Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

As the sound 'wadder' doesn't exist in a standard English accent, I don't know how it can be said in an English accent. If it rhymes with 'fodder' then the English and the yanks would both be shaking their heads and you would end up with a bale of hay with a sprig of bay leaf on it. However, you would have invented your own language - that has it's advantages, not the least of which is that nobody will ever argue with you

Have you noticed that nobody argues with these god nuts who speak in tongues ?

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

We'll agree to disagree on that point.

As to the rest of what you say, totally agree that you should try and speak the language, as it were, as mentioned above for Spain etc. But to try and blend in to the extent of losing all identity, no thanks. I find the fact that people know I am foreign by my speech is not a problem, and I'm not about to try and seem totally American for those Americans that don't like foreigners. If someone can't understand me, that's a problem between us. If they simply don't like me because I'm a foreigner, that's their problem, not mine. Besides, if they don't like foreigners then how chuffed are they going to be when they find out you are one...pretending to be an American? :ohmy:

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

It rhymes with bladder.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

What?! Not in Los Angeles it don't.
Maybe New York?

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

No wonder I have a problem :o

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

wuoadder... :p

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

Know and accept what you are saying - I don't want to be something I am not, or be seen as a boot licker or a fake or a wannabee

Some black people refer to white kids who imitate black culture as whiggers - we don't want to be like that.

However, at least I can cut out my tyke words like ginnel and use American words (as you said) trunk / hood etc and that has to help immediately. I found out yesterday that a mouse mat is a mouse pad - guy in walmart corrected me. I seized on that and will always use it.

Swapping my t's for d's helps so much that I have to keep going down that road. Strangely I can use an English accent in a Mexican restaurant and they are with it pronto. More important is not to introduce European values - all the American men of my age have military service backgrounds. I was talking to a friend yesterday who almost lost his leg to a viet cong land mine and spend 5 years in hospital. I knew better than to say 'aren't all these wars stupid - what was all that about'.

They are so proud of their service and their shattered bodies and talking the pros and cons of all these wars is off limits - I know that so I stowed it

Yes fitting in culturally is more important than the accent

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

:lol:

I was out with an English woman, married to an American who has been here about 15 years.

Waiter: What would you like to drink?
Her: Water, please.
Waiter: What?
Her: Water (mimes drinking).
Waiter: *Quizzical look*
Her: Water, water, *mime* *mime*

Continued for some time.

I am guessing the 't' stands out and confuses those used to an American accent.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

Many years ago on a short visit to the States, I had the same problem asking for vodka.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

It does mean 'little water' :lol:

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

I drove to Italy when unleaded petrol first came out. I couldnt figure which pump it was or if they had it. I went in the office and started doing a mime -- lifting a very heavy weight (lead - it's lead ) and then going NO NO NO

The 2 guys laughed their socks off watching this.

Anyway eventually they had enough and said piombo ? senza piombo ? (i got piombo - lead - plumber - joe the plumber)

Then in Spain I did the same in a chemists shop when I had a sore throat - they didnt understand sore-a throat-a so I did a great take off of a giraffe with two arms instead of forelegs trying to strangle itself.

Not many people know that anti depressants cure sore throats

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

Yes it does. It was the fourth guy on the canon crew, whose job was to stuff the wadding down the muzzle. As he was, typically, front and centre, gunners would "aim for the wadder" when trying to take out the enemy's guns.

In later years, the term was changed to "rammer", after several unfortunate incidents on joint RN - USN exercises.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

:lol:

I just put this song on in the car, and it made me laugh - an English accent using American words/expressions.

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

Heck I would rather be a rammer than a wadder any night

Think I will play safe and ask for :

Barddle of agua frio sin gas garcon and be toot sweet about it if not sooner if you want your crazy 15% when it's either nowt or exceptionally 10% in England - and that's for a dead fit topless waitress who can sing like Shirley Bassey and tap dance like Fred Astair while standing on one leg while finding a lemon for my G&T instead of lime

Re: Is your accent a problem here?
 

A decent pair of knockers helps too.