British Expats - Is your accent a problem here?

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Re: Is your accent a problem here?

One of the most frustrating things is to try and get the automated voices that give instructions on the phones in America to understand my British accent.

I end up either talking VERY loudly down the phone or trying to speak with an American accent.

However, even Americans have trouble with these automated voices!

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 8057762)

Begorrah

That was my Indian accent ... not my best

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray (Post 8057770)

That was my Indian accent ... not my best

I should add to that thread - but you know what I'm like with the fancy computer stuff.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trixie_b (Post 8057744)

Sorry, port vale for ever...........

Nevermind, I am sure they will find a cure one day. :p:rofl:

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangemirror (Post 8057444)

Also wondering if they get interrupted in the middle of conversations by terrible attempts at American accents. Probably, people can't help being prats all over the world.

100% confirmed.
The people from other European countries did not do this; I guess it's just because of the shared language.
(apparently we all sound like John Wayne)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy girl (Post 8057462)

Oh Oh :frown: I have had those dim bastards, but I just looked them in the face and said 'do you realise how F...in stupid" you sound'

Then again, I never did have Poppy's nerve.. something to aspire to! :eek:

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 8057775)

I should add to that thread - but you know what I'm like with the fancy computer stuff.

You can do it ....

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray (Post 8057753)

listen

Ahhh jeazus Ray, sure wasn't that music to me ears! ;)

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray (Post 8057753)

listen

lol "Y'have a nice day now, y'hear'. :lol:

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by meauxna (Post 8058645)

lol "Y'have a nice day now, y'hear'. :lol:

I don't know who does a worse southern accent, me or DH, :D

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

I'm inclined to think it's your accent. I applied for a computer tech job in Central Wisconsin and had a phone interview which I thought went very well only to be told that "Your strong Scottish accent may be a problem as a lot of Americans hate to speak to overseas call centers and they may think I've out sourced" I was amazed that he'd even tell me that and I was even more amazed when he called me back a week later to offer me the job as he had since heard of a thing called "Euro envy" and thought I might be good for his business!

Fortunately I managed to snag another job before his offer and was so happy that I could tell him where to go :D

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangemirror (Post 8057692)

I guess there is a genuine reason for it, something going on in my brain to do with being around different accents.

It's the high fructose corn syrup, I tell ya!

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinbar (Post 8056394)

My husband is working in the mailroom for an International company. He found out through a co-worker that his boss recommended him for a higher position but his bosses boss thought his accent was too thick. He is very upset and I am furious! Now he feels like he will never get a better job .

Is he incapable of adapting/toning down his speech, or does he feel that is an unreasonable imposition? Just as you can learn a foreign language, you can also learn a different accent if you set your mind to it.

90% of the time, having a British accent here in the US is a big plus, as most people have noted - Americans love the British accent in social situations. However, it can be a negative in the work environment. I can't see any fault in someone wanting a person to speak in a manner that is as clear as possible (as perceived by the target audience for the product/service), especially nowadays with the strong backlash against outsourced call centers in India/etc. A MILD British accent is probably a plus even in business, but a STRONG one - you are asking for trouble if you don't make an effort to adjust it. How many Brits liked it (back in the UK) when they called a business and reached an Indian / Pakistani with a strong accent?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toontje (Post 8053070)

Question for all the Brits.

I basically grew up bilingual. In school, and sometimes at home too, I was taught how to speak proper dutch, but at home (most of the time) and in the streets I only spoke the regional/local dialect. I do know that I speak dutch with a regional accent. There's no mistake possible to tell where in the Netherlands I'm from when I speak proper dutch. But there's not a single person in Holland who would have even the slightest trouble understanding me.

How is that in the UK? I figure you all spoke the local or regional dialect in the streets, and probably at home too. But what where YOU taught at school? Was there any emphasis at speaking proper english? Did the teachers in school make any effort to get you to lose your (broad) accent?

Just curious. That's all.

I grew up with a VERY strong North-West accent ("Eh bah gum, trubble up' Mill ...", "eh, by eck lad...", ...) and no-one ever made any attempt to have us speak differently. Whenever we heard anyone with a 'proper English' accent, we would mock them and call them stuck-up (or just call them a "namby pamby southerner" - Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin). Wasn't until I escaped the area to attend Uni in London that I realized just how strong my accent was. Since I loved London, and the south in general, I had no problem letting my accent go but whenever I returned home, I would get 'shit' from people for having a 'southern accent'. Accent is not only a 'class' thing, as others have mentioned, but there is a very strong regional identification too - people in Lancashire think they are better than people in Yorkshire, and all Northerners think they are better than Southerners. Southerners, meanwhile, think everyone north of Watford Gap is a backwards idiot.

I was the only person from my Comprehensive school in Lancashire to graduate from University; a small number started Uni, but I was the only one to stay the course. It was regarded as a waste of time ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by chartreuse (Post 8053500)

There was no effort made to teach RP in our school. However, one should bear in mind that, in England at that time, it could be problematic to consider dialect separately from class. So, for example, attempting to learn RP might be regarded as getting above oneself, even by teachers. As such, it would be discouraged.

What is 'RP'?

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8060239)

What is 'RP'?

Received Pronunciation. AKA "namby pamby southerner" :D

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

My husband is from Carnoustie and actually his accent is pretty mild.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8060239)

...What is 'RP'?

Received Pronunciation, or "BBC English".

Makes you sound like a toff. It's how I speak, and got me into many fights during my childhood. Doesn't make me very welcome in places with strong regional accents either! :)