I too often get accused of being an Australian... generally people love the accent, and are always asking me to say something, to which I generally say "A very good afternoon to you, I hope you are having a most splendid day" in my best Darcy accent...

I had this one woman, really thick she was, asked me *really* slowly "W-h-e-r-e a-r-e y-o-u f-r-o-m?"... "I'm from England" I said. She looks at me all surprised "Oh, you speak English then?"... I couldn't help but laugh as I slowly replied "A little bit"..!!

Another guy I once spoke to also asked me where I was from. I said England and he said "That's near London isn't it?"...

Best
Gary

I had a telephone interview and was chatting to the recruiter to begin with and she's all so you're English, love the accent blah blah blah and we chatted about the J1 visa which I'm eligible for (this was only a summer internship)and then she starts the formal questions and the first one was 'Are you an American citizen?' and I replied no and she sounded genuinely shocked and taken aback and said that the position was only open to Americans but that she'd forward my details to the department anyway, which I think had more to do with the novelty value of being British than anything else.

Any Brummies on the site? I have difficulties understanding my family from there, so can only imagine the puzzled gazes it would draw in the US

I love to dazzle my friends and acquaintances with my dulcet brummie tones. Luckily for them i've learned to talk "proper" and ask for wadder with my meal and baysil in my tomayto soup. Otherwise I'm completely incomprehensible, despite the fac that I don't *usually* talk like a brummie (that's for special occasions)

What is it with the word water?!? I can never ever get people to understand me when I say that and I can't quite bring myself to say it the American way coz it makes me feel like I'm taking the piss/making a prat of myself

generally, to be understood, I've found that dropping the 2 t's and adding 2 d's instead gets you heard... you want some iced 'wadder'... some 'budder' on your bread...

I once ordered medium fries at a McDonalds drive through and got a medium Sprite... I've also asked for "water" at Sonic, only to be told that they "don't serve that kind of pop"...

Best
GJB

I've been in the States for 8 years now, and my British accent has become diluted. I talk like a 'Merkin nowadays, particularly like a Texan, phrases like "I'm fixin' to ..." and the occasional "Y'all". My friends back in England noticed I talk more like a yank, and that was 3 years ago!

I'm trying to talk with a more British accent again lately, makes me sound more .... cultured...???

Yes it is flattering when cute chicks like your accent, but I'm also now married (guess that trick worked! ) so that's not much use anymore. btw it's cool when my (merkin) wife says "Oi!" to the cat! People at work sometimes take the piss, but more for the Brit phrases than the accent....

to make things more complicated here some of the philly kids favour "wooder"
I remember trying to get bottled water at my college dining hall, and the serving ladies being continually baffled:
"you whut?"
"i'm sorry whut?"
"oh, you want some wadder!"

I just love that accent.
I'll buy ya accent off ya.
So cute.
Can I have it?
How do I get your accent?
Your accent is wonderful.
From England?
Which part of England are you from?
Your a Brit?
What part of Europe are you from?
You're from London - right?
You've got an accent.
You're a lucky Brit.
You're a bloody Brit.
How's the Queen mum doing?
The Queen mum still alive?
You have a bonnet in your car?
You take lifts don't you?
You've got a hot accent.
You married?
I bet all the girls love your cute accent.
Your English.
You shoot Catholics.
What's up with the Prince?
etc.

Yes, but only to maim.

One of my workmates was telling a few mildly naughty (but really not that funny) jokes in the office the other day and I got.....

"I bet they don't let you joke and fool about like this at work in England... they are very strict over there aren't they?"

If only they knew!!!

I thought to myself.. this guy has obviously never watched The Office!

When people tell me that they love my accent I like to say "Really? I've had it since I was quite young", just to see their reactions!

GJB

I constantly get all the usual-

"I luvvv your accent"

"I could listen to you all day"

"If ever I want somethign narrated, I'll come to you"

"say that again...and again...and again..."

"I wish I had an accent ...sigh"

Most annoying are those who make you repeat what you say a few times and then tell you "oh I understood you the first time, I just enjoying listening to you"

Funniest people- young male telemarketers who chat me up on the phone when they hear my accent ..I let them go on a bit and then tell them I'm a 49 yr old grandmother..

The amount of times I have been out for dinner and when asked what i want to drink said 'water' had the waitress look at me funny and say, 'sorry we dont have that'

Every time we go out and eat, being a proper northerner I want bread with my meal, I always have to get the wife to ask for it as they can never understand me.

Best line I have heard about the accent:

American: Oh I love your accent are you from Australia
Me: no, Wales
American: Well near enough!

Unlike Dick Van Dyke who played a Cockney, but whose accent was alternately Argentinian, Turkish etc....

After the usual "are you English?" or "you're not from around here are you?" it usually prompts people to tell me how their ancestors were also English. I'm beginning to think the Mayflower was the worlds first super-cruise liner !!!

Jan