Accent changes

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

May 30th 2017 | 2:29 pm

#31

Pulaski

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 53,356

From: Dixie, ex UK

Re: Accent changes

Quote:

Originally Posted by robin1234

Talking about Indians and their accents, I think most NPR listeners will be familiar with the newsreader Lakshmi Singh. She started on NPR fifteen or twenty years ago and had a pretty strong Indian accent. .....

She appears to have intended to "go native" here in the US as her last name isn't "Kaur".

May 31st 2017 | 12:30 am

#32

robin1234

Heading for Poppyland

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 17,517

From: North Norfolk and northern New York State

robin1234 has a reputation beyond repute

Re: Accent changes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulaski

She appears to have intended to "go native" here in the US as her last name isn't "Kaur".

I had to look that up, very interesting.

May 31st 2017 | 12:50 am

#33

Pulaski

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 53,356

From: Dixie, ex UK

Re: Accent changes

Quote:

Originally Posted by robin1234

I had to look that up, very interesting.

There is a Mrs Singh in my office, or at least there was, but she is of British or European ancestry, so doesn't really count.

May 31st 2017 | 2:37 pm

#34

giri26

Forum Regular

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 159

From: Adelaide

Re: Accent changes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike

The Indians I've worked with over here (and that's a LOT, at this point, in 34 years in IT!) not only have an accent, but have a whole other dynamic going on ... a 'rhythm' of sorts ... typically speak very fast, in an almost monotonic manner, but with short modulations ... hard to describe. Also, just out of interest, I've noticed many Indians will move their head in sync with the 'modulations' I'm referring to, and will also shake their heads (in the manner used to indicate 'no' to Brits) to indicate yes ... all good fun! One of my favorite recent Indian expressions learned from my tech guys is 'Please do the meaningful'.

Head bobbing is the way we get away with most of the questions. People don't know whether we are saying yes or no LOL. In all seriousness, I haven't lived in India for about 15 years now, so I have lost most of my habits from India. I did not take the effort to bring in the American accent while I was there as I felt it wasn't needed. No matter how American I sound, people will still know I am an Indian and for some reason it sounds fake. I have seen some Indians try to speak with an American accent and I can find out in a second that they are from India. I just spoke slowly and clearly and that was enough for me over the last 14 years in the US and the few months I have been in Australia. Did not feel the need to put on an accent till now.

Last edited by giri26; May 31st 2017 at 3:37 pm.