Is your accent a problem here?
Oct 25th 2009, 6:31 pm
#32
The Missus
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Northwest of Chicago
Posts: 6,239
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
It would be more likely that an American would say, "You sound so upper class" or "Your accent makes you sound upper crust". I don't know anyone but British people who use the word posh!
My husband has a terrible time in any type of drive through restaurant...even after almost six years here his level of exasperation trying to get a Filet-O-Fish is palpable.
When he first visited we went to a local Chinese restaurant run by a Chinese born family---he placed his order and the waitress looked at him, looked at me, and said, "what he say?"
~SecretGarden
Oct 25th 2009, 6:39 pm
#33
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Me three!
It would be more likely that an American would say, "You sound so upper class" or "Your accent makes you sound upper crust". I don't know anyone but British people who use the word posh!
My husband has a terrible time in any type of drive through restaurant...even after almost six years here his level of exasperation trying to get a Filet-O-Fish is palpable.
When he first visited we went to a local Chinese restaurant run by a Chinese born family---he placed his order and the waitress looked at him, looked at me, and said, "what he say?"
~SecretGarden
It would be more likely that an American would say, "You sound so upper class" or "Your accent makes you sound upper crust". I don't know anyone but British people who use the word posh!
My husband has a terrible time in any type of drive through restaurant...even after almost six years here his level of exasperation trying to get a Filet-O-Fish is palpable.
When he first visited we went to a local Chinese restaurant run by a Chinese born family---he placed his order and the waitress looked at him, looked at me, and said, "what he say?"
~SecretGarden
Powsh (long 'o') or pawsh (like 'awww').
discuss.
ooh wait, while you're here, can "scone" be settled too?
skohn or skohwn?
Oct 25th 2009, 6:40 pm
#34
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Oct 25th 2009, 7:35 pm
#35
Irritant
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: London~Eventually St Pete Florida
Posts: 166
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Same with scone, London pronunciation is s-con not scoown. Except in northern England and Scotland where it is deffo scoooowne.
My mother says schowan.
As in "d' yees want a schowan an a schlab a' buthher?"
Oct 25th 2009, 8:11 pm
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
At my last job the powers that be wanted me to do all the intercom announcements 
needless to say my site manager was spitting feathers when she was teased about sounding like a WalMart announcer when filling in for me 
As much as everybody else liked me she was always on my case and it got to the point that I had to pack the job in 
needless to say my site manager was spitting feathers when she was teased about sounding like a WalMart announcer when filling in for me As much as everybody else liked me
she was always on my case and it got to the point that I had to pack the job in
Oct 25th 2009, 8:26 pm
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 436
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
I used to have the same problem, I now order in my Kermit the frog impression and it works every time.
Oct 25th 2009, 8:28 pm
#38
Irritant
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: London~Eventually St Pete Florida
Posts: 166
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Oh and I forgot about 'water/wadder'. I now have a picture on my phone of a bottle of mineral water to show to waiters/waitresses when I am ordering without my husband around to translate.
I can actually say it the American way but get embarassed.
Does anyone else start to speak much posher (that word again) when asked to repeat yourself?
Instead of trying to repeat the word in a more American way I just start sounding like the Queen.
What is that about?
I can actually say it the American way but get embarassed.
Does anyone else start to speak much posher (that word again) when asked to repeat yourself?
Instead of trying to repeat the word in a more American way I just start sounding like the Queen.
What is that about?
Oct 25th 2009, 8:30 pm
#39
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Oh and I forgot about 'water/wadder'. I now have a picture on my phone of a bottle of mineral water to show to waiters/waitresses when I am ordering without my husband around to translate.
I can actually say it the American way but get embarassed.
Does anyone else start to speak much posher (that word again) when asked to repeat yourself?
Instead of trying to repeat the word in a more American way I just start sounding like the Queen.
What is that about?
I can actually say it the American way but get embarassed.
Does anyone else start to speak much posher (that word again) when asked to repeat yourself?
Instead of trying to repeat the word in a more American way I just start sounding like the Queen.
What is that about?
Oct 26th 2009, 12:06 am
#40
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: 30°16'29" North 097°44'26" West
Posts: 22,151
Oct 26th 2009, 12:29 am
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
London pronunciation is posh, hard o, not long ooo porsche (pawwsh)
Same with scone, London pronunciation is s-con not scoown. Except in northern England and Scotland where it is deffo scoooowne.
My mother says schowan.
As in "d' yees want a schowan an a schlab a' buthher?"
Same with scone, London pronunciation is s-con not scoown. Except in northern England and Scotland where it is deffo scoooowne.
My mother says schowan.
As in "d' yees want a schowan an a schlab a' buthher?"
Oct 26th 2009, 12:48 am
#42
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Except when they are in the extremes, Aroostook County...I know they are speaking English up there...but honestly, can't understand a word they are saying.
What's worse, FIL can't either and he went to uni in Fort Kent
What's worse, FIL can't either and he went to uni in Fort Kent
nothing wrong with that except I am from Norfolk
Oct 26th 2009, 12:52 am
#44
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Posh, plenty, upper class and crust, never heard anyone say that here.
Oct 26th 2009, 12:54 am
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: Is your accent a problem here?
Good point. When we first moved onto our street a neighbor said ... "Are y'all teachers? Cuz y'all talk so proper." True story! We thought ... no ... about 3 hours north of here ...
I don't know that I'd expect to hear that in JerseyGirl's neck of the woods though.
I don't know that I'd expect to hear that in JerseyGirl's neck of the woods though.