Should I give in....
Mar 11th 2008, 1:51 am
#46
Carmel Indiana
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Naperville, IL
Posts: 749
Re: Should I give in....
I can see changing the names of things to get by, but I see no reason other than convienience to change pronunciation. If you keep changing your pronunciation to the American English us Yanks won't really get used to hearing UK English and the problem will persist.
It might depend on your regional dialect as well. Just as an example, in my lifetime I've spoken to one English guy face to face. He had a very BBCish accent and I had no trouble understanding him. Then I watched the movie "Billy Elliot" and was constantly having to rewind because I couldn't catch it the first time.
It might depend on your regional dialect as well. Just as an example, in my lifetime I've spoken to one English guy face to face. He had a very BBCish accent and I had no trouble understanding him. Then I watched the movie "Billy Elliot" and was constantly having to rewind because I couldn't catch it the first time.
but I still get "Damn man, I didn't understand a word of what you just said".
LOL - I love it, 'cos I cant understand half the stuff they say, especially cos some of them are from Kentucky! Adds alittle humour to the day.
Mar 11th 2008, 2:20 am
#47
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 3,264
Re: Should I give in....
) It feels like I'm trying to put on an American accent if I say tomayto or wadder or whatever.The other day I had trouble on the phone with my doctors receptionist, I was trying to make an appointment for my daughter. She just didn't understand me everytime I said daughter, in the end I just had to say my child.
Mar 11th 2008, 2:26 am
#48
The Unmod
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Glen Mills, PA
Posts: 8,870
Re: Should I give in....
I can see changing the names of things to get by, but I see no reason other than convienience to change pronunciation. If you keep changing your pronunciation to the American English us Yanks won't really get used to hearing UK English and the problem will persist.
It might depend on your regional dialect as well. Just as an example, in my lifetime I've spoken to one English guy face to face. He had a very BBCish accent and I had no trouble understanding him. Then I watched the movie "Billy Elliot" and was constantly having to rewind because I couldn't catch it the first time.
It might depend on your regional dialect as well. Just as an example, in my lifetime I've spoken to one English guy face to face. He had a very BBCish accent and I had no trouble understanding him. Then I watched the movie "Billy Elliot" and was constantly having to rewind because I couldn't catch it the first time.
It's more a change of syllable emphasis and word usage. There is the British "GARage" and the American "garAGE"; and where, here we ask, "Do you have any....", in UK, they say, "Have you got any....". With those changes it becomes the Mid-Atlantic accent.
Mar 11th 2008, 3:02 am
#49
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Should I give in....
I was wondering?..
I was in quiznos and the server asked me if i wanted tomatoes. I just ended up saying yes I want those- and pointing- instead of going through the whole ' yes please I'd like tomartoes' you want what?' scenario.
Ive been in this situation a lot. Should I just give in and say tomato instead of tomarto?
I was in quiznos and the server asked me if i wanted tomatoes. I just ended up saying yes I want those- and pointing- instead of going through the whole ' yes please I'd like tomartoes' you want what?' scenario.
Ive been in this situation a lot. Should I just give in and say tomato instead of tomarto?
Mar 11th 2008, 3:46 am
#50
Boomshacalaca!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Mar 11th 2008, 3:48 am
#51
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Should I give in....
Here's a tomayta for ya......
Mar 11th 2008, 4:56 am
#52
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: EK to DFW
Posts: 1,725
Re: Should I give in....
I have a Scottish friend who has been here 7 years. We both have a son called Cameron except she calls hers Camron like most Americans pronounce it. I have US friends that always make the effort and pronounce it as it is spelled when asking about my Cameron. Just a pet peeve which grates on me as she is Scottish.
Mar 11th 2008, 5:00 am
#53
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,074
Re: Should I give in....
I have a Scottish friend who has been here 7 years. We both have a son called Cameron except she calls hers Camron like most Americans pronounce it. I have US friends that always make the effort and pronounce it as it is spelled when asking about my Cameron. Just a pet peeve which grates on me as she is Scottish.
Mar 11th 2008, 5:21 am
#57
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Re: Should I give in....
I can't change the way I say tomato or the way I say "r" when I spell my name. What I think is funny is when I've been watching BBC America or something else British and talk to my kids I can hear my accent getting thicker, I wish it would stay that way.
Mar 11th 2008, 7:09 am
#58
The destruct-a-bunny
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 71
Re: Should I give in....
because im living in south texas everyone thinks my name is pronounced and spelt 'luis' (think lewis) instead of 'louise'
Mar 11th 2008, 7:13 am
#59
Militant Ginger
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Wrong Side of the Hudson River
Posts: 2,311
Re: Should I give in....
I was wondering?..
I was in quiznos and the server asked me if i wanted tomatoes. I just ended up saying yes I want those- and pointing- instead of going through the whole ' yes please I'd like tomartoes' you want what?' scenario.
Ive been in this situation a lot. Should I just give in and say tomato instead of tomarto?
I was in quiznos and the server asked me if i wanted tomatoes. I just ended up saying yes I want those- and pointing- instead of going through the whole ' yes please I'd like tomartoes' you want what?' scenario.
Ive been in this situation a lot. Should I just give in and say tomato instead of tomarto?
I was at the Rockefeller center getting a bagel the other morning. And I said... and I can't believe this... 'Can I have budder?'
Not butter. A Noo Yoik 'Budder.'
Mar 11th 2008, 7:19 am
#60
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Should I give in....
Just go with what feels natural to you. If you are here long enough your accent will change anyway, it may not be noticeable to you but it will happen even if it is only slight. I think you automatically adapt after a time anyway.
Saying that, I have been in Texas for 20 years and I still sound like an old Essex girl...........
