Welcome to McDonalds! How can I help you?
For this assignment I chose to order from McDonalds in different accents or languages. I’d like to start by explaining the resources that I used to complete my audio recordings. The main hardware was my Macbook containing Garage Band. I then made three recordings, one in English, one in French, and one in Spanish. Thankfully, I had the accessibility of knowing someone that is trilingual. She speaks English, Spanish, and French.
English Recording
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68366000″ iframe=”true” /]
Spanish Recording
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68366084″ iframe=”true” /]
French Recording
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68365648″ iframe=”true” /]
It is obvious to tell what I ordred in the English recording, but for the French and Spanish I ordered things that McDonalds would sell in Spanish and French speaking countries For example, in the Spanish recording the customer orders an arepa, a typical south american food, and a frescolita, a typical south american soda. In the French recording, the customer does order a big mac which is seen in the United States, but the point is to show how Global McDonalds is. This leads to the historical argument I created from doing this assignment, which is despite McDonalds being an American company, there are one of the more international company worldwide.
I chose not to do any type of accent for the English recording, because I figured if I am comparing different countries I wouldn’t to put on a southern or “New York” accent on to prove the point. It is obvious why I chose not to do the Spanish and French recording because, I simply doing speak those languages or good enough where I can record myself clearly and articulate myself correctly.
philip, I can see how you are making a point that McDonald’s is an international company, but many if not most companies now are international, as they have their products sold overseas. I just don’t make the historical connection, maybe you can try to make the argument that the focus for mcdonalds is now predominantly international and not domestic due to the golbalization of the world’s economies?
Showing this shift can make the argument that even for companies that are known as “American” them focusing internationally can show that the American market is no longer its bread and butter. Just suggestion, not saying your post is bad or anything, it was “tres cool que vous mettrez le post” 🙂
I see that McDonalds is a world-wide company, but I don’t see the historical argument here. What would have been an interesting angle would have been to go to a McDonalds and order in these languages and see if anyone would be able to assist you. If not, then you could make the argument that in a melting pot city like NYC, language is still a huddle some restaurants have yet to overcome.
Also, was this recorded as a McDonalds? If so, then having the background noises of registers beeping, or people talking could add to the story-telling means of an audio narrative.
Its interesting to know that other countries use McDonalds as a fast food restaurant in their country even though they sell foods that fit the area of where the restaurant is located. The historical argument could be one of many, one is where is McDonalds as a chain heading to? maybe some time soon we will be able to get a bigger menu containing the local food of paris and mexico? Another argument might be the evolution of food and taste preferences, why does McDonalds differentiates it self in other countries? why do people like certain foods in certain places? How come its not a “one menu fits all” approach ?