com McCanns” which means “Ask the McCanns”.
The rest of us, through our interpreters, understood perfectly what he was saying.
I think he needs a good libel lawyer.
Isabel Duarte may be free when she has finished pursuing him over his book on the Madeleine case.
<<<<<
So, any proof Mr Amaral understands or speaks English yet? And if he does why it matters?
>@@(*&)
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 07, 2013, 07:01:06 PM
This reporter is so obviously lying or hard of hearing along with his colleagues...oh well BBC EastMidlands would be biased, wouldnt it? Nice try but his peurile stunt backfired in the end. @)(++(*
Just listen to the brass neck passing it off as a fact. LooooL
What was HIS problem? No interpreters? What was the point of asking english colleagues?
Brunt used them to ask what was said, no problem there.....
>>>>>
Martin Brunt, from Sky News who was in Lisbon covering the book banning trial was the only reporter who tried to set the record straight, he wrote the following in his Sky News blog on January 15, 2010:
Life of Crime - My New Best Friend
Spare a thought for my new best friend Goncalo Amaral.
I’m beginning to think the former detective in the Madeleine McCann case has a point when he complains about the British media attacking him.
My Beeb colleague accused him of saying “F*** the McCanns” in an alleged off-guard moment when we all followed him out of court the other day.
What he actually said was “Fala com McCanns” which means “Ask the McCanns”.
The rest of us, through our interpreters, understood perfectly what he was saying.
I think he needs a good libel lawyer.
Isabel Duarte may be free when she has finished pursuing him over his book on the Madeleine case.
<<<<<
So, any proof Mr Amaral understands or speaks English yet? And if he does why it matters?
>@@(*&)
Thank you for that Red Blossom.
Unfortunately, it will fall on death ears with some of the Mccann supporters.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 07, 2013, 07:04:04 PM
Youre welcome Stephen, always good to get facts straight, something any self respecting journalist should always aspire to
@)(++(*
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 07, 2013, 07:08:21 PM
Martin Brunt, from Sky News who was in Lisbon covering the book banning trial was the only reporter who tried to set the record straight, he wrote the following in his Sky News blog on January 15, 2010:
Life of Crime - My New Best Friend
Spare a thought for my new best friend Goncalo Amaral.
I’m beginning to think the former detective in the Madeleine McCann case has a point when he complains about the British media attacking him.
My Beeb colleague accused him of saying “F*** the McCanns” in an alleged off-guard moment when we all followed him out of court the other day.
What he actually said was “Fala com McCanns” which means “Ask the McCanns”.
The rest of us, through our interpreters, understood perfectly what he was saying.
I think he needs a good libel lawyer.
Isabel Duarte may be free when she has finished pursuing him over his book on the Madeleine case.
<<<<<
So, any proof Mr Amaral understands or speaks English yet? And if he does why it matters?
>@@(*&)
I don't remember that reporter (he might have been only outside of the tribunal with his cameraman), a sort of masculine version of Ms Campbell, but I remember seeing Martin Brunt in the court room in all sessions, very attentive, and it must be acknowledged that he was fair.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Lyall on September 08, 2013, 05:08:21 PM
8((()*/ I always thought he's a good bloke.
I saw him speaking to the brother of Alps 'massacre' victim last week. Dodgy! >@@(*&)
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: DCI on September 08, 2013, 05:57:07 PM
I don't remember that reporter (he might have been only outside of the tribunal with his cameraman), a sort of masculine version of Ms Campbell, but I remember seeing Martin Brunt in the court room in all sessions, very attentive, and it must be acknowledged that he was fair.
Ian Woods.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 08, 2013, 06:28:43 PM
I don't remember that reporter (he might have been only outside of the tribunal with his cameraman), a sort of masculine version of Ms Campbell, but I remember seeing Martin Brunt in the court room in all sessions, very attentive, and it must be acknowledged that he was fair.
Me neither, but he is a regional journalist, I think, not London based from where we got the main news from bbc and sky. I thk he did a few reports n the trial, but only shown in north east England tv channels. And yes, Lori Cambells double! Licking hs lips in spreading misinformation on TV, came back to bite him on the backside though and rightly so.
DCI what's Ian Woods go to do with anything? That's Mike O'Sullivan in that video.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Luz on September 08, 2013, 11:18:10 PM
I don't know what he said which is why I asked the question. "Ask" doesn't sound anything like the other word ....
Being silly??? He answered in portuguese "fala com os McCann" - which the deaf BBC guy translated by "F..K the McCann" ( I wonder if it was his subconscious speaking).
Edited to correct.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 08, 2013, 11:29:45 PM
Being silly??? He answered in portuguese "fala com os McCann" - which the deaf BBC guy translated by "F..K the McCann" ( I wonder if it was his subconscious speaking).
Edited to correct.
@)(++(*
deaf stupid malcious or all three rather...alll the facts here have been presented, no one can be under any illusion anymore that GA swore,end of
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Chinagirl on September 09, 2013, 12:26:03 AM
Being silly??? He answered in portuguese "fala com os McCann" - which the deaf BBC guy translated by "F..K the McCann" ( I wonder if it was his subconscious speaking).
Edited to correct.
"Fala com ...." does sound vaguely like the word the BBC reporter thought he'd heard. An understandable mistake for a non-Portuguese speaker.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Luz on September 09, 2013, 12:39:33 AM
"Fala com ...." does sound vaguely like the word the BBC reporter thought he'd heard. An understandable mistake for a non-Portuguese speaker.
As a journalist he should have checked before publishing such an aggravating statement. If that "poor, ignorant news reporter" had been to Portugal recently he would have learnt that most portuguese, although understanding perfectly the English language, usually respond in Portuguese. I do and all my acquaintances do.
Even though I use English daily as my working language when communicating with colleagues from all around the world, I will never use it when addressed in the Algarve by ex-pats or tourists. It is my duty and obligation to make you'll understand that if you come here, or in particular if you live here, you have to learn how to address us, indigenous.
Portuguese journalists doing pieces abroad are chosen according to their mastery of the language. There would never be a journalist sent to Britain without knowing to understand and speak English.
I am not calling the Briton ignorant I am simply stating that in general, and in particular the press people are poorly educated about other cultures.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Chinagirl on September 09, 2013, 01:42:06 AM
Deleted. On second thoughts it is better not to rise to poisonous xenophobia!
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: icabodcrane on September 09, 2013, 02:32:16 AM
What arrogance and intolerance you display in that comment, insisting that ex-pats address you in Portuguese when, by your own admittance you could speak to them in English! But then, most of your posts here display extraordinary intolerance and a huge chip on the shoulder!
I know firsthand what it's like to live in a country where I couldn't speak a word of the language when I first arrived. Being a tonal language Chinese is particularly difficult for the Western ear, so I was immensely grateful for helpful, tolerant colleagues and others. I seldom encountered the sort of xenophobia you exhibit.
Your post is the epitome of intolerance ... you do realise that ?
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: stephen25000 on September 09, 2013, 07:13:26 AM
"Fala com ...." does sound vaguely like the word the BBC reporter thought he'd heard. An understandable mistake for a non-Portuguese speaker.
I agree - especially as the first word spoken by Amaral in his reply was 'NO' - so understandable that the reporter would assume that the rest of his short reply was also in English. And of course he wasn't the only one who made that mistake, I believe it was a while before it was sorted out. It was a genuine mistake.
I do believe that people who go to live abroad should learn the language - but as a German lad who once stayed with us said - (when I commented on how bad we were in this country at foreign languages) - ''Why bother - if you learn German you can can only speak it if you visit Germany - whereas English is global and the most common language learned all over the world''.
I have a friend who is Scottish married to an Italian lady - their twins have been bi-lingual since they began to talk as toddlers. I think that's amazing.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: AnneGuedes on September 09, 2013, 10:20:33 AM
I agree - especially as the first word spoken by Amaral in his reply was 'NO' - so understandable that the reporter would assume that the rest of his short reply was also in English.
No, Mr Amaral doesn't say "no", he says "não" (nasalized vowel).
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Benice on September 09, 2013, 10:40:59 AM
The point is that "ão" doesn't sound at all like "o". The nasalisation of the vowel "a" makes all the difference, you don't hear any "o".
It might sound more like "now". I'm not sure that that would seriously influence any English speaker's (apparently mistaken) interpretation of what came next.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: AnneGuedes on September 09, 2013, 02:09:31 PM
It might sound more like "now". I'm not sure that that would seriously influence any English speaker's (apparently mistaken) interpretation of what came next.
Sorry but it doesn't sound like "now". Try to say "now" meaning "no" to a Portuguese and see the result ! You have difficulty to produce/hear nasalisation since it doesn't exist in English but it exists in other languages, not only in Portuguese.
"Apparently" mistaken ! Amazing indulgence for an incompetent (in the best case) reporter.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Carana on September 09, 2013, 02:52:44 PM
Sorry but it doesn't sound like "now". Try to say "now" meaning "no" to a Portuguese and see the result ! You have difficulty to produce/hear nasalisation since it doesn't exist in English but it exists in other languages, not only in Portuguese.
"Apparently" mistaken ! Amazing indulgence for an incompetent (in the best case) reporter.
Possibly as comprehensible as wondering if turn-ups referred to a winter vegetable...
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Redblossom on September 09, 2013, 04:58:08 PM
Possibly as comprehensible as wondering if turn-ups referred to a winter vegetable...
Ridiculous analogy. @)(++(*
Mike O Sullivan had the taped and recorded event, he should have kept his mouth shut or asked an interpretor for the facts. Other journalists had no problem in doing so and getting the facts right
But a bit of disingenuous sensationalist tosh is always good for alot of the Brit news stories. Still, he cant beat Turnip Tony Parsons on that score ever, and after having his knuckles rapped over the incident doubt he would want to try it on again if he valued his job @)(++(*
Lets face it the only person in this story that has sworn by their own admission is kate mccann saying f****** to******* repeatedly to one of the PJ, albeit under her breath, gave her strength apparently
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: Benice on September 09, 2013, 05:52:49 PM
The point is that "ão" doesn't sound at all like "o". The nasalisation of the vowel "a" makes all the difference, you don't hear any "o".
'No' may be a very small word Anne, but there are different ways of pronouncing it in English - depending on regional accents. And to an English person like me who does not know the Portuguese for 'no' - I can assure you that on first hearing it - it certainly sounded like 'NO' to me.
Title: Re: Was Dr Amaral fluent in English or not?
Post by: AnneGuedes on September 09, 2013, 08:19:21 PM
'No' may be a very small word Anne, but there are different ways of pronouncing it in English - depending on regional accents. And to an English person like me who does not know the Portuguese for 'no' - I can assure you that on first hearing it - it certainly sounded like 'NO' to me.
But you're hearing a very bad sound track, Benice, it doesn't sound "no" in reality, believe me or not, it sounds like a refusal, as GA's moving forward says it as well, but it doesn't sound like a "no" badly pronounced. I'll tell you more : the main reason why some Portuguese don't speak English is that either they speak it very well or they don't. I don't mind my accent in English, I don't mind my accent in Portuguese (as long as people don't find out I'm French), but people here are prouder (on that matter) than I am (because my country never was submissive I suppose).