Gotten....... EXACTLY. OK to say if you are Canadian/American.
When do Brits ever say that????

But sometimes we find ourselves adopting these new words and sayings so that we are understood and "fit in" better.....I know from my own personal experience of dealing with the Canadian public on a daily basis, that my English words are often met by blank stares. I prefer to use the Canadian equivalent words to save me feeling like I'm regarded as some three headed, one eyed alien!!!

It's a "damned if you do; damned if you don't" scenario. My husband and I have been in North America for nearly 31 years (barring two and a half years in Australia at the end of the 1990s). Canadians think we have South African accents, and our South Africa rellies think we have Canadian accents.

When I'm in Canada, I automatically say "fast" and "last" the Canadian way. When I visit South Africa, I revert to "fahst" and "lahst" without even thinking about it.

I remember being on a hike with my brother in South Africa in 1994. I was telling him about an incident involving my Calgary friend, Lynda. I told him that I'd said Such-And-Such thing to Lynda. Just as I'd finished telling him that, I realized that I'd quoted what I'd said to Lynda in my Canadian accent, but for the rest of the time I was speaking in my South African accent. I figured that Lynda must have been filed in the Canadian part of my brain, and even just thinking about her brought out my Canadian accent.

I don't think you can listen to someone else and know that they are faking a different accent. Some people do fake it, but there also are other people who pick it up quickly, as YYZlover says she does. Other people are slow to pick up a foreign accent, but after enough decades in a place they do pick up some of the accent. Then, when they visit their country of origin, they often slip back into their old accent again, without even thinking about it.

I bet if you stay in Canada long enough, annie3-4, and if you go back to the UK on visits, there will be some of your UK family members and friends who'll think you're a fake. I can almost guarantee it. You're hooped.

I just think live and let live and if some people feel that it helps them to settle in better conciously, or subconciously pick up accents and sayings then what's the big deal - really......

Would you make a fuss, if an Asian person, came to Bolton and went out of their way learn the language and understand and employ the local vinacular???

Just let it be is my view, each to their own.

(floaty)
Mrs Miggins

Sorry Annie - you prob wont like me after this one either.

I have used the word frickin' for a number of years as I find it so much less offensive than F%^K if you know what I mean - probably has something to do with me having family out here and them using it to me for the past 30 years

I shall now make sure that I say Frick with my lovely Manc accent.

Gaynor

Here here RM

Must be our Tameside accents - stand out in Alberta like a frickin' sore thumb

Must admit that I have had to use Canadian words so that people understand exactly what I mean in certain respect - saves time in the long run especially with my Corrie Accent
BTW nearly shouted "Hi" as we drove passed Red Deer on Sunday

I did that after my first elongated stay abroad as an adult. Came back home to the family and gave a lengthy answer to a question. When I ended my mother, who had patiently stood there nodding and listening, looked at me and said "Well, that all sounds very well, dear. For the benefit of your grandmother, would you mind repeating that in Swedish?" Apparently I'd hit a word and pronounced it in english and carried on in English from there.

25 years later I'm still doing it. I still loose Swedish words and thankfully have a mother who has lived abroad as well. Throws my dada every time by the dinner table when mom and I switch back and forth between languages.

Most Canadians these days think I'm British. I did have a massive insult once when a Vancouver based Cannuck friend's wife said I sounded French. BAH!

Just emailed a large Swedish news paper. Their online edition has a thing about the girl in UK who has survived on eating chips only, since she was born. She's 15 now. The infamous language barrier had the paper use the Swedish word chips in the article. That is all well if it wasn't for the fact that chips in swedish is crisps in english. What they should have used is pommes frites. This is probably the largest online and print newspaper/tabloid we have.

Have your husband never called you by his ex's name?

My ex did. His daughter suddenly called me mom. Slips of the tongue like that and picking up accents happen when you are totally comfortable and relaxed and feel at home in your environment.

You probably do yourself without noticing it so instead of worrying about it just go with the flow.

You'd hate me then, coming from a Canadian family living in the UK, I have a full on English accent (unless I get drunk, but that's a different story)

I use all of the "Americanisms" that you hate.

Cheif amongst them are mom, cookie, peanut butter & jelly, gas... I could go on...

Dont know if any of you remember Joss Stone at that Live 8 concert, she is from Devon and spoke to the audience in a totally fake "LA" type accent. It was tangible to watch the entire audience cringe, and widely reported on in the media after that.
Just be who you are, what is wrong with the accent you have, why pretend to be something you are not.It is not necessary. People who are secure in who they are dont need to do it.
I am a nurse and have been looking after an ex pat who is 94, from Lancashire and has been here since 1949, his accent is still pure Lancashire.
We both agreed that it is cringeworthy...

Quote: You probably do yourself without noticing it so instead of worrying about it just go with the flow.

No I dont... and I dont worry about it, it just makes me cringe....

You're confusing that with the typical Australian/American.

Both hubby & I like to think we'll keep our accents, but there is a possibility that we may pick up a 'twang'.

When we were last over in the Autumn, we went & introduced ourselves to our future neighbours. Hubby is Canadian & wife is English - she has been in Canada for 30+ years & still has a strong English accent, but she said she's had to work hard at retaining it as it would have been so easy to slip into a 'twang', especially as there were no other British accents around for her to hear.

My Mum is from Suffolk & had a Suffolk accent when she first moved to Gloucestershire in the 60's. She now has & has had a Gloucestershire accent for many years, yet, when she goes back to Suffolk for a family visit she's picked up the Suffolk accent again within 24 hours - she doesn't even notice she's doing it.

When we were in Canada last, we had great chats with the locals in the bar about the different words we used & pronounciations.

I say just be yourself - whether you pick up an accent or not

<turn on sarcastic tone>
Note to self:

Work hard at sounding like the Swedish Chef from the muppet show when I speak Engish or my nearly perfect english, no matter what accent, will be cringeworthy.

And I am really bad at doing accents on demand. Damn. Will have to work really hard on this one.

As for Joss Stone at Live(. Nope didn't notice it. Could have something to do that I'd been hanging out with a bunch of americans who were playing the Live8 London stage and while they were at Wembley I sat in the Mandarin watching the event on TV (and snapping pictures of the Tour de France Parade outside.) so I was already in to the whole American twang myself.

No dont "work hard " at any accent, just BE YOURSELF". everyone can spot a fake, it makes you look shallow and silly.