TN-Dave

It's bad enough when the voice recognition system on my mopbile phone doesn't understand me..... all I get some days is "Did you say................?"

Kate2112

I thought it was just xenophobic brits going across the channel for a booze cruise or off to Spain/Greece for a fortnight who refuse to attempt to speak the language of the country they are visiting apparently not

Elvira

I have no idea which part of the UK you are from, but let us assume you are English.

So when you go to Scotland, Wales or Ireland you start mimicking those accents?

Jerseygirl

Well we are British.

dan_alford

Or if kate2112 is american, would she put on a canadian accent if she went to Canada or a Caribean accent in the Caribean?

Partystar

Oh no, I speak English.

Kate2112

When I go to a foreign country I dont expect people to be able to understand my pronunciation of a word unless I am pronouncing it correctly in their language. I am from the UK, I do have a southern England accent and on occasion I have changed/adapted my pronunciation of a word in a part of the UK that has found it difficult to understand my accent without feeling I have mocked or condescended their accent.
American English is rooted in many different countries takes on the English language, it is not derived solely from the British Isles. We dont have to arrogantly pronounce "Water" in the US expecting to be understood and it wont kill us to try. We can adapt gracefully or remain misunderstood.

Kate2112

She is not and she would adapt to any accent to be understood.

TN-Dave

I'm constantly misunderstood - it's called being married !

dan_alford

I think one of the problems is that it is the same language. I can speak some french and am not afraid of talking to french people even though I might screw up badly. Here though, I am often scared to attempt to put on too much of an accent with anyone I don't know in case they think I am taking the piss and take offence, especially here in the south with such a strong accent which is often the target of jokes and stereotypes.

Dan

lee_in_nj

But i do try to alter my pronunciation. I'll add "-oh" to the end of words so they understand me.. throw in a por favor at the end.. and well they are just dumb at that point if they are still having trouble.

"Where-oh Can-oh me-oh rent-oh car-oh por favor?"

Kate2112

True Dan, we do appear to use the same language, but I think our experiences in the US have shown that we arent always able to understand each other without some give and take. Thats pretty much what I would advocate really. Not being too high minded to make yourself understand in the language of the locals. You dont have to mock people to imitate their language. Have you ever heard from a travel courier how Spanish/Italian/French..the list goes on ...appreciate the attempt by visiting tourists to speak a little of their language...well thats how I try to look at it. If I have to change the way I say water/chandler/raspberry it wont kill me

Elvira

I would just feel silly...

Crispyuk88

Ever had cheese in a can? Bloody 'ell stuffs god awful.

ROFL at Waderburger

snowbunny

Eh? We say STRAW-bear-ee here .... though granted Texas is its own country.

however if I am in the UK I will say "strawb'ry" and "raz'b'ry" -- not really changing ACCENT but pronunciation.

And I ask for ice cubes.... failing that, frozen water, ice klontjes (it's something like that in Dutch!), hielo, glace, whatever.