Dougster75

Ok... slightly tricky one... our kids are 5 and 7 and we are assured that they have no chance of maintaining an English accent (which makes sense as their brains are still developing - unlike mine)....but how long does it take...?

Answers on a postcard...

Doug.

nethead

I think it depends on the kid. My daughter was 10 when we moved here (been here almost 4 years now), and very soon picked up the accent but mostly just to fit in, she can switch it off and on depending on who she is talking to.

My eldest son was 3 and half when we moved and he still talks with and English accent although he uses American words, I think he likes having and accent.

My second son was 2 when we moved and has a full blown American accent.

Jerseygirl

I would imagine they will pick the accent up pretty quick at that age. My daughter was 11...she is now 24 and still flips between accents depending who she is speaking to. It was quite a few years before she started to speak with a American accent...probably not until she was in the last couple of years of high school.

Sue

I think it partly depends on the child. My son was 4 when we moved here. He hung on to his British accent for a year (mainly because he spent most of his time with me) but then he turned 5 and went to school, and within 3 months he had totally lost his British accent.

lisag8070

yep same kind of scenario for my DD, she didn't sound American until she went to school and within months she was coming home calling me Momma...

Yorkieabroad

Came here with an 18 month old in 2002. He was joined by a brother in 2003 and a sister in 2005. None of them have an American accent - When we meet new folk they assume we've just arrived! Now and then the youngest comes out with something odd ("hote-y-el" being the one that springs to mind), but apart from that, they still talk with a very neutral accent.

Sally Redux

They will pick it up very quickly but may switch when with you. My daughter was 9 when we moved and spoke fluent 'Valley Girl' immediately. My son was 12 and felt very shy about his accent to begin with, it's still british but interspersed with 'dude' and 'like'

Jerseygirl

When we moved someone told me that before the age of 11 the new accent is picked up easily...after 11 it's less likely unless the child makes a conscious effort. This pretty much fits in with my daughter...she was just 11 when we moved.

Sally Redux

Sounds about right, as soon as they mix with the 'natives' at least.

britvic

Ain't that the truth

Mummy in the foothills

All three of mine were born here and get told they have British accents.
But when in UK they get told they have US accents. Can't win for loosing!

jumping doris

When we moved here my eldest was 16, middle one was 14 and the youngest was 10.
Now 4 years on the eldest could still give the Queen a run for her money, the youngest began to sound American after about 2 years and the middle one is just beginning to have a US accent.

N1cky

My daughter was 5 when we moved here, she has just turned 7 and has a definate american twang. The funny thing is she translates words for us, she will say 'i'll put that it the trash, bin', 'can i have a popsicle, ice-pop'

Most people in the US think she has a US accent, but family back home think she sounds American.

Manc

They'll try to start talking all yank immediately.

but just beat them when they saw "fawcett" and a slap across the chops everytime they say chips instead of crisps.

neil

And quite rightly too, my daughter is almost 2, and she says chips (for proper chips), trousers, nappy (although she does say diaper too), and she knows what a teapot is - of course I expect eventually I'll lose control.

She also talks to me in a British accent on some random words - I don't notice this stuff so much but my wife finds it funny.