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How English sounds to non-English speakers

Brian and Karl
Comedy
YouTube
1 HN user recommended this comedy video1 month2013–2017 score 1
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN cites it as the best-known example of gibberish that mimics the sound of a language, in threads about fake languages and nonsense imitations.

'Skwerl' is a short film by Brian and Karl made entirely in fake English, imitating how English sounds to people who don't speak it. It was made for Kino Sydney and shown on QI.

“It's a very strange experience hearing it!” (HN, 2017)

1 recommendations · 2 citations · Comedy

3 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

Citations, criticism and jokes

@CKKim Jan 2013 Cites it
on HN thread It's Gibberish, But Italian Pop Song Still Means Something
A similar effect can be heard in "Skwerl (How English sounds to non-English speakers)": [this video] (speaking starts at 0m30s). It's not quite as good, is it? I wonder if this effect is easier to achieve in a song or if it's more a case of how much time, talent, and effort goes into making it.
Gibberish imitating English sounds, offered as a comparable example

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