Americans only

[luvmydogs]

LOL this thread, and especially the above post reminds me of a conversation I just had with a friend. She was born/raised in southern California. Moved to GA when her DD was in Kindergarten. She was complaining that everyone who teaches should be tested to make certain that they didn't speak with an accent because her DD had a hard time understanding the teacher. I told her that everyone speaks with an accent and she argued with me. She then said that if a computer were speaking it would talk like she did, and not like I or the teacher did. I kept listening to her and finally said OK, if you do not speak with an accent, then please say kindergarten. She had to really think about the word to say it correctly (she says "kin-de-gar-den" ).
Then she argued with me that what she said was in "slang" and was not said with an accent.

When my ds was younger, he'd have the hardest time on his spelling tests, because his teacher would pronounce the words differently than I would when I was going over them--he had to get with the program. I'm still amazed that Southerners can take my name of three letters--KIM--and turn it into three syllables! And I say this with love--youse guys!

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL at this thread. I love most accents, especially British accents.

Please inform me of what is normal. We stole English from the Brits, so the way the talk seems normal to me.

We didn't steal English, we brought it with us and then butchered it.

There really is no 'normal' accent to any language.

 

[cactus]

Adam and Eve didn't have accents I bet because there was only two people on Earth!

 

[luvmydogs]

Adam and Eve didn't have accents I bet because there was only two people on Earth!

And they certainly weren't speaking English, either.

 

[mytwotinks]

I am from Kansas and I used to think that I didn't have an accent, but I notice lately when I am around someone from further north that I sound like a HILLBILLY!!!!! I don't think of myself as being from the south, but I think I said ya'll the other day...... YIKES!!!!

 

[cactus]

In some areas of Ohio, like Cleveland, people say "y'all" alot
and aks instead of ask

I aks you a question

 

[LukenDC]

Just think how the Europeans, Canadians, Kiwis, and Aussies must feel when watching American movies and TV programs and listening to our wide variety of accents.

 

[MorganLeFey]

In my job I'm on the phone with people from all over the country. I get to hear all kinds of accents.


and they all hear my Lawn Guyland accent.

 

[MosMom]

The DIS is just killing me today.

 

[SillyMe]

How many Americans like me absolutly cannot stand watching movies where EVERY single character speaks with a heavy accent? I find it so annoying and I start to get anxious for the movie to end! Nothing against Brits, but I simply couldn't wait for Lifetime's movie of Princess Diana to end not because I wasn't interested (I Love Princess Diana) but because the accents were driving me crazy! I was like: can't...one...person...talk...normal......

Did you lose your remote control?

 

[mickeyfan2]

Did you lose your remote control?

 

[RickinNYC]

How many Americans like me absolutly cannot stand watching movies where EVERY single character speaks with a heavy accent? I find it so annoying and I start to get anxious for the movie to end! Nothing against Brits, but I simply couldn't wait for Lifetime's movie of Princess Diana to end not because I wasn't interested (I Love Princess Diana) but because the accents were driving me crazy! I was like: can't...one...person...talk...normal......

Here's a suggestion. Read a book. Then EVERYONE will have the accent you want!

 

[Froggyswife]

Whachall mean us suthern folks have axcents weins talk normal yall is the ones that talk with axcents. Yall brought yall's axcents widjididja from warever yall come from. Ok little redneck humor there. sad thing is a lot of people from here talk like that and I'm from AMERICA.

 

[ElizaB39]

Here's a suggestion. Read a book. Then EVERYONE will have the accent you want!

 

[ChuckB]

I didnt know I had one .....

and I have to agree, the DIS is on a roll today

 

[Holly]

"God save the Queen--Y'ALL!"

 

[KimR]

I love accents as well. DD's kindergarten teacher was from England and poor DD never could understand why she'd often get answers marked wrong on her phonics worksheet! 'But Mommy, that word DOES have a short a sound!' We both loved that teacher, though, and DD still has a love and fascination for England and the language.

 

[Free4Life11]

I'm not a big fan of accents. I live in the Midwest and it's true we have the least accents; a lot of call centers and places like Gallup Poll are in the Midwest for this reason.

Once I was at a McD's in Kentucky and had no clue what the girl said. She was speaking English. Also my first roomate in college was from Mass. and had the most annoying make-my-ears-bleed accents. NOT a fan of the Boston-ish accent.

 

[Jennasis]

Though I grew up on Long Island, with two parents who were born and raised in Brooklyn, I seem to have developed NO accent. I am a verbal chameleon though, and will pick up the accent of whomever I happen to be talking to. I assumed that I would have a New Yawk accent to those around me , but when we moved to NC 3 1/2 years ago I have been told by the locals and just about everyone else that they have no idea where I am from since I have no discernible accent. HOWEVER, everyone here in NC has that southern drawl that just cracks me up.

It may be a bit biased, but I tend to think of heavy accents as a sign of a lack of education (TOTALLY an unfair judgement I know...especially since I think people with British accents automatically "sound" smart). Thick southern drawls, Brooklyn/Bronx accents, New England accents, etc...all sound uneducated to me. Whereas British accents sound "smart", Irish accents sound "friendly" etc...

Man I'm weird. The board is on a roll!

 

[bntlyclg89]

I grew up in Massachusetts and I have to agree that I can't stand to watch any movie that takes place in New England because they always butcher the accent. (No, we don't all talk like the Kennedy's). My best friend was from Southie (part of Boston) and that was one "wicked" accent. I even had trouble understanding her sometimes!