Accents
#16
Happy in Wellington
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Tawa, Wellington, Aotearoa
Posts: 2,286
Re: Accents
I'm from Yorkshire, and my accent gets misunderstood all the time.
I frequently say "four" and they hear "five".
I frequently say "four" and they hear "five".
#17
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Joined: Jun 2013
Location: Perth
Posts: 623
Re: Accents
My Irish accent can sometimes be a pain when i have to repeat myself almost every-time in a restaurant, shop etc. This is still the case even when i consciously make an effort to slow down. I do find kiwis hard to understand sometimes, the only difference i hear in the New Zealand accent is the regular Kiwi accent and the Maori accent who speak quite differently at times. While i like the kiwi accent more than most i would much prefer my kids to be brought up in an Irish environment where people are more social and wittier in life
#18
Re: Accents
Have the same problem, Welsh Accent, spend most of the time having to repeat myself, while i get the Smile and nodding reaction knowing full well they have not understood me.
I just tell them it the accent and nothing much i can do about it.
my Wife is from Yorkshire, but according to her Brother who asked "Why is thou talking Posh"? gets the same reaction as me.
the only word that gets me wound up is the Kiwi plural for Woman........... Woman.
I just tell them it the accent and nothing much i can do about it.
my Wife is from Yorkshire, but according to her Brother who asked "Why is thou talking Posh"? gets the same reaction as me.
the only word that gets me wound up is the Kiwi plural for Woman........... Woman.
#19
Re: Accents
I'm from Leeds originally and I'm always getting asked if I'm Irish???
Folk often comment on how lovely my accent is and they wish they had it, lol! I wish I could get rid of it as I think it sounds really rough but whatever rocks their boat.
'Woman' sounds very cave man doesn't it when they're actually referring to 'women'
Folk often comment on how lovely my accent is and they wish they had it, lol! I wish I could get rid of it as I think it sounds really rough but whatever rocks their boat.
'Woman' sounds very cave man doesn't it when they're actually referring to 'women'
#20
Happy in Wellington
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Tawa, Wellington, Aotearoa
Posts: 2,286
Re: Accents
I hate the woman/women thing!
I also have been accused of being both Irish and Scottish.
I also have been accused of being both Irish and Scottish.
#21
Re: Accents
the guess list of areas / countries usually starts off with
1 Tyneside..........answer . Im not even English
2 Irish.......... have another try
3 Scottish...... Close, I am a Celt
4 Welsh ?...... finally.. also not from the Valleys that's South Wales, im from the Hills. North Wales.
and now relax.. since ive bu**ered up laying a new patio im off to my DogBox to sulk.
Ian.
1 Tyneside..........answer . Im not even English
2 Irish.......... have another try
3 Scottish...... Close, I am a Celt
4 Welsh ?...... finally.. also not from the Valleys that's South Wales, im from the Hills. North Wales.
and now relax.. since ive bu**ered up laying a new patio im off to my DogBox to sulk.
Ian.
Last edited by Celticknight; Oct 29th 2016 at 10:56 pm.
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Lower Hutt
Posts: 243
Re: Accents
Also Welsh. I frequently have to give presentations, and apologise up front for the odd accent. A friend of mine said she had no problem understanding me, but it was the maddest accent she'd ever heard.
It took me a while to figure out why the hairdressing place in the mall was called the Sharing Shed. Until I tried it in a Kiwi accent.
It took me a while to figure out why the hairdressing place in the mall was called the Sharing Shed. Until I tried it in a Kiwi accent.
#23
Happy in Wellington
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Tawa, Wellington, Aotearoa
Posts: 2,286
Re: Accents
Also a shipping company called "Air to there"
#24
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Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 570
Re: Accents
There is a caller ID system - I think it might be the infamous Jitstar that requires you to say 'Yes' or 'No' to various options to navigate through the menus. After several frustrating rounds of 'I'm sorry, could you repeat that' in reply to my 'Yes' from the robot I finally drew myself up to my full height and bellowed 'YIS!' down the phone only to be put through.
#25
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 439
Re: Accents
I have the Spike Milligan LP record "Muses with Milligan" where he says "get the Scottish Voice".
e.g. it takes a few seconds to tune into what an accent is actually saying
e.g. it takes a few seconds to tune into what an accent is actually saying
Last edited by LoCarb; Oct 31st 2016 at 4:38 am.
#26
Re: Accents
Hysterically when I was in Northern Ireland in the early 90's staying with friends as part of my backpacking days, they actually couldn't understand my Australian accent, bless them!
It was whilst meeting people around UK and Ireland that I realised just how bad my slang was, I actually thought I spoke well! That Aussie slang really embarrassed me at the time, actually!
All in good fun, I met some great people !
It was whilst meeting people around UK and Ireland that I realised just how bad my slang was, I actually thought I spoke well! That Aussie slang really embarrassed me at the time, actually!
All in good fun, I met some great people !
#27
#28
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: bottom of the world
Posts: 4,533
Re: Accents
my ex had a job as an Ear Nurse
lost count of the number of kiwis who would ask, Oh, you fly in the rescue helicopters, eh !!
lost count of the number of kiwis who would ask, Oh, you fly in the rescue helicopters, eh !!
#30
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Accents
We are not exposed to much NZ English in the media. Regional UK accents only started to appear quite recently on TV. Give it time !