Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA > The Trailer Park
Reload this Page >

Is your accent a problem here?

Wikiposts

Is your accent a problem here?

Thread Tools
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:33 am
  #241  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,333
From: the dry part of Washington State
exvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux
It's different. You can speak with an English accent but ask for 'wadder'.
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 ?
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:34 am
  #242  
celticgrid's Avatar
Wondering if...
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,218
From: Clarence, NY
celticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond reputecelticgrid has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by exvj
'Merely pronouncing words in an American way' is speaking with an American accent.
We'll agree to disagree on that point.

Originally Posted by exvj
There are two kinds of Americans - those who like foreign accents and even foreigners - and those who don't like foreign accents or foreigners.
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?
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:36 am
  #243  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,517
Sally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by exvj
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 ?
It rhymes with bladder.
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:41 am
  #244  
meauxna's Avatar
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
meauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux
It rhymes with bladder.
What?! Not in Los Angeles it don't.
Maybe New York?
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:42 am
  #245  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,517
Sally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by meauxna
What?! Not in Los Angeles it don't.
Maybe New York?
No wonder I have a problem
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:46 am
  #246  
Homebody
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 23,190
From: HOME
Elvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond reputeElvira has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux
No wonder I have a problem
wuoadder...
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 5:50 am
  #247  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,333
From: the dry part of Washington State
exvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by celticgrid
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?
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
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 6:02 am
  #248  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,517
Sally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Elvira
wuoadder...


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.
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 6:06 am
  #249  
montgomail's Avatar
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,340
From: midlands/denia
montgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond reputemontgomail has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux


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.

Many years ago on a short visit to the States, I had the same problem asking for vodka.
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 6:08 am
  #250  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,517
Sally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by montgomail
Many years ago on a short visit to the States, I had the same problem asking for vodka.
It does mean 'little water'
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 6:14 am
  #251  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,333
From: the dry part of Washington State
exvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux


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.
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
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 9:11 am
  #252  
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,605
chartreuse is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by exvj
As the sound 'wadder' doesn't exist in a standard English accent,
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.
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 9:15 am
  #253  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,517
Sally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by chartreuse
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.


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

 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 9:32 am
  #254  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,333
From: the dry part of Washington State
exvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond reputeexvj has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by chartreuse
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.
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

Last edited by exvj; Nov 6th 2009 at 9:40 am.
 
Old Nov 6th 2009 | 10:16 am
  #255  
SagenOnion's Avatar
Dis-Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,560
From: In my house
SagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond reputeSagenOnion has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Is your accent a problem here?

Originally Posted by Poppy girl
I have no desire to lose my accent what so ever, in my industry it's a BIG plus.
A decent pair of knockers helps too.
 


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Your Privacy Choices

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.