To all Brits - Americans understand you?
#46
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
You know, the more I think about this, even if I say them funny, how the hell are people still not understanding me?
If I'm reading you a PO number, you're only going to get a string of digits between 0 and 9. What the hell else is it going to be if not 8?? Likewise with 'h', what other letter is that going to get messed up with?
Christ.
If I'm reading you a PO number, you're only going to get a string of digits between 0 and 9. What the hell else is it going to be if not 8?? Likewise with 'h', what other letter is that going to get messed up with?
Christ.
#47
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
About six months ago, someone though I was American, as I had an English accent. They thought it must be New England. Admittedly this was a youth, but still.
#48
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
I'm pretty sure that this was his first solo trip away from home, and it was a bit of a trauma for him.
I met this girl from Quebec in France, and she had a similar issue there. She would speak to people in her Quebec French and they would answer her in English. She was expecting to discover her cultural roots and connect with her people, only to find that the locals didn't consider her to be French. She was about the same age as the Scottish kid (18-19) and was quite bothered by the whole thing.
#49
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
My best friend and his girlfriend are from Glasgow. They are both easily understood. Believe it or not, they don't all speak like Rab C Nesbitt (although his mum does)
#50
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Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago
Posts: 61
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
I'm originally from Blackburn but I've been here 24 years (next month, anyway). I still get asked to repeat things on a regular basis. But I've always had a strong accent that hasn't really gone away. I just try to speak a little more slowly and clearly over here.
#51
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
You know, the more I think about this, even if I say them funny, how the hell are people still not understanding me?
If I'm reading you a PO number, you're only going to get a string of digits between 0 and 9. What the hell else is it going to be if not 8?? Likewise with 'h', what other letter is that going to get messed up with?
Christ.
If I'm reading you a PO number, you're only going to get a string of digits between 0 and 9. What the hell else is it going to be if not 8?? Likewise with 'h', what other letter is that going to get messed up with?
Christ.
#52
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
#53
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 0
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
I obviously only have a very slight accent being from Birmingham, but I don't really get the randomness of being understood.
Some people don't even mention my accent and seem to understand everything I say. Others have no idea what I'm saying.
I always forget I'm from somewhere else now, unless someone points out my accent.
Some people don't even mention my accent and seem to understand everything I say. Others have no idea what I'm saying.
I always forget I'm from somewhere else now, unless someone points out my accent.
#54
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Thread Starter
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Posts: 44
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
At least my wife understands me most of the time and she's from California lol. I think most British people slur their words together, at least that's what i've been told!
One thing I've noticed is on TV shows like House Hunters. All the American people looking to buy a house, when they talk on the show, could be a news presenter. I don't know how to explain it but they sound very confident in the way they speak. I just get lazy and hope people understand me, at home anyway!
My wife has had people ask her if she was English, Don't hear it myself lol.
One thing I've noticed is on TV shows like House Hunters. All the American people looking to buy a house, when they talk on the show, could be a news presenter. I don't know how to explain it but they sound very confident in the way they speak. I just get lazy and hope people understand me, at home anyway!
My wife has had people ask her if she was English, Don't hear it myself lol.
#55
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Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
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Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
This reminds me of a story.
A few years ago my daughter was working as a hostess at a large, busy chain restaurant here in Maryland. There were a few young hostesses at the front desk checking people in. An English woman arrived with her family. The hostess she spoke to had no idea what she was saying so my daughter (who has an English mum, Skypes frequently with relatives in the UK, and has travelled there a few times) stepped in to take over. She happily chatted with the English customer including a few anecdotes about the old country and got her party seated. When my daughter got back to the front desk, the other hostesses were agog - "You actually understood what she said?" My daughter said "Of course. My mom is English!"
This actually wasn't the only time that this happened. Similar things happened to my other daughter who also worked at the same restaurant as a hostess. On one occasion, she had to take over seating a party from London. She spoke to the woman who was heading the party. Conversation went like this:
My daughter: "Where in England are you from?"
Woman: "London"
My daughter: "Which part of London?"
Woman (a bit surprised): "Do you know London? It's a big place".
My daughter: "Oh yes. I have family there and just got back recently."
Woman: "We're from Kingsbury in NW London".
Well, my daughters had just recently returned from a month in Europe including a stay with my brother who just happens to live in Kingsbury, London!
So whenever any Brits or Irish came into the restaurant, one of my daughters was nominated as their hostess. It does pay to be bi-lingual!
A few years ago my daughter was working as a hostess at a large, busy chain restaurant here in Maryland. There were a few young hostesses at the front desk checking people in. An English woman arrived with her family. The hostess she spoke to had no idea what she was saying so my daughter (who has an English mum, Skypes frequently with relatives in the UK, and has travelled there a few times) stepped in to take over. She happily chatted with the English customer including a few anecdotes about the old country and got her party seated. When my daughter got back to the front desk, the other hostesses were agog - "You actually understood what she said?" My daughter said "Of course. My mom is English!"
This actually wasn't the only time that this happened. Similar things happened to my other daughter who also worked at the same restaurant as a hostess. On one occasion, she had to take over seating a party from London. She spoke to the woman who was heading the party. Conversation went like this:
My daughter: "Where in England are you from?"
Woman: "London"
My daughter: "Which part of London?"
Woman (a bit surprised): "Do you know London? It's a big place".
My daughter: "Oh yes. I have family there and just got back recently."
Woman: "We're from Kingsbury in NW London".
Well, my daughters had just recently returned from a month in Europe including a stay with my brother who just happens to live in Kingsbury, London!
So whenever any Brits or Irish came into the restaurant, one of my daughters was nominated as their hostess. It does pay to be bi-lingual!
Last edited by MarylandNed; Jul 22nd 2015 at 12:44 am.
#56
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
..... One thing I've noticed is on TV shows like House Hunters. All the American people looking to buy a house, when they talk on the show, could be a news presenter. I don't know how to explain it but they sound very confident in the way they speak. .....
..... My wife has had people ask her if she was English, Don't hear it myself lol.
#57
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
When we lived New York my in-laws came to visit and we went out to a busy chain restaurant one evening. The waitress struggled a bit to understand my father-in-law, who has a distinct southern Virginia accent (though even from the first time I met him I have found him perfectly easy to understand), but the waitress as getting "tuned in" as she took my mother-in-law's order. Mrs P's accent is more muted, so the waitress took her order fairly easily. Then I spoke, ...... and the waitress was more than surprised, she literally stepped backwards!
#58
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#60
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Posts: 44
Re: To all Brits - Americans understand you?
I think you're right we do talk faster, and I'm sure they're coached too!