'British' accents
Feb 4th 2008, 6:34 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 44
Re: 'British' accents
General accents are not very noticeable unless it has a really thick twang sound to it. Cockney, Scouse or Brummie say for instance stand out for their unique tones in the UK. in Canada, unless you are an ex-brit or have family members from certain regions it would not be so familiar.
Here in Canada, it can be hard trying to locate a particular accent. My scouse accent has been distinguished as Irish, Australian, and South African. However over 50% of citizens living here in Toronto were born in other shores, so nobody notices accents a great deal or they do but are just way too polite to say anything. I treat the local dialect as a treat to hear and it's all part of the fun when interacting with people.
Here in Canada, it can be hard trying to locate a particular accent. My scouse accent has been distinguished as Irish, Australian, and South African. However over 50% of citizens living here in Toronto were born in other shores, so nobody notices accents a great deal or they do but are just way too polite to say anything. I treat the local dialect as a treat to hear and it's all part of the fun when interacting with people.
Feb 4th 2008, 6:45 am
#17
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,771
Re: 'British' accents
New hampshire....relatively close to the maritimes, and nove scotia isnt called that for no reason....
Probably most of the canadians they meet in the NE states have more than a twang of celtic brogue about them, so I can sort of understand that.
Feb 4th 2008, 6:48 am
#18
Sloopy Dippinsprinkles
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Okydokey, Alberta!
Posts: 176
Re: 'British' accents
Feb 4th 2008, 7:16 am
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 285
Re: 'British' accents
As my wife knows, I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the phrase 'British accent'. Every time someone uses it here (in sunny California) it drives me up the wall, since a 'British' accent doesn't exist. I suppose you could mix up English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish into an accent, but that would sound very peculiar …
Are Canadians at least able to distinguish between English/Scottish/Welsh/N.Irish accents, and name them as such? Please tell me so, because if one more American says 'British accent', I'll do something I won't regret.
Are Canadians at least able to distinguish between English/Scottish/Welsh/N.Irish accents, and name them as such? Please tell me so, because if one more American says 'British accent', I'll do something I won't regret.
Feb 4th 2008, 7:27 am
#22
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
Posts: 10,129
Re: 'British' accents
When asked 'What is your accent?', one simply replies 'Culture.' 
Feb 4th 2008, 7:30 am
#24
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 51,932
Re: 'British' accents
Frankly Im impressed that they know about "Britain", I thought most north americans geographical understanding of the motherland was that there was England and that was about it unless they had a long lost scottish/ irish relative. No one talks of wales at all as far as I can tell.
As for Wales, I've heard "Wales, England" as in "London, England" a few times.
Feb 4th 2008, 7:32 am
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: NI (back from Toronto)
Posts: 3,409
Re: 'British' accents
I'm from Northern Ireland just north east of Belfast. I was asked recently if I was from Newfoundland and when I was back in Ireland at Christmas I was told by some people I sound really Canadian and others said my accent hadn't changed one bit.
Mind you my accent changes slightly depending who I'm talking to, it's a very bad habit
Mind you my accent changes slightly depending who I'm talking to, it's a very bad habit
Feb 4th 2008, 8:25 am
#28
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 896
Re: 'British' accents
Try being from Northern Ireland and explaining why I am British and not Irish!!
We have only been here two weeks and most people call us the new Irish guys and when we speak they think we are Scottish and when we say we are from NI some have asked which part of England that is in
It is quite hilarious really, from now on ii am just going to say I am from Indian Head, Saskatchewan adn see what reaction I get then.
It's nice though when they want us to talk all the time just to hear our lovely accent
We have only been here two weeks and most people call us the new Irish guys and when we speak they think we are Scottish and when we say we are from NI some have asked which part of England that is in
It is quite hilarious really, from now on ii am just going to say I am from Indian Head, Saskatchewan adn see what reaction I get then.
It's nice though when they want us to talk all the time just to hear our lovely accent
Feb 4th 2008, 8:29 am
#29
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: 'British' accents
I have a very strong American accent, my Brothers sound like they just got off the boat.
Feb 4th 2008, 8:33 am
#30
Bristolish expat
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Bristol ~ Nanaimo, BC ... It's a bit like Salem's Lot!!
Posts: 1,699
Re: 'British' accents
Last edited by bananahammock; Feb 4th 2008 at 8:37 am.
