Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

In America it's considered beautiful on a woman and very wimpy on a guy.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

i wonder how 'feminime' a chavvy manc accent or a scouse accents sound. not all brits sound like emma thompson!
and only that posh accent can be seen as wimpy because so many other british accents sound rough as hell!

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

So many shallow and sterotyped comments in one post, perhaps a record? :ohmy:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Actually, "chinky" is racist in the UK too. Have you ever said that in front of a Chinese person? I wouldn't if I were you.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Missed us already RTD? :lol:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

You Emma Thompson.......... me Helen Mirren ;)

I can empathise with the rubber thing too.............. at Office Max, many years ago. Could not understand why the chap looked shocked... :rofl:

Good luck with the doggy campaign!!! :)

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Indeed!!! (almost as bad as referring to 'our Paki friend'... :eek:)

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

My post was pretty clear that "a chinky" is the usual term for Londoners for a Chinese takeout; a term deployed to and with Chinese people.

Needless to say these usages are always debatable as to racism or no. I am an immigrant now of course so I feel I know what it is like!

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I do not agree, though like the USA, I defend freedom of speech and your right to say what you believe.

A chinky remains the term of choice for Londoners for a Chinese takeaway.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Whether the Chinese people like it or not!

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Uh, no it's not. Here's another American who thinks a British accent on a man is pretty sexy. No, he won't sound like a meathead, he'll sound like a gentleman. Nothing wrong with that.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I'm a born and bred Londoner and I've never heard anyone refer to their Chinese takeaway as a "chinky". I really do suggest you try saying that within earshot of either Chinatown in London and then you can decide whether it's a racist term or not.

Are you a closet BNP member?:sneaky:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

It's tiresome to "defend" sayings of yore. Rightly or wrongly (have it your way) that's how we order(ed) chinky food in London for 20 years.

My point (!) was that there are our UK "ways" and there are USA "ways" (including weird use of "Asian" to describe all Chinese, Japanese and Korean; but not Indian or Pakistani people).

I do not know,as it is a cultural issue, which is right or wrong . . . I live in USA so I live by USA mores.

Yawwn as to endless debate about "who is racist"?

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

By the way, I worked for the London NHS and for London boroughs as a senior manager until May 2007. I think I am able to manage "political correctness" particular to UK.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Freedom of speech does not give anyone the right to be offensive.

Londoners most certainly do not use that word to describe a Chinese takeaway.

*I am a Londoner*

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Yes they do! (Argument continues (but without me from here on!) : yes / no yes/ no lalala ad nauseum).

By the way my best friend is married to a Chinese man and they run a "Chinky" aka Chinese takeaway. Not an "Asian takeout" which i find offensive to all the differing peoples of Asia.

I think this one is exhausted, don't you?!

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Hopefully!:sneaky:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Getting off the boat, being 'fresh off the boat' only applies to those of colour, especially those Asians (both South and East). I have heard of even funnier, about a Japanese Briton who spoke with an English accent in Vancouver. He is asked if he is Hong Kong Chinese, with people wondering if he was one of those elite Hong Kong Chinese who had a British education. When he travelled to Hong Kong, they also thought that he was one of theirs, except that he was a white washed banana for not being able to speak Cantonese. And to add to the fun, his girlfriend is actually a Hong Kong Chinese Canadian dual citizen.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Maybe you are not racist, but if you continue to use that term in London most people will assume you are. They are probably just too polite to say anything.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

People are polite maybe in Canada, but Americans will probably tell you to your face if you are racist. Could you imagine the USA breaking up into five and parts of it joining Canada? I like the idea of the Quebec being given to the USA in exchange for California! I will then go live in San Francisco in the winter.

Not to change the topic a bit here, but I wonder how many US Marines will be saying SEMPER FI and Oorah, if the US economy collapse while they were in Iraq, and they learned that their Montgomery GI Bill was going to be worthless as the paper currency itself? I wonder how many will wonder rather than focusing on rebuilding some remote nation in the middle east, the fixing of their own homeland will be requiring attention instead?

I wonder if some people who are fan of Art Bell and George Nooray on 1410am Coast to Coast would think of this? (now, I don't give a damn about Whitley Strieber, but Catherine Austin Fitts, I am interest in listening to.)

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

We sound "gay"??
Hahahhhaahhha ha hahahhaa aahhhahah hahahahahh ha!
That's a new one.
Mind, the rare times I've ever had Yanks poke fun or make disparaging remarks about my accent or language, they've been the same predictable type. F150 with added goatee.

Of course, these same "guys" usually lay claim that a deep Southern accent on a Woman is "real sexy". A la Alabama or Georgia - yeah, if you like Women who sound like their last brain cell just evacuated their right ear.

Gay. Yeah, of course we sound gay.
'kin ell.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I use the word "chinky" all the time and have only been beaten up 27 times.

And I do like Chinese.

-even though they only come up to your knees
-but they're cute and cuddly and ready to please
-their ying and yang'ese
-they come from a long way overseas

I also like traffic lights.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I've been here about 4 months now, and when I first got here the endless stream of blank looks in Walmart (which was pretty much my limit of speaking to Americans) drove me to the point where I hated opening my mouth, and felt like my accent was a real hindrance....

However....

I started work about 5 weeks ago at a hotel that has just opened (2 days ago in fact) and up until our opening day it was very much an 'all hands on deck' situation with the whole team helping out the construction workers / housekeepers / cleaners etc.... it was then that I actually realised that my accent was a huge bonus, and a fantastic Icebreaker - the whole 'where are you from' was still there, but the comments were:
'I love your accent' (usually the girls).....
'damn thats a sexy accent'........ 'How about you follow me around all day and just talk to me'........ from the construction workers
oh, and the classic, which I struggled to control my bladder and my laughter at was 'Do you know what a xenophile is?..... its someone who is addicted to foreigners..... I realised last night that I am one, because I find your accent intoxicating.... honestly ma'am..... when you speak to me I feel drunk.... and please, don't get me on the subject of your beauty...' :rofl:
I guess he thought he was being smooth!!

Since the hotel opened, I've worked two check ins, and about 50% of guests have commented on my accent. Its been a great Icebreaker, and has really got them talking - my manager has even had me playing problem solver when things have gone wrong (as they have, teething problems in a new building of course)...... apparently the theory is because I'm little, and I have this soft, british voice, it catches people on the back foot so they are less likely to shout!...... They've also said that my voice is more calming than some of the harsher accents that we have working with us!

Although I've changed some of the words I use (bin / garbage, trolley / cart, Dinner / Tea etc) to make life easier, I've now started to realise the benefits of having this 'sexy accent'!

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

and Monty Python too I'm guessing:p

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I'm asked if I'm Irish almost daily, I have a Restaurant, so get many people coming through the door. Also if I'm Australian, but the one I always smile at, is when I'm asked if I'm Scottish!! I'm a Bristolian, so putting that accent on a par with Scottish would really upset our Northern cousins!!
I had been here for about a year, when two very nice old ladies wanted to see around the dance hall we have. After the usual questions, about where I come from, and finding out I'm English, one asked how lond I'd been in the States. I said about a year, and she replied "What's it like to live in a Free Country" :eek:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Actually, it does, that's kind of the point. Of course it also comes with the right to face the consequences.*

* Consequences can include loss of career opportunities, social ostracism and being punched in the mouth.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Not that I live in a small town but when I just called the Town office to find out how much excise tax I would have to pay on my new car they knew who I was before I gave my name.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I get the same at the bank. Also, I had to warn SWMBO that, even though 5p coins work as dimes in newspaper vending machines, it's probably not a good idea to do that round our way...:rofl:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Oh Budda.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I'd have thought the answer to that one would be very simple....as the American lady in question had no idea what it's like to live in a Free Country and wanted you to tell her I'd have said something on the lines of:

"Well, move to England, luv, and find out for yourself....." Easy peasy.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

I was born in Edinburgh...raised pretty close to there...went to university in Glasgow...lived in London for 3 years...ultimately moved to the US when I was ~25.

People (read ladies) generally like my accent, but I have had the same basic comment made on three different occassions. The conversation is roughly:

Question: "Where are you from?"

Answer: "Scotland"

Question: "How long have been in the US?"

Answer: "<some timeframe>"

Comment: "Wow, you speak very good English"

How do you reply to that??? Other than saying "thanks!"


On other notes...

Nobody has ever picked out that I'm Scottish. I've been pegged for Australian, South African, Kiwi, and EVEN English! :devil_smile:

I drive an F150 and have a goatee...maybe helps me blend in!

I have problems every time I order water or tomato.

Never heard the word 'chinky' used in London. Heard it everywhere in Scotland though.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

THANKS FOR The reply. where in uk you from?? and have you ever had any negative comments, not about your accent but like being english n stuff.?

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

idk4, where have you traveled to before? That might lend some context to your questions.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

My OH is Scottish by blood, but South African by birth. It confuses the hell out of everyone! Add in the influence of a Southern accent and none will be able to tell where he's from. :rofl:

I've been to Edinburgh a few times, and that accent sounds quite a bit like an English one to my ears - it's a very soft Scots accent - very easy to confuse with an English one. Now Glasgow, OTH, where my in-laws are from, has a very strong accent and noone mistakes their accent when they come visit! :lol:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Yeah, to be honest I've never had a strong accent - but having lived in quite a few places I don't have trouble understanding almost everyone.

The part of Louisiana I'm in also has a pretty mild accent, so I shouldn't pick anything to bad up to mix things even further!

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Och...what a load of gob$hite that is. Americans really are more screwed up than I ever imagined.... so many of them seem to be real dafties, and with an American President now in place who hates the very guts of us Brits I think I will completely abandon any plans or even desire to go to America one day.

Anyway, what do they mean by "British" accent anyway? We've got f****g hundreds of them.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Hook, Line & Sinker, guys. Please notice that that poster is no longer with us.

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

:ohmy: :confused: :blink:

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

Maybe you ought to tell them that THEY got an AMERICAN accent. I know we have hundreds of different variations in the UK, but to play their egos on this, it would be good to remind them whose language are they speaking.
They need to be reminded that English comes from England!
I speak with a Canadian accent because I came to Vancouver when I was five. And when I return, I am commented on having an American accent, and I do say it is a Canadian accent, and that is the way it is, because it is I who has the accent being raised abroad. I think if you like North America but want to live where they don't hate the British, you should try Canada where they are mostly descendants of loyalists. (Of course, French Quebec is a different story)

Re: is your accent something that gets commented on alot
 

When I answer the phone at my restaurant, I say this is Paul speaking, and quite often it goes quiet for a second, then they'll reply Pooal? One guy even called me Ball! I was tempted to ask "left or right" :confused: