View Poll Results: How popular is the English accent?
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll
How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Not sure... only been here 4 weeks but working on the counter of a certain bank I find it amazing that only 2 people have commented - one expressing great joy "oh, she has an accent", the other asking if I was German.
#32
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Are you basing where to move to on which country 'likes' an English accent?
#34
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,786
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Certainly looks that way doesn't it......... well over the years I've seen people base moves on stranger things, like the woman who refused to emigrate cos Australia wasn't up to date with Coronation Street, so I guess it takes all sorts
#35
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Peterborough; ON
Posts: 200
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Just about every shift I work someone will ask me where I am from, then want to know exactly where in England. If I ask them if they know England well the reply is usually no, but their grandfather/grandmother/great aunt was from England, or Wales, or was it Scotland.
Aagagghh
Aagagghh
#36
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
I've just got back from a visit to Vancouver, and my resounding impression is this:
I go to lunch at a restaurant/diner with friends (Canadian/Asian). Waitress/Waiter comes over to ask if we want anything to drink. Everyone will separately ask for water or cola. It gets to me and I'll say (in my clearest voice possible) "Water, please". *EVERY* single time they'll ask me to repeat myself.
So yeah, apparently I'm incomprehensible. XD
I go to lunch at a restaurant/diner with friends (Canadian/Asian). Waitress/Waiter comes over to ask if we want anything to drink. Everyone will separately ask for water or cola. It gets to me and I'll say (in my clearest voice possible) "Water, please". *EVERY* single time they'll ask me to repeat myself.
So yeah, apparently I'm incomprehensible. XD
#38
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 30
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
No lol. I am going travelling a lot of the next two years and started a thread about the reception in Australia of accents and then it got me thinking about other countries that I plan to go too.
#39
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Tell the average UK resident where you live, in my case Calgary and you're just as likely going to get a response like, I have a cousin in Toronto do you know him?
An other example my sister (who I was not close to) was visiting a cousin in Ottawa. She phones me here in Calgary and wants to know if I can come for tea some afternoon. She was shocked when I told her it was a only a three day drive as long as I didn't stop other than to eat or gas up.
No flaming idea how big Canada is, and this is a common occurrence just read some of the threads in this forum. Do they not teach geography in school over there?
#40
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Back in The Cotham Porter Stores (a Bristol pub even though it doesn't sound like it) my brother's then girlfriend met someone there from Canada and, much to everyone's mirth, asked if they knew a friend of hers who moved to Canada some years earlier.
Guess who laughed last when the Canadian was at the same school as the friend.
Guess who laughed last when the Canadian was at the same school as the friend.
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 57
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
When I was in Vaughan in 2011
I got commented on my accent about 5 times in the space of 9 days. Twice in Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre, both shop assistants.
They loved it, my accent is Cheshire (North West England).
I got commented on my accent about 5 times in the space of 9 days. Twice in Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre, both shop assistants.
They loved it, my accent is Cheshire (North West England).
#42
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
I don't think I quite understand the question. I've never come across a cradle imitating any (of the multitude) of English accents, so I conclude that they aren't popular in Canada.
I come across (indirectly) English vocalists, on the other hand, who are determined to sound as American as apple pie.
Pathetic really.
I come across (indirectly) English vocalists, on the other hand, who are determined to sound as American as apple pie.
Pathetic really.
#43
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,979
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
The reverse is also true. So don't go getting your knickers in a twist.
Tell the average UK resident where you live, in my case Calgary and you're just as likely going to get a response like, I have a cousin in Toronto do you know him?
An other example my sister (who I was not close to) was visiting a cousin in Ottawa. She phones me here in Calgary and wants to know if I can come for tea some afternoon. She was shocked when I told her it was a only a three day drive as long as I didn't stop other than to eat or gas up.
No flaming idea how big Canada is, and this is a common occurrence just read some of the threads in this forum. Do they not teach geography in school over there?
Tell the average UK resident where you live, in my case Calgary and you're just as likely going to get a response like, I have a cousin in Toronto do you know him?
An other example my sister (who I was not close to) was visiting a cousin in Ottawa. She phones me here in Calgary and wants to know if I can come for tea some afternoon. She was shocked when I told her it was a only a three day drive as long as I didn't stop other than to eat or gas up.
No flaming idea how big Canada is, and this is a common occurrence just read some of the threads in this forum. Do they not teach geography in school over there?
#44
.
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 868
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Very occasionally someone will comment on my English accent which always surprises me as almost every other person that lives around here has either a English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh accent!
I agree that people back home have no idea just how big Canada is. We`ve had a couple of similar experiences. Bearing in mind we live close to Calgary; the first was an ex-colleague of my husband`s back in the UK who was going to the Olympics at Vancouver to work and asked if he could stay with us and how long the drive each day would be. Needless to say, he didn`t stay with us in the end. We`ve also some friends coming to stay in a couple of weeks. They emailed to ask if we could pick them up from Pearson International Airport (I guess the flights were cheaper!). Quickly emailed them back suggesting Calgary would be a better option!
I agree that people back home have no idea just how big Canada is. We`ve had a couple of similar experiences. Bearing in mind we live close to Calgary; the first was an ex-colleague of my husband`s back in the UK who was going to the Olympics at Vancouver to work and asked if he could stay with us and how long the drive each day would be. Needless to say, he didn`t stay with us in the end. We`ve also some friends coming to stay in a couple of weeks. They emailed to ask if we could pick them up from Pearson International Airport (I guess the flights were cheaper!). Quickly emailed them back suggesting Calgary would be a better option!
#45
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: How popular if at all is the English accent in Canada?
Some friends you are. It's only a 32 hour non-stop drive and you wouldn't do that for them.