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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 9, 2014 19:41:46 GMT
I once got into a long and heated argument with my British boyfriend over the origins of the American southern accent. He refused to believe that certain accents in the US have stayed close to what was spoken in the mother country at the time of the American Revolution. He and his rugby friends did hold the opinion that Americans didn't speak as well or sound as nice as the English but I didn't ever think that was the general opinion of all his countrymen. I had always heard that, in part, the southern accent derived from the large numbers of Scottish immigrants that settled here. Maybe that is why I keep seeing comments here from our British, Scottish, and Irish friends about enjoying southern accents? That maybe there is some kind of inherent "sameness" between the two? (and for the record, I do have a fairly pronounced southern accent-more southern Georgia than anything else as I grew up right on the Florida/Georgia border.) ETA: clarifying that by sameness between the two I meant Scottish and Southern accents and that the British, Scottish, and Irish are more likely exposed to the other accents because of proximity.
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Post by gillyp on Jul 9, 2014 19:45:35 GMT
Mel B is from Leeds in Yorkshire, I believe. That's Northern England! I'm from near Liverpool and most folk don't like a scouse (Liverpudlian) accent but to me it says home.
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Post by compwalla on Jul 9, 2014 19:47:55 GMT
I once got into a long and heated argument with my British boyfriend over the origins of the American southern accent. He refused to believe that certain accents in the US have stayed close to what was spoken in the mother country at the time of the American Revolution. He and his rugby friends did hold the opinion that Americans didn't speak as well or sound as nice as the English but I didn't ever think that was the general opinion of all his countrymen. I had always heard that, in part, the southern accent derived from the large numbers of Scottish immigrants that settled here. Maybe that is why I keep seeing comments here from our Brittish, Scottish, and Irish friends about enjoying southern accents? That maybe there is some kind of inherent "sameness" between the two? (and for the record, I do have a fairly pronounced southern accent-more southern Georgia than anything else as I grew up right on the Florida/Georgia border.) The class I took talked about accents in Appalachia that had stayed close to the original. He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that British pronunciation had changed as much as it had since the 1700s. In his mind, they'd always sounded like that and *our* accents had devolved.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 19:49:42 GMT
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calgal08
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Post by calgal08 on Jul 9, 2014 19:52:29 GMT
I'm a Brit who's lived in the US since '96. When I lived in England I didn't hate the American accent, but, I wasn't overly impressed by how loud a lot (not all) of the American tourists I encountered. Anyone watched the show Ladies of London? That really shows the difference. Brits are usually more reserved and don't voice their opinions (air their dirty laundry) as much as many Americans do. I'm not saying either way is right - they're just different.
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Post by gar on Jul 9, 2014 19:53:23 GMT
You sound like a riot Michelle:)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 19:54:40 GMT
Mel B is from Northern England, I come from the same place as her! Having said that though I hate her accent, it's overly exaggerated and everytime she says 'I'm from Leeds me' I just die a little bit inside.
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Post by Sam on Jul 9, 2014 19:55:44 GMT
Of course they aren't - most of you make up a great deal of our tourist revenue when you come over to look at the Crown Jewels!! LOL And we thank you for it! Plus, we can tell a 'real' American tourist, because they are the ones sitting in a Camden pub wearing the 'London, England' sweatshirts, so you kind of help that side of our business as well! During the 70's/80's we had such an influx of US programmes (anything from the A-Team, to Heart To Heart, to Dallas....get the point?!) that this is not really a novelty any more. It seems to me that the exodus of Brit programming across the pond from our end has taken slightly longer, so maybe that explains some of the comments. Also, if you take an American to some of the smaller towns over here, you may still get a lot of comment and adoration for your accent, so it's not all bad for you! To be honest, in a conversation with people from the US, most of us are interested in where you come from/why you are here/what you think of our country!
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jul 9, 2014 19:57:16 GMT
I had always heard that, in part, the southern accent derived from the large numbers of Scottish immigrants that settled here. Maybe that is why I keep seeing comments here from our Brittish, Scottish, and Irish friends about enjoying southern accents? That maybe there is some kind of inherent "sameness" between the two? (and for the record, I do have a fairly pronounced southern accent-more southern Georgia than anything else as I grew up right on the Florida/Georgia border.) The class I took talked about accents in Appalachia that had stayed close to the original. He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that British pronunciation had changed as much as it had since the 1700s. In his mind, they'd always sounded like that and *our* accents had devolved. I vaguely remember watching a documentary or reading something about this. That the British changed their accent and way of speaking to make them sound more important than the colonists (or future Americans).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 20:04:12 GMT
lol. I'm ok with it sometimes-lots of times it's fun- but I have to confess that constant gushing can make me stabby. Time and place and all that.
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 9, 2014 20:12:23 GMT
My ex is British so I might be a bit jaded but.... in my experience, a lot of british only like the british. They tend to be a very pompous society, and think that Americans wanted out( from the monarchy) so be gone with them!! My ex was a very unattractive man, even more so as you got to know him. but women would gush over his accent. yuck! the accent does NOTHING for me now, other than test my abiltiy to see if I can still determine the geography of their accent. I recently had a date with a VERY nice looking british-american man, but told him his accent was a killer for me, so he said he would step up his game in other ways. :-) My ex explained to me once that American accents aren't enviable as they are everywhere,, tv, commercials, etc.So they aren't a novelty. Well, that's generalising in a big way!! 'A lot of British only like the British' - that is absolutely wrong! For one thing we are some of the most travelled people in the world and love going on holiday in various places all over the world....if we only liked ourselves we wouldn't move from these islands but would be very insular!! And 'pompous'......you must have been watching too many British sitcoms! We love to send up ourselves because we can laugh at ourselves......as with Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances!! We Brits are a lot of things but 'pompous' is not one of them so I too hope you are jaded or generalising!
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calgal08
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Post by calgal08 on Jul 9, 2014 20:19:00 GMT
I agree - I'm sure I can name several Brits who would no doubt drive you crazy.
The Real Housewife shows are far from normal life, I only used that example because there are both Brits and Americans on there and the difference between the 2 is huge.
As a Brit, I'm incredibly private. The majority of my American friends are far more open than I am and have no problem discussing, what to me, are very private matters (finances, marital issues, etc. etc.)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 20:21:46 GMT
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Post by dulcemama on Jul 9, 2014 20:25:03 GMT
So not true! Scotland! Scotland is where the hot accents are. *swoon*
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Post by Sam on Jul 9, 2014 20:35:53 GMT
So not true! Scotland! Scotland is where the hot accents are. *swoon* Well, just to make you jealous....Guess what kind of man I live with! He may have many things that annoy me, but his accent isn't one of them! Having said that - some of those accents are harsh and you can not understand a word they say! He had to literally translate for me a couple of times in Glasgow (so embarrassing!!)
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 9, 2014 20:40:35 GMT
LOL. They started as new series here a very, very long time ago and have been repeated time and time again - they still make me laugh though! And no, there couldn't be a sillier group of people than the Brits!!
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Post by amandad74 on Jul 9, 2014 21:16:26 GMT
I had always heard that, in part, the southern accent derived from the large numbers of Scottish immigrants that settled here. Maybe that is why I keep seeing comments here from our Brittish, Scottish, and Irish friends about enjoying southern accents? That maybe there is some kind of inherent "sameness" between the two? (and for the record, I do have a fairly pronounced southern accent-more southern Georgia than anything else as I grew up right on the Florida/Georgia border.) The class I took talked about accents in Appalachia that had stayed close to the original. He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that British pronunciation had changed as much as it had since the 1700s. In his mind, they'd always sounded like that and *our* accents had devolved. I've heard this as well. I did not take a class but I do remember reading about it.
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valincal
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Post by valincal on Jul 9, 2014 21:23:39 GMT
I think, as here, accents vary hugely and some are more attractive than others. I would not say that we don't like your accent but I will admit that some appeal more than others! Don't ask me to identify various ones but some are more subtle, some less so and some are associated with certain types of people which is undoubtedly the same worldwide Absolutely! I can also add that not only are some accents over here not as 'attractive' as others, but some are down right impossible to understand! When I first started watching Corrie, many years ago, I would put the subtitles on my TV to 'translate' the words some of the characters!
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Post by gar on Jul 9, 2014 21:27:37 GMT
Ha ha
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 9, 2014 21:30:49 GMT
Absolutely! I can also add that not only are some accents over here not as 'attractive' as others, but some are down right impossible to understand! When I first started watching Corrie, many years ago, I would put the subtitles on my TV to 'translate' the words some of the characters!
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Post by leannec on Jul 9, 2014 21:39:28 GMT
I love a man with a British accent ... my straight boyfriend, Henry Cavill has one Leanne
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Post by Scarlet Ohana on Jul 9, 2014 22:24:55 GMT
Well..... Love, Scarlet who was actually really British.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 22:30:02 GMT
Have you met many of us to have such a jaded generalization? Benem........ I think your Oxford grad might be feeling a bit miffed that people didn't fall at his feet As someone else said earlier,they are so used to hearing different accents and so many American ones at that,not just from students but also from tourists, it's a day to day occurrence to hear American accents there.I don't think it would cross anyone's mind to comment on the accent,they're more likely to ask what part of the US they were from. For such a small island we certainly do have a variety of different accents I have to say! I think the worse one for me is the West Midlands/Birmingham accent.( I just hope we don't have a member from there on here, now that i've said that )
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Post by myboysnme on Jul 9, 2014 22:48:46 GMT
You make me laugh - this reminds me so much of Colin from 'Love Actually' and his 'cute British accent' lol!
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oblibby
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Post by oblibby on Jul 10, 2014 15:45:48 GMT
I agree with the previous posters who said we hear such a variety of accents on a daily basis that it doesn't really register.
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 10, 2014 15:52:36 GMT
Oh they will almost certainly immediately take the opportunity to say 'hello love, which part of the States are YOU from' and go from there.........what they would be most unlikely to do is start with 'ohhhh, you've got a cute accent........'!!
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 10, 2014 16:22:03 GMT
LOL The blokes here can be a bit shy about speaking right off to someone they don't know so that would work like a dream with them, no matter which city you choose to visit!! Read up on some facts about football and cars and they will love you immediately!! However, don't expect them to sprinkle the conversation with compliments to you.....most blokes have to know you for quite a while before they get around to asking if you've had your hair done even!!
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Post by gar on Jul 10, 2014 16:43:48 GMT
You've thought about this a lot haven't you!!!
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Post by gar on Jul 10, 2014 16:48:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 17:06:36 GMT
Best to wait a few minutes after the initial meeting after been out to dinner maybe.....the code is would you like to come in ( to your flat after he's seen you home) for a nightcap/coffee!
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