[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] "LEARNING ENGLISH"

[Otto]

Kristin,
Accents:
No one is truly without accent, regardless of where they were born.
The human speech box development in childhood is influenced by 
vocalization of language in the immediate area of birth and speech 
development. Muscle and palette development are 'set' in very early 
childhood. Glottis, vocal cords, larnynx. . .etc.
The human vocal organs: Nasal cavity, Hard palate, Alveoral ridge, Soft 
palate (Velum), Tip of the tongue (Apex), Dorsum, Uvula, Radix, 
Pharynx, Epiglottis, False vocal cords, Vocal cords, Larynx, Esophagus, 
and Trachea.

Your grandfather undoubtedly had an accent similar to the village he 
was born in. (barring speech impediment and congenital malformation of 
the voice box.)  There are numerous North German dialects. The only way 
he could possess a North German accent of any type is to have been born 
and spoken a particular North German dialect during early speech 
formative years.  As far as 'perfect English' is concerned; I was born 
in the United States, in Cleveland, an area fairly free of dialect, yet 
I possess a German accent.  During my early formative years I spoke 
'high' German (Luther's hilly Hessian, the clan's Russian Poland 
variety of it) plus a bit of Platt. (An East Prussian flatland dialect 
Platt)   As an old man I still vocalize my "R's", as a Bostonian would, 
to prevent the rolling of them. (Including a peck basket full of other 
flaws.)

Rely on birth, marriage and death records to verify line of descent- It 
far surpasses oral myth.
After some 300 years we are related only to a surname, hardly any 
genetic connection is left after that.
We belong to the breeding group we are connected to.


...  Otto

                    " The Zen moment..." wk. of February 20, 2005-
                          ________________________________
            "Substance is elusive... most grasp the shadows."