meauxna

Yes, but we have our own little language (amazing isn't it? As we are our own country?!). Nevermind it's a massive continent... I'm sure the Brits would have had everyone from London to Moscow sounding identically if they'd only had the chance.

Except...

Exactly. My DH can identify by accent people who are from towns a mere 10 miles apart.

Honestly, some of these threads. And about the Scottish homeland... What are the sections of New York City called again? Something like 'burrows'.
Just face it, it's a different language and it depends on whether the person is trying to make a local pronunciation or not. I noticed last night that San Jacinto is pronounced two different ways, both correct.

SultanOfSwing

I don't think anyone would disagree with you that it is a different language - it certainly is. Even within the UK that happens, with all the different dialects and that.

I wouldn't worry too much about it - the thread started with us being asked if we'd picked up an accent

Xebedee

What an excellent idea!
Shall we ask the French and Germans how it worked out for them?

snowbunny

They're both failing at the "th" sound - pity.

robin1234

My point was, how multidimensional accents are. On my street, for instance, an educated man in his eighties talks with a different accent than his 20 year old grand-daughter, and the high-school dropout in the trailer down the road talks with a different accent from either of them .. but as an outsider, I can still detect common "north country" elements in the way all three of them talk.

Lothianlad

Well, perhaps it is in a way if you take into account just one of the meanings of the word "scat" - we do have rather a lot of animals roaming about in the Highlands - apart from visiting dogs accompanied by their owners (who I assume can be safely excluded from all of this) we have anything from sheep to deer and even true native wild cats, plus other species besides, and they do tend to leave behind the evidence of their presence, but I'm pretty sure Scotland is not unique in this respect.

It really is the case that many visiting Americans to this fair city of ours do refer to it as "Edinburrow", and I agree with my compatrot in here who said that they also refer to Glasgow as "Glass-gow". We locals are now well past any feelings of irritation here, there is no point to it - it's all part and parcel of living in a major world tourist centre. I doubt very much indeed that any of my fellow citizens would have the slightest clue about the correct pronunciation of Schenectady (I haven't got the foggiest on that one) or many other American place names.

The UK ITV3 soap "Emmerdale" - which is set in the North Yorkshire dales of Northern England - there is a gay character called Aaron. He is universally addressed as "Arrun". His paramour boyfriend, now sadly paralysed from the neck down following a serious road accident, and who has the first name Jackson, is universally addressed as - well, Jackson. How else can it be pronounced?...

robin1234

Actually Schenectady is an odd example to use, as it is pronounced exactly the way it is spelt (or, spelled.) New York does have some difficult ones, though -- Canajoharie could be a challenge, for instance. Shawangunk could be a conundrum for out-of-towners.

Nutmegger

But there again, just how many off-comed 'uns can say Barnoldswick correctly?

robin1234

Barn - Olds - Wick ??

As in barn, agricultural storage building. Olds, kind of car. Wick, piece of string in a candle?????

Mummy in the foothills

I don't think so it's one of those bizarre ones Barlick or something odd

Lothianlad

In Scotland we have Hawick and Culzean and Glamis among others. How many non Scottish non local Britons have any clue as to how to correctly pronounce those place names, let alone any visiting Americans. Or some non local non English Britons when they see place names like Happisburgh or Trottiscliffe or Cholmondeley on the map of England?

There's no such problem with anyone with Pratts Bottom though I wouldn't have thought, or the lovely Pity Me down there in County Durham.

Welsh place names are in a class all of their own....how the hell is a non Welsh non local individual ever expected to authentically say Machynlleth or Llwyngwril or Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant? Absolutely no chance.

S Folinsky

I was born and raised in Los Angeles. There are several ways of pronouncing the name of our fair city which started as "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles." The pronunciation has been a matter of discussion. It is curious to catch an ear of the Spanish language broadcasts of the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." The city will be given the Spanish pronunciation while the team name is given the English pronunciation. [Don't get me into the problem with "false cognates" -- they can be amusing at times].

Nutmegger

Actually, the locals say Barlick. Enunciate all the syllables, and they know you're a stranger!

Kind of like the first time I tried to say Mamaroneck and had them rolling in the aisles. It's ma-maroneck -- I went with mamma-roneck.

Nutmegger

You got it! Sorry, forgot to hit the multiple-quote thing and don't know if one can do it after the fact.

fromthemanorborn

I have the habit of adding "cock" at the end, used as a term of endearment.
Now that will definitely get you some odd looks.