别太敏感。shoestring is perfectly ok, same as shoelace...as long as you said it clearly!;) so, clear pronounciation still matters.
-hsl(胡司令);
2011-3-2(#6538831@0)
Thanks, Commander, for sharing your opinion. However, this is definitely not a pronunciation issue. I don't think my accent is perfect, but I do client consulting and support every day on the phone, so I believe my accent is acceptable to say the least.I just asked my native coworker whether "shoestring" could be used here, and he said he "never heard of it". He said it should be "shoelace" too.
-ontario-farmer(麦十四);
2011-3-3{151}(#6541617@0)
Some native speakers are smart enough to correctly guess ESLs' "new words". An exampleMany years ago I asked some co-workers what to do if the "houselord" didn't allow us to use the dryer, blah, blah. Only one co-worker could tell I meant "landlord".
-heater(美帝苏修);
2011-3-3{170}(#6541658@0)
this example maybe a little extreme. i actually tried it at eaton centre (just for fun) and the salesgirl took no effort understanding it ;) however i agree we are better off speaking the local dialect/jargons. washrom/bathroom is a typical example. thx!
-hsl(胡司令);
2011-3-4(#6543959@0)
reminds me of yankee doodle, the song ;).
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony.
He stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni .
Chorus:
Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.
-hsl(胡司令);
2011-3-2{261}(#6538811@0)
我们在这里需要的是加音，不是美音~~also, "watch your step" is perfectly ok and not any less common!
-hsl(胡司令);
2011-3-2(#6538841@0)
"Mind the Gap!" --- on TTC subway,
-cavalia(Uplander);
2011-3-2(#6538894@0)
还带这么做广告的哪
-heater(美帝苏修);
2011-3-2(#6538945@0)
mind the gap头次听到在香港地铁。所以mind the steps的表达就很自然而然，几乎不可能用错。本地词汇听多了就能掌握，地道的句子表达难度大些，但真正难的是有文化有典故的东东，几乎永远不可能象中文那样
-uptowngirl(若初 扇摇霜雪知多少);
2011-3-2(#6539031@0)