How long before you lose your accent?
Jan 23rd 2009 | 10:44 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 289
From: Halls Head WA
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
In my experience you don't lose your accent altogether. Also the further North in the U.K the stronger the accent making losing it even harder.
You do tend to pick up phrases quite quickly, I found that working on a building site I learned most of the slang terms for stuff pretty quick, otherwise I'd have had no idea what most were talking about.
I resisted from abbreviating words for ages, things like servo ambo's, smoko, arvo etc. used to really irritate me, plus with my Lincolnshire twang I always thought I sounded like a twat trying to fit in & speak the lingo.
Now after six years I speak the same as everyone else around these parts, just with a big hint of a Pommie accent.
You do tend to pick up phrases quite quickly, I found that working on a building site I learned most of the slang terms for stuff pretty quick, otherwise I'd have had no idea what most were talking about.
I resisted from abbreviating words for ages, things like servo ambo's, smoko, arvo etc. used to really irritate me, plus with my Lincolnshire twang I always thought I sounded like a twat trying to fit in & speak the lingo.
Now after six years I speak the same as everyone else around these parts, just with a big hint of a Pommie accent.
Jan 23rd 2009 | 2:01 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
Interesting what league do you play in, I've not encountered an all UK team before. That would be almost unique in Vic FFA leagues.
The only one nation team I know over these parts is Somalian.
Some of the Turkish teams are almost 100 pct Turk, but they see the sense of letting in an Italian striker lol
Whoops back on thread, when I've been back to the UK, people are confused especially in Wales as to whether I'm from London or Aus.... most pick me as a Londoner..... thats after 30 years.... whereas in London and MKeynes and Crawley they think I'm an Aussie.
Last edited by ozzieeagle; Jan 23rd 2009 at 2:13 pm.
Jan 23rd 2009 | 3:20 pm
#20
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 182
From: Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I have a Yorkshire accent and aussies ask if i'm scottish, I have two mates from Dewsbury where I'm from and both have strange accents, one has been over here for 5 yrs the other nearly 2. One sounds very fake like he is forcing the accent, my other mate has a yorkshire accent still but with some aussie dialect thrown in plus a few slang words, Wonder if i'll go the same way.....
Jan 23rd 2009 | 3:48 pm
#21
Keeping it fairly real
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 32,863
From: In the sun
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
5 years ago I had a strong Geordie accent. I had to water it down considerably and I now sound like a slow speaking gay Geordie or so me gay Geordie friends tell me.
When I talk to people who don't know me I still have to repeat meself 2 or 3 times as they don't understand me.
The gay Geordie accent has led to me being called Irish, Welsh and Scottish.
When I talk to people who don't know me I still have to repeat meself 2 or 3 times as they don't understand me.
The gay Geordie accent has led to me being called Irish, Welsh and Scottish.
Jan 23rd 2009 | 4:25 pm
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 29
From: S.E Qld
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I have a Yorkshire accent and aussies ask if i'm scottish, I have two mates from Dewsbury where I'm from and both have strange accents, one has been over here for 5 yrs the other nearly 2. One sounds very fake like he is forcing the accent, my other mate has a yorkshire accent still but with some aussie dialect thrown in plus a few slang words, Wonder if i'll go the same way.....
But i think next time i'm asked where abouts i'm from in Scotland or Ireland i may have a bit of fun with the poor aussie
Jan 23rd 2009 | 4:43 pm
#23
(It's not my real name)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 12,469
From: Ilukapool. WA
Jan 23rd 2009 | 4:55 pm
#24
Freedom!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,697
From: At home in Sydney. Ye!!!!
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I left Scotland nearly 15 years ago and still sound Scottish. Though after living in London for years, when i went back to Scotland. Some people called me Englified!
Jan 23rd 2009 | 4:59 pm
#25
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 503
From: South Australia
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I just sound English. I have lost a fair bit of my Liverpool accent since living here (its more of an inflection now than an accent)
Having said that, a work colleague asked me the other day (in jest) when I was going to stop sounding like Ringo Starr and put a bit of "STRINE" in my voice.
Having said that, a work colleague asked me the other day (in jest) when I was going to stop sounding like Ringo Starr and put a bit of "STRINE" in my voice.
Jan 23rd 2009 | 5:04 pm
#26
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 207
From: Iluka WA
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I'm from Chester and am always getting asked if I'm scottish or english, possibly because we've lots of scottish friends although I'm certain I don't sound scottish!! We've a friend who came from Cornwall 30 years ago and he speaks using all the Aussie slang words with a lovely Cornish accent!
My son's down at Perth in boarding school and he's picked the accent up after only 6 months there. I tease my 18yr old daughter by telling her she sounds really Aussie and she gets well miffed!
One expression my OH used at work was 'made a right cats arse of things' and the Aussies found that hilarious.
My son's down at Perth in boarding school and he's picked the accent up after only 6 months there. I tease my 18yr old daughter by telling her she sounds really Aussie and she gets well miffed!
One expression my OH used at work was 'made a right cats arse of things' and the Aussies found that hilarious.
Jan 23rd 2009 | 5:28 pm
#27
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,344
From: Seattle
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I'm from the North East of England and was once asked by a Welshman which part of Wales I was from - at the time I'd never even been to Wales. I think I subconsciously pick up/mimic accents so there may be no hope for me. 
Em said her daughter has started pronouncing "water" differently, and I keep catching myself doing the same thing; I've replaced the "t" with a "d"
Em said her daughter has started pronouncing "water" differently, and I keep catching myself doing the same thing; I've replaced the "t" with a "d"
Jan 23rd 2009 | 6:15 pm
#28
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,990
From: utopia within my head
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I'm from the North East of England and was once asked by a Welshman which part of Wales I was from - at the time I'd never even been to Wales. I think I subconsciously pick up/mimic accents so there may be no hope for me.
Em said her daughter has started pronouncing "water" differently, and I keep catching myself doing the same thing; I've replaced the "t" with a "d"
Em said her daughter has started pronouncing "water" differently, and I keep catching myself doing the same thing; I've replaced the "t" with a "d"
If I go into a shop and they don't know what I'm saying, I'll slow down and speak as clearly as I can.
Sometimes they just stare coz they find my accent soooooooo sexxxxxxxyyyyyyy.
Jan 23rd 2009 | 8:26 pm
#29
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 453
From: Brisbane
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
I met someone the other day here, in Brisbane, with a Midlands accent and I asked where he came from. He looked at me quizzically and said 'round here mate - where dew think I come from'. I told him I thought he was from England, Midlands area and he laughed and said his parents migrated from Birmingham 30 odd years ago and he's never set foot in the place!
Jan 25th 2009 | 9:17 am
#30
Thread Starter
Capt Hilts
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,573
From: Sunny Adelaide :)
Re: How long before you lose your accent?
From reading all your replies, I think I 'll end with a strange mix of Mosside&Hulme/Northern Irish/Yorkshire with Aus thrown in
Thanks,
Cooler
Thanks,
Cooler
