English Accents Changing...
Oct 10th 2007, 2:26 pm
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 92
Re: English Accents Changing...
Been over here for a little over 11 years now and the wife (USC) is constantly complaining that I've lost my accent. I still have lots of Americans ask me where I'm from, I've run the gamut from New England to New Zealand/Australia.
I know that I've changed my accent to fit in, I was sick of constantly repeating myself. When I was much younger and lived in Worksop I had a very strong accent but then I started to move around (dad was in the army) and eventually I had a very neutral sounding accent.
I just need to go back to the UK for a holiday and I'll get right back into it
Roy
I know that I've changed my accent to fit in, I was sick of constantly repeating myself. When I was much younger and lived in Worksop I had a very strong accent but then I started to move around (dad was in the army) and eventually I had a very neutral sounding accent.
I just need to go back to the UK for a holiday and I'll get right back into it
Roy
Oct 10th 2007, 2:37 pm
#17
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: English Accents Changing...
Some people retain their native accent no matter where they are or who they are listening to.
I'm an accent chameleon. If I hear another accent that's within my reach I'll start to modulate to it (Canadian, most English accents, Northern Irish accent, some Scots accents). I do this without even realising it.
Luckily for me I spend my days largely speaking to other Americans or folks for whom English is a second language (like my husband).
I'm an accent chameleon. If I hear another accent that's within my reach I'll start to modulate to it (Canadian, most English accents, Northern Irish accent, some Scots accents). I do this without even realising it.
Luckily for me I spend my days largely speaking to other Americans or folks for whom English is a second language (like my husband).
Oct 10th 2007, 3:25 pm
#18
Banned
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
Posts: 18,402
Re: English Accents Changing...
though that belonged to Walsall
When I tell them a large percentage say.
"Oh ..........Beeeeeeeeming-UM!!!!! " in a fake Brummie accent
It was a hilarious novelty the first dozen times
Oct 10th 2007, 4:21 pm
#19
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Oct 10th 2007, 4:33 pm
#20
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,812
Re: English Accents Changing...
We have been in PA for 2 Years and 3 months and have two boys aged 6 & 11.
Both my husband and I are English and still do PG tips, bacon butties etc. etc. I doubt if we will ever give up our British cuppa..
But, for fun and interest I would like to know how long we have to be here for our accents to change. I never want to change my (Londonish) English accent and don't feel that it's changed too much so far, apart from saying "You Guys" to the Kids and "right?" at the end of sentences.
My Kids are weird, my 6 year old mainly has an American accent with English bits and pieces and my 11 year just chops and changes, depending on whose around e.g He talks with an English accent at home, but as soon as an American is around, he switches on a full American accent.
I think maybe because we are not married to Americans, that we will keepo our accents for longer...right? Tee Hee..
I would be interested in your view.
Also I can't tell you how many times people have asked me if I'm Australian because of my London twang (not as bad as Geico ads) - I just say yes, just to keep them happy and they feel very pleased with themselves.
One last thing is I am so homesick at the moment for the UK, even though I am enjoying myself here most of the time...is it PMS? (Blokes - I know you won't understand that one...)
Cheers, still enjoy the threads on this board.
Both my husband and I are English and still do PG tips, bacon butties etc. etc. I doubt if we will ever give up our British cuppa..
But, for fun and interest I would like to know how long we have to be here for our accents to change. I never want to change my (Londonish) English accent and don't feel that it's changed too much so far, apart from saying "You Guys" to the Kids and "right?" at the end of sentences.
My Kids are weird, my 6 year old mainly has an American accent with English bits and pieces and my 11 year just chops and changes, depending on whose around e.g He talks with an English accent at home, but as soon as an American is around, he switches on a full American accent.
I think maybe because we are not married to Americans, that we will keepo our accents for longer...right? Tee Hee..
I would be interested in your view.
Also I can't tell you how many times people have asked me if I'm Australian because of my London twang (not as bad as Geico ads) - I just say yes, just to keep them happy and they feel very pleased with themselves.
One last thing is I am so homesick at the moment for the UK, even though I am enjoying myself here most of the time...is it PMS? (Blokes - I know you won't understand that one...)
Cheers, still enjoy the threads on this board.
Oct 10th 2007, 5:41 pm
#21
The Unmod
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Glen Mills, PA
Posts: 8,870
Re: English Accents Changing...
I wouldn't want to try to make a full change, it might come out as phony as G W Bush's Texas accent.
Oct 10th 2007, 5:57 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 354
Re: English Accents Changing...
I get asked every bloody day where I am from. Its either are you Irish or Australian
. Errmm...neither thanx Im British.
I really do not see myself losing my accent at all, however I have only been over here for a year. People at work always try and get me to say american stuff for their amusement and I refuse to do it cos I sound like a right idiot.
Just trying to buying stamps yesterday was a chore!. I asked the cashier for stamps at least 5 times, she thought I was asking for stumps!
in the end I said "postage stamps, to send a letter" and she looked at me as if I was stupid!.
. Errmm...neither thanx Im British.I really do not see myself losing my accent at all, however I have only been over here for a year. People at work always try and get me to say american stuff for their amusement and I refuse to do it cos I sound like a right idiot.
Just trying to buying stamps yesterday was a chore!. I asked the cashier for stamps at least 5 times, she thought I was asking for stumps!
in the end I said "postage stamps, to send a letter" and she looked at me as if I was stupid!.
Oct 10th 2007, 6:40 pm
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Southwest Missouri
Posts: 146
Re: English Accents Changing...
We have been in PA for 2 Years and 3 months and have two boys aged 6 & 11.
Both my husband and I are English and still do PG tips, bacon butties etc. etc. I doubt if we will ever give up our British cuppa..
But, for fun and interest I would like to know how long we have to be here for our accents to change. I never want to change my (Londonish) English accent and don't feel that it's changed too much so far, apart from saying "You Guys" to the Kids and "right?" at the end of sentences.
My Kids are weird, my 6 year old mainly has an American accent with English bits and pieces and my 11 year just chops and changes, depending on whose around e.g He talks with an English accent at home, but as soon as an American is around, he switches on a full American accent.
I think maybe because we are not married to Americans, that we will keepo our accents for longer...right? Tee Hee..
I would be interested in your view.
Also I can't tell you how many times people have asked me if I'm Australian because of my London twang (not as bad as Geico ads) - I just say yes, just to keep them happy and they feel very pleased with themselves.
One last thing is I am so homesick at the moment for the UK, even though I am enjoying myself here most of the time...is it PMS? (Blokes - I know you won't understand that one...)
Cheers, still enjoy the threads on this board.
Both my husband and I are English and still do PG tips, bacon butties etc. etc. I doubt if we will ever give up our British cuppa..
But, for fun and interest I would like to know how long we have to be here for our accents to change. I never want to change my (Londonish) English accent and don't feel that it's changed too much so far, apart from saying "You Guys" to the Kids and "right?" at the end of sentences.
My Kids are weird, my 6 year old mainly has an American accent with English bits and pieces and my 11 year just chops and changes, depending on whose around e.g He talks with an English accent at home, but as soon as an American is around, he switches on a full American accent.
I think maybe because we are not married to Americans, that we will keepo our accents for longer...right? Tee Hee..
I would be interested in your view.
Also I can't tell you how many times people have asked me if I'm Australian because of my London twang (not as bad as Geico ads) - I just say yes, just to keep them happy and they feel very pleased with themselves.
One last thing is I am so homesick at the moment for the UK, even though I am enjoying myself here most of the time...is it PMS? (Blokes - I know you won't understand that one...)
Cheers, still enjoy the threads on this board.
I WILL NEVER lose my accent, even though it does waver now and then.
Oct 10th 2007, 6:44 pm
#24
Guttural Brumerican
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: The Mile High City
Posts: 1,312
Re: English Accents Changing...
I purposefully become an even thicker twat (if possible) whenever the outlaws visit, much to the chagrin of Mrs Titchski
Oct 10th 2007, 7:11 pm
#25
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: English Accents Changing...
I get asked every bloody day where I am from. Its either are you Irish or Australian. Errmm...neither thanx Im British.
I really do not see myself losing my accent at all, however I have only been over here for a year. People at work always try and get me to say american stuff for their amusement and I refuse to do it cos I sound like a right idiot.
Just trying to buying stamps yesterday was a chore!. I asked the cashier for stamps at least 5 times, she thought I was asking for stumps!in the end I said "postage stamps, to send a letter" and she looked at me as if I was stupid!.
. Errmm...neither thanx Im British.I really do not see myself losing my accent at all, however I have only been over here for a year. People at work always try and get me to say american stuff for their amusement and I refuse to do it cos I sound like a right idiot.
Just trying to buying stamps yesterday was a chore!. I asked the cashier for stamps at least 5 times, she thought I was asking for stumps!
in the end I said "postage stamps, to send a letter" and she looked at me as if I was stupid!.
She looked at me strangely and said-an ink "pin." 
Oct 10th 2007, 7:31 pm
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 116
Re: English Accents Changing...
We Yanks can have the same problem in different parts of the country-years ago when I moved from New England to Ohio, I worked with a gal originally from Kentucky. She asked me to hand her a "pin". Since we were in an office I asked her what kind of pin she wanted? She looked at me strangely and said-an ink "pin."
She looked at me strangely and said-an ink "pin." im always being asked to repeat myself, grrrrrr:curse:
Oct 10th 2007, 8:32 pm
#27
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 428
Re: English Accents Changing...
So why do we get asked if we're Australian? I hardly ever meet Aussies here and there's seldom an Aussie programme on the telly so why start with that as a guess???
Oct 10th 2007, 8:35 pm
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
Oct 10th 2007, 8:53 pm
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Re: English Accents Changing...
Maybe because Americans are used to British accents that sound like Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet and Australian accents like Russell Crow that sound closer to most Brits.
My wife is from Yorkshire, when we lived in London she asked for soap and was directed to the soup aisle. When I was in Yorkshire when I said paper they heard piper. When I was to meet someone in the Buck pub I was looking for a Pub called the Book.
Oct 10th 2007, 9:23 pm
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Re: English Accents Changing...
I get asked every bloody day where I am from. Its either are you Irish or Australian. Errmm...neither thanx Im British.
I really do not see myself losing my accent at all, however I have only been over here for a year. People at work always try and get me to say american stuff for their amusement and I refuse to do it cos I sound like a right idiot.
Just trying to buying stamps yesterday was a chore!. I asked the cashier for stamps at least 5 times, she thought I was asking for stumps!in the end I said "postage stamps, to send a letter" and she looked at me as if I was stupid!.
. Errmm...neither thanx Im British.I really do not see myself losing my accent at all, however I have only been over here for a year. People at work always try and get me to say american stuff for their amusement and I refuse to do it cos I sound like a right idiot.
Just trying to buying stamps yesterday was a chore!. I asked the cashier for stamps at least 5 times, she thought I was asking for stumps!
in the end I said "postage stamps, to send a letter" and she looked at me as if I was stupid!.