"Uncle Marvo" wrote
If you watch a polyglot speak alien languages (something I do often) you
will see that their face changes completely. An indigenous Englishperson
speaking French will make his/her nose "thinner" and pout.
Really.

Hi Marvo,
Well you have managed to lure be back into URG........I keep reading all
your posts and could not resist chipping in here :~))

I have a theory that children's mouths and facial muscles are trained into
certain positions while they learn the speak in whatever tongue they grow up
with. That's why it's so hard to learn to speak another language properly
when you are older.

Knew a girl once whose father was something in the diplomatic service. She'd
grown up in various countries and spoke English, French, German and Dutch
like a native - she'd obviously trained ALL her facial muscles when they
were still malleable :~))

People say I speak almost perfect Dutch until they hear me trying to
pronounce a word with the 'eeu' sound in it. Can't get my lips round that
sound at all, even after 30 odd years here ! Example: meeuw=seagull or
sneewklokje=snowdrop - there, got a gardening reference in to get us all
back on topic!

Jenny