Sorry je suis French!
Playing at being English: my journey to a clearer voice, hotels for dog lovers in Scotland and a fellow hotel lover review of a Turkish haven #99
After twenty years of living in English-speaking countries - it will be 20 years in London this April, not counting my previous stays in England and New York - I finally decided to work on my French accent. Not because it bothers me particularly - I've always seen it as part of who I am, but I noticed that in meetings or even friendly conversations, people sometimes have to lean in to understand me better.
It's not about my English itself - my grammar and vocabulary are strong. It's about pronunciation, rhythm, and what my coach calls "pitch" - the way English speakers create waves of emphasis in their speech.
During our first session, I learned that I will never sound completely English, even with extensive training. Not because of lack of effort, but because of physical limitations - it turns out that native-like pronunciation isn't just about the brain's language connections, but also about how we physically use our jaw and mouth.
Did you know for instance that there are 26 different ways of pronouncing vowels and that the tongue sits like a hammock in the mouth, while we French speakers tend to keep it flat. English speakers also use their jaw differently - they have a wider range of movement and use the soft palate at the back of their mouth more than French speakers do.
Apparently, I need to "play at being English" and let go of my French identity when speaking. This made me wonder if I have been unconsciously holding onto my accent as a way to maintain my French identity, even though I've now spent more of my adult life outside France than in it?
Anyway, I've signed up for five hours of coaching, and I hope that I will at least be clearer and have more impact, especially at work. I'll let you know how it goes.
It's a bit of a mixed bag this week in terms of content for you to read.
I've included an answer to the question asked when I mentioned that I could query my database with AI. Actually, I didn't have much information on dogs because it's not necessarily something I collect when scouting hotels. So, I used AI differently and have a small list for my friend Elaine. This replaces the 5 extra finds.
Also, I'm including a review of a hotel from a Substack newsletter that I really like. If you are interested in art and Turkey, it’s worth subscribing to Lucy’s substack.
Hope you enjoy all of this.
Yazz Collective in Turkey - review by Lucy
I was really pleased to read Lucy’s review of Yazz in Turkey. I had listed here in my finds but was not sure whether it was great as I had read comments about it being quite noisy with the club vibe that exists in the summer. Turns out that at other times it’s quite a delightful place.
City hotels for dog owners in Scotland- AI found!
In the previous newsletter, I mentioned that I could use AI to search my database now. My friend Elaine challenged me to find hotels in cities in Scotland that are dog-friendly. To be honest, I don’t really look for information about that when I collect the hotels, so I used a mix of my database, my memory and a bit more research to give Elaine her answer. I also filtered them to only keep those that look chic enough to me. Here are a few suggestions!
Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel
From £230
Situated in a historic building, this luxury hotel welcomes dogs and offers pet-friendly amenities. Might look a bit corporate on the pictures but if it’s like the Kimpton in Edinburgh, it would have good service and boutique touches.
The Roseate, Edinburgh
From 148£
I did stay here a few years ago for work and it was really nice. It is spread across two Victorian townhouses, and has a nice cozy bar and restaurant. The bus quickly takes you to the centre of town or the airport.
Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
From 185£
Another one where I stayed and they do accept dogs. I think it’s a very good option for the center of Edinburgh and it has a pool!
The Raeburn, Edinburgh
From £105
A boutique hotel situated in the vibrant Stockbridge area, known for its dog-friendly rooms and proximity to Inverleith Park, where you can take your dog.
Thank you so much for featuring my review of Yazz — as you say it's typically Turkish in regards to noise. Sometimes perfectly peaceful and at others perfectly geared up for a party. You have to be prepared for both.
Aw Stephanie that is so kind of you. I will definitely be giving these a whirl when the weather is warmer. I wonder if Bertie would be allowed in the pool area haha.
I have always loved your accent, it will be interesting to see how the course works for you.