'British' accents
Feb 9th 2008, 12:32 pm
#106
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: 'British' accents
Hi, Novocastrian!
Well, about a little over two years ago I started listening to Radio BBC Cumbria (no specific reason - just wanted to listen to a regional radio) and to participate in the quiz-contests (won a prize once - a small notebook and a pen!). After a while I was invited by Paul Braithwaite to be interviewed in his programme (he interviews people all over the world and I was probably one of the few listeners from Brazil) and talk a bit about São Paulo and my life. I was interviewed two or three times then I had to stop - after my son was born. Paul's programme is a bit too late for me to be on the phone.
Hope this was interesting.
Cheers,
LHK
Well, about a little over two years ago I started listening to Radio BBC Cumbria (no specific reason - just wanted to listen to a regional radio) and to participate in the quiz-contests (won a prize once - a small notebook and a pen!). After a while I was invited by Paul Braithwaite to be interviewed in his programme (he interviews people all over the world and I was probably one of the few listeners from Brazil) and talk a bit about São Paulo and my life. I was interviewed two or three times then I had to stop - after my son was born. Paul's programme is a bit too late for me to be on the phone.
Hope this was interesting.
Cheers,
LHK
Hi LHK, I'm sorry but I haven't checked this thread in days. Yes, thanks for sharing your story.
Prattishness alert level increased to orange, Howard.
Feb 9th 2008, 11:29 pm
#108
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: NI (back from Toronto)
Posts: 3,409
Feb 10th 2008, 12:22 am
#109
mclauchlan35
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Was Prestwick Ayrshire, now Canmore AB.
Posts: 999
Feb 10th 2008, 12:31 am
#110
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 60
Re: 'British' accents
Nope austrailian!! 
Actually, we've been to the US (New Hampshire/Boston) on numerous occassions and quite a lot of the US folk thought we had Irish accents. And worst of all I had an American ask - now wait for it - hope your sitting down - ask if I was a Canadian!! Sorry it made me laugh so hard. How could you possibly mistake Scottish for Canadian (where would that have come from?
). Maybe it's that Manchester mix (my Grandparents were from Machester) that's throwing them!!
I think accents are great. I love hearing different terms and chatting to folk about what they call things. I had a discussion with a girl from Surrey who was on the same nursing course as me and every week we did a "scottish" word and she had to guess what it was (she asked to do this for a laugh!). Like Oxters! Gave us a good laugh.
Actually, we've been to the US (New Hampshire/Boston) on numerous occassions and quite a lot of the US folk thought we had Irish accents. And worst of all I had an American ask - now wait for it - hope your sitting down - ask if I was a Canadian!! Sorry it made me laugh so hard. How could you possibly mistake Scottish for Canadian (where would that have come from?
). Maybe it's that Manchester mix (my Grandparents were from Machester) that's throwing them!! I think accents are great. I love hearing different terms and chatting to folk about what they call things. I had a discussion with a girl from Surrey who was on the same nursing course as me and every week we did a "scottish" word and she had to guess what it was (she asked to do this for a laugh!). Like Oxters! Gave us a good laugh.
Feb 12th 2008, 2:16 pm
#111
Islander
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Toronto, woo!
Posts: 953
Re: 'British' accents
Last accent related convo I had with a canuck was outside a 'pub' in Aurora. My mrs' brother finished his cig and disappeared inside with the parting phrase 'Oh, he's a Brit', pointing at me.
The girl concerned had spent the past 6 months in London working in an investment bank apparently and living in Kensington somewhere. She didn't believe I was from England after I told her I didn't live anywhere near London - I think her exact words were "Oh I'm sorry, it just really sounds like you're putting it on"
Prolly coz oi dunt tawk loik 'at 'innit?
The girl concerned had spent the past 6 months in London working in an investment bank apparently and living in Kensington somewhere. She didn't believe I was from England after I told her I didn't live anywhere near London - I think her exact words were "Oh I'm sorry, it just really sounds like you're putting it on"
Prolly coz oi dunt tawk loik 'at 'innit?
Feb 14th 2008, 12:38 am
#112
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 806
Re: 'British' accents
i'm dutch, have lived in UK and Rep of Ireland too.
The amount of time pre rep of ireland i was asked if I was irish/australian/kiwi/south african was amazing.
i worked at a helpdesk and to keep my customers busy i'd play 'guess the accent'...it kept 'em from bitching. The worst I had was 'are you a kiwi living in south africa'.
The amount of time pre rep of ireland i was asked if I was irish/australian/kiwi/south african was amazing.
i worked at a helpdesk and to keep my customers busy i'd play 'guess the accent'...it kept 'em from bitching. The worst I had was 'are you a kiwi living in south africa'.
Feb 14th 2008, 12:50 am
#113
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Re: 'British' accents
I worked with a Canadian in London UK for several years.She came back home to Canada after living in England for 10 years or so. Anyroad, she came back to Canada sounding Canadian to our English ears but it seems her work colleagues heard her accent as English. They didnt realise that she was Canadian.
Feb 22nd 2008, 6:37 am
#114
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Sutton Coldfield UK until I return to Toronto 2009 or earlier!!
Posts: 321
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.
