Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
Dec 7th 2011, 9:26 pm
#31
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
FWIW, the incident I referred to involved an inquiry by two English people of my South African friend.
My friend has a fairly raunchy sense of humor and I had to remind him that he had what Americans hear as a British accent which is associated with culture and breeding -- not dirty jokes.
My friend has a fairly raunchy sense of humor and I had to remind him that he had what Americans hear as a British accent which is associated with culture and breeding -- not dirty jokes.
Dec 7th 2011, 9:33 pm
#32
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
+1
Brits have to remember that to the American, who does not travel abroad all that often, the accents from Australian, Britian, South Africa sound similar. Yes, I'm sure that the more enlightened American knows about regional accents in each country but on the whole the accent does sound British.
Of course, as Brits you are more familiar with your accents and the regional dialects so the question of "are you from Australia" hits you as an insult that someone cannot immediately get where you are from.
Actually the shopkeeper hit it on the head and you were the one who was a bit arrogant in your unsaid thoughts. If you can't tell the difference in accents between a Northern and Southern then you don't know the diversity of the American accents.
BTW where was the humour in your post?
Brits have to remember that to the American, who does not travel abroad all that often, the accents from Australian, Britian, South Africa sound similar. Yes, I'm sure that the more enlightened American knows about regional accents in each country but on the whole the accent does sound British.
Of course, as Brits you are more familiar with your accents and the regional dialects so the question of "are you from Australia" hits you as an insult that someone cannot immediately get where you are from.
Actually the shopkeeper hit it on the head and you were the one who was a bit arrogant in your unsaid thoughts. If you can't tell the difference in accents between a Northern and Southern then you don't know the diversity of the American accents.
BTW where was the humour in your post?
Dec 7th 2011, 9:34 pm
#33
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
Dec 7th 2011, 10:46 pm
#34
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Dec 7th 2011, 10:51 pm
#35
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
Dec 7th 2011, 10:56 pm
#36
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
Now, that is not surprising to me at all, my Brit will do different accents of former colonies. Chances are pretty good he's going to do it better than I will.
Dec 8th 2011, 1:06 am
#38
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
I have a hard time imagining an American getting pissy about a mistake in identifying their accent. The only people I've met (with foreign accents) who got bent out of shape about such a mistake were the Irish, British, Australians and South Africans. Maybe it denotes a lack of national pride on our part? Of course, southerners and Texans get a lot of flack from the rest of the country, but nobody gets up tight because someone mistakes an Arkansan accent for one from Georgia. So, london66, if you're hoping to insult somebody, I think you're SOL.
Dec 8th 2011, 1:08 am
#39
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Dec 8th 2011, 1:09 am
#40
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
Dec 8th 2011, 2:32 am
#42
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
I was born near London, moved to South Africa at the age of 8, but spent most of my adult life in Scotland (until we moved here). South Africans think I sound English, the English think I sound South African, Americans think I sound Australian and the Scots don't know what to think. If asked, I generally say I'm from "East Texas" - this has the desired result of making them change the subject ...or go away.
Dec 8th 2011, 4:59 am
#43
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
+1
Brits have to remember that to the American, who does not travel abroad all that often, the accents from Australian, Britian, South Africa sound similar. Yes, I'm sure that the more enlightened American knows about regional accents in each country but on the whole the accent does sound British.
Of course, as Brits you are more familiar with your accents and the regional dialects so the question of "are you from Australia" hits you as an insult that someone cannot immediately get where you are from.
Actually the shopkeeper hit it on the head and you were the one who was a bit arrogant in your unsaid thoughts. If you can't tell the difference in accents between a Northern and Southern then you don't know the diversity of the American accents.
BTW where was the humour in your post?
Brits have to remember that to the American, who does not travel abroad all that often, the accents from Australian, Britian, South Africa sound similar. Yes, I'm sure that the more enlightened American knows about regional accents in each country but on the whole the accent does sound British.
Of course, as Brits you are more familiar with your accents and the regional dialects so the question of "are you from Australia" hits you as an insult that someone cannot immediately get where you are from.
Actually the shopkeeper hit it on the head and you were the one who was a bit arrogant in your unsaid thoughts. If you can't tell the difference in accents between a Northern and Southern then you don't know the diversity of the American accents.
BTW where was the humour in your post?
What kind of annoys me is that everyone thinks I'm Australian, why? I ve been here 10 years. There are so many Brits here - especially around Boston due to Biotech industry but every one thinks your from Australia - is it due to Crocadile Dundee - tosser if it is.
Brendan
Dec 8th 2011, 9:50 am
#44
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents
Before he moved to the UK my DH couldn't tell the difference between S African and Aussie. He can now. However neither of us can tell the difference between Kiwi & Aussie. I can't tell the difference between Canadian & American but he can. All I know is they say 'hoose' for 'house.'
DH has got a lot better at UK regional accents now and can definitely tell Scots and Welsh and N Irish (slightly different to Rep. of Ireland accent). He can also often tell West Country/Norfolk (similar), Scouse, Geordie, Brummie, Yorkshire/Manchester. When I first met him he thought the band Oasis were from London (they are Mancunians)!
For those that can't tell, both Oz and S African are fairly nasal but S African is much more so.
DH has got a lot better at UK regional accents now and can definitely tell Scots and Welsh and N Irish (slightly different to Rep. of Ireland accent). He can also often tell West Country/Norfolk (similar), Scouse, Geordie, Brummie, Yorkshire/Manchester. When I first met him he thought the band Oasis were from London (they are Mancunians)!
For those that can't tell, both Oz and S African are fairly nasal but S African is much more so.
Dec 8th 2011, 12:51 pm
#45
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Re: Have I finally insulted an American about Accents