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Apr 23, 2024 21:32:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 18:58:55 GMT
My husband's best friend is British. When they were in college, the guys all called his accent "The Weapon." Because, seriously, it was. He was a good looking guy, but the way American women reacted to his accent, you'd think he was Ryan Gosling LOL
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Post by gillyp on Jul 10, 2014 19:45:22 GMT
This post has quite seriously made my day.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 10, 2014 19:54:04 GMT
I always thought Brits thought American accents sounded crass and rude. What prompted you to think that? I don't believe that I have ever heard a fellow Brit comment adversely about an American accent.
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Post by sarahyoo72 on Jul 10, 2014 19:57:53 GMT
Benem, I think I love you LOL. As a Brit living in the US, if I got a dollar every time someone said "I love your accent" then I would be a billionaire The locals are obsessed with our accents (there are a few Brits in my neighbourhood, all colleagues of DH) and always comment on it. My DD actually stopped speaking by the end of her first week at school here, as she was the only Brit in the school, and all the kids were following her round asking her to "say something". LOL. I once replied to someone who said they loved my accent - "I love yours too!" and they said, "oh but I don't have an accent!!". Erm, I think you do
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BarbaraUK
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Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 10, 2014 20:08:25 GMT
errrmmmmm........ok!!
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Post by leannec on Jul 10, 2014 20:08:42 GMT
Nope, Henry blows him out of the water
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Post by Zee on Jul 10, 2014 20:54:44 GMT
Benem, you might enjoy this pic of me on a rainy Saturday night in Edinburgh with a Scottish groom in his kilt. His reception was held at the same hotel DH and I were staying at. I think he spent more time outside smoking with me and DH and his friends than he did with the bride; in any case, I only saw her twice. LOL. You would have loved his accent. BTW, he mentioned that he himself is not a fan of most English accents and pronounced them "a bit puss-ish", which DH and I have used in his voice as personal insults ever since. Ahahaha Anyway, he was very funny. He predicted we'd be knifed to death in Glasgow (we weren't--I assured him that having lived in Chicago, where we could be shot from across the street, I'd at least be glad that any assailants would have to actually get next to me first in order to stab me so we weren't scared) and was jealous that it was so HOT here in the US (the wedding was in July and we were freezing there). He's been to Florida and loved it.
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Post by norcalscrapper on Jul 10, 2014 20:58:13 GMT
I have a British friend, and I always drooled over his accent. I told him one time that I wished I had a cool accent. He told me, 'you do have a cool accent, you may not think so but to me you sound like you have an accent' Yay!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 21:37:47 GMT
I love British accents... Some are easier to understand, and sound more "posh" than others, but I haven't heard one I didn't like. Speaking of the British, I sat next to the nicest British guy from Leeds flying from Pittsburgh back in February. It was such fun. I am quite the Anglophile, so I am afraid I plagued him with questions. I am sure he was glad to get off the plane, lol. One accent I find atrocious is my own voice. I have a drawl, and combined with my tone it's horrible. It sounds way better in my head when I'm talking, lol. I try never to hear it on recordings... I could never be a DJ, that's for sure. Oh, and the other voice that I can't stand is Gilbert Godfried. If I hear him in a movie, off it goes. I don't think my son will ever see Aladdin, poor guy! And btw, Colin Firth is the Englishman I drool over!
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Post by Jockscrap on Jul 10, 2014 21:56:34 GMT
I'm married to this one.
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Post by phoenixcov on Jul 10, 2014 22:07:17 GMT
My ds (34/single) has an accent of UK Coventry/Norfolk/Cartman/Aussie/any accent he hears he can copy. I`m loving this thread. Might think of a spot of matchmaking if I wasn`t his Mum.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 11, 2014 4:28:10 GMT
My son had British soccer camp this summer and I LOVED listening to the coaches. They could have talked about what they had for breakfast, or how they made a sandwich and I would have been 100% focused on that! They did tell some funny stories which I had to record. The coach was quite serious about not encouraging them to imitate him. I grew up in the south. I like southern accents.
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AmeliaBloomer
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Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Jul 11, 2014 12:21:30 GMT
Errant thoughts:
- I find many English (in fact, UK) accents very pleasant to listen to - mostly the cadence and the soft vowels. I live among people with a very hard, flat, nasal accent - including myself, of course. There's nothing lyrical about a Chicago accent.
- I also think Americans are charmed by British word choice, including words that are known here, yet seldom used.
- Being charmed is one thing; always commenting one someone's accent, as if it's what defines him, is a different matter. My English neighbor, who's been here 25 years, can't go to the grocery store without comment. I fear it makes "us" look rather bumpkin-ish.
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 11, 2014 12:32:55 GMT
I find people tend to make judgement based on your accent. I have a fairly pronounced southern accent (and y'all? there are tons of different types of southern accents as well) and live in an area that has a LOT of winter visitors. Very often, I am treated as if I am not very smart, too slow, not sophisticated enough...all based, in part, on my accent.
But, I am college educated, grew up in the capital city of my state, and if I meander through the grocery store, it is because I am one to just "be" in the moments of my life.
I don't like the judgement very much.
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Post by gar on Jul 11, 2014 12:48:24 GMT
I find people tend to make judgement based on your accent. I have a fairly pronounced southern accent (and y'all? there are tons of different types of southern accents as well) and live in an area that has a LOT of winter visitors. Very often, I am treated as if I am not very smart, too slow, not sophisticated enough...all based, in part, on my accent. But, I am college educated, grew up in the capital city of my state, and if I meander through the grocery store, it is because I am one to just "be" in the moments of my life. I don't like the judgement very much. I think stereotyping comes in to play here doesn't it. Its even happened on here....English are aloof, Americans are loud. Among the British there are old stereotypes of the Scots being tight, Londoners being common, and I'm sure it happens worldwide. Have you never, even briefly, attributed characteristics to someone based on their accent? Its not right but it happens....hopefully most people realise it before the thought is even fully formed in their head though.
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Post by maryland on Jul 11, 2014 12:59:05 GMT
Not British, but my husband lived in England and Wales for a couple years before we started dating. He said everyone loved his accent!
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 11, 2014 13:08:20 GMT
I find people tend to make judgement based on your accent. I have a fairly pronounced southern accent (and y'all? there are tons of different types of southern accents as well) and live in an area that has a LOT of winter visitors. Very often, I am treated as if I am not very smart, too slow, not sophisticated enough...all based, in part, on my accent. But, I am college educated, grew up in the capital city of my state, and if I meander through the grocery store, it is because I am one to just "be" in the moments of my life. I don't like the judgement very much. I think stereotyping comes in to play here doesn't it. Its even happened on here....English are aloof, Americans are loud. Among the British there are old stereotypes of the Scots being tight, Londoners being common, and I'm sure it happens worldwide. Have you never, even briefly, attributed characteristics to someone based on their accent? Its not right but it happens....hopefully most people realise it before the thought is even fully formed in their head though. I absolutely agree. Stereotyping is alive and well. You would hope that people keep to themselves, but it doesn't always happen. I overheard a conversation the other day between two of our winter friends complaining of how stupid we all sound. One woman said she feels like she has to explain everything to us, that we just didn't "get it." Her friend agreed saying "yes, it is like 'they' just don't understand how to do things." It is frustrating.
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Post by gar on Jul 11, 2014 13:13:08 GMT
I think stereotyping comes in to play here doesn't it. Its even happened on here....English are aloof, Americans are loud. Among the British there are old stereotypes of the Scots being tight, Londoners being common, and I'm sure it happens worldwide. Have you never, even briefly, attributed characteristics to someone based on their accent? Its not right but it happens....hopefully most people realise it before the thought is even fully formed in their head though. I absolutely agree. Stereotyping is alive and well. You would hope that people keep to themselves, but it doesn't always happen. I overheard a conversation the other day between two of our winter friends complaining of how stupid we all sound. One woman said she feels like she has to explain everything to us, that we just didn't "get it." Her friend agreed saying "yes, it is like 'they' just don't understand how to do things." It is frustrating. That's awful! Yes, you would hope that intelligence would take over but obviously not always!! That would make me very cross too
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Post by gillyp on Jul 11, 2014 14:45:06 GMT
I think stereotyping comes in to play here doesn't it. Its even happened on here....English are aloof, Americans are loud. Among the British there are old stereotypes of the Scots being tight, Londoners being common, and I'm sure it happens worldwide. Have you never, even briefly, attributed characteristics to someone based on their accent? Its not right but it happens....hopefully most people realise it before the thought is even fully formed in their head though. I absolutely agree. Stereotyping is alive and well. You would hope that people keep to themselves, but it doesn't always happen. I overheard a conversation the other day between two of our winter friends complaining of how stupid we all sound. One woman said she feels like she has to explain everything to us, that we just didn't "get it." Her friend agreed saying "yes, it is like 'they' just don't understand how to do things." It is frustrating. Crikey! How rude! I don't think I'd particularly want them as friends or I'd go to the other extreme and be deliberately slow around them and constantly ask them to explain things. I am annoyed for you!
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Post by meowgal on Jul 11, 2014 15:43:40 GMT
An American here with an English Mum and English ex, and I've lived in England. When I first moved to England, I had lived in Texas for the past 20 years and picked up a bit of a Texas accent (still get it when I'm all excited! LOL)...think Laura Bush accent. Anyway, they LOVED that one, but when I got rid of it and back to my newscaster accent (I was in news for several years), they didn't even notice it or at least never commented on it.
I am not fond of a lot of English accents though. Just the proper ones, as that is how my Mum spoke. My ex still has an educated accent, but not nearly as nice as my Mum's was. Her's was a bit "toffee nosed"! LOL Anyway, I find a lot of the British programs have actors with much less attractive accents...more "common" I suppose. I still watch Coronation Street, which is sent to me each quarter. That is set in the same area that my Mum was from, but her accent was nothing like that! BUT, I have another relative that sounds just like Audrey Roberts on that program! LOL
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Post by uksue on Jul 11, 2014 16:23:17 GMT
I agree with Gar, there are lots of different variations in American accents the same as anywhere else. I don't like very nasal, flat accents like you sometimes hear on Americans ( I am also originally from Birmingham and any Brits on here will know how awful that accent is!)but the majority of them I love. I also don't know of anyone amongst my friends or family who says they don't like the American accent, across the board.
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Post by gillyp on Jul 12, 2014 16:57:04 GMT
I still watch Coronation Street, which is sent to me each quarter. That is set in the same area that my Mum was from, but her accent was nothing like that! BUT, I have another relative that sounds just like Audrey Roberts on that program! LOL Have you heard the real voice of the actress who plays her? Really quite upper/upper middle class. Her father is Lord Harmer-Nicholls and she is officially The Honourable Susan Nicholls.
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BarbaraUK
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Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
Posts: 5,961
Location: England UK
Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jul 12, 2014 17:32:01 GMT
An American here with an English Mum and English ex, and I've lived in England. When I first moved to England, I had lived in Texas for the past 20 years and picked up a bit of a Texas accent (still get it when I'm all excited! LOL)...think Laura Bush accent. Anyway, they LOVED that one, but when I got rid of it and back to my newscaster accent (I was in news for several years), they didn't even notice it or at least never commented on it. I am not fond of a lot of English accents though. Just the proper ones, as that is how my Mum spoke. My ex still has an educated accent, but not nearly as nice as my Mum's was. Her's was a bit "toffee nosed"! LOL Anyway, I find a lot of the British programs have actors with much less attractive accents...more "common" I suppose. I still watch Coronation Street, which is sent to me each quarter. That is set in the same area that my Mum was from, but her accent was nothing like that! BUT, I have another relative that sounds just like Audrey Roberts on that program! LOL I was born in that area and there are many, many variations of the accent, and the amount of accent in a voice, in a relatively small sized county! Some definitely not as nice as others! Even if a Brit has no immediately discernible accent, it's usually the vowel sounds that lead other Brits to be able to pinpoint where we come from. Was going to mention the info about Audrey Roberts but I think gillyp has already posted it.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 12, 2014 19:34:55 GMT
I am originally form Manchester, so sound as if I live on Coronation Street. I have been in exile in Yorkshire for more than half my life, and people still ask me where I come from.
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Post by Sam on Jul 12, 2014 19:37:06 GMT
I am originally form Manchester, so sound as if I live on Coronation Street. I have been in exile in Yorkshire for more than half my life, and people still ask me where I come from. A strong accent vying with a strong accent!
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Post by gar on Jul 12, 2014 21:51:10 GMT
I am originally form Manchester, so sound as if I live on Coronation Street. I have been in exile in Yorkshire for more than half my life, and people still ask me where I come from. A strong accent vying with a strong accent! Hi-jack....Sam, how's the shoulder/back pain?
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 13, 2014 6:41:00 GMT
We definitely don't do gushing but that's what I love about Americans - their openness and enthusiasm - but now I'm probably offending Americans who don't see themselves like that at all!! I find it hard to think of you as being offensive about anything Gar, but then again, I'm one of those really open Americans who will talk to anyone about just about anything, (except politics!) and I've been known to hug my co-workers just because they showed up for their shift. I might not be the best judge.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 13, 2014 6:49:50 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 think this is one of the most interesting things I've read since I've been here. Which, granted, isn't all that long....... but you get the idea. I've actually wondered what the first southerners along the east coast actually sounded like and how different they were from further north. I can't imagine it was as different in the 1770's as it is today. Considering how many Scots settled North Carolina during that time, it really has piqued my curiosity a bit. They just couldn't have the same drawl that's found today.
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Post by gar on Jul 13, 2014 8:25:44 GMT
We definitely don't do gushing but that's what I love about Americans - their openness and enthusiasm - but now I'm probably offending Americans who don't see themselves like that at all!! I find it hard to think of you as being offensive about anything Gar, but then again, I'm one of those really open Americans who will talk to anyone about just about anything, (except politics!) and I've been known to hug my co-workers just because they showed up for their shift. I might not be the best judge. Well, you're too kind You sound like my favourite kind of American
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Post by Sam on Jul 13, 2014 11:03:12 GMT
Hi-jack....Sam, how's the shoulder/back pain? Hi, gar! Thanks for asking - it's still painful but luckily has been easing off over the past day or so and I had a much better sleep again last night. Hoping to be back to normal soon!
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