Very interesting topic. Being English and living in Belgium, I can tell you that while the kids at school are taught both Americn and English words, for instance car parts, the bonnet being the hood, the boot being the trunk etc. they are very discouraged from speaking with an American accent, it is really frowned upon. The problem is of course, the teenagers pick up the american accent form music, so once they have it, it is hard to lose. Of course there are also many differnt English accents and American accents too, but sorry, I am one of those, who really isn't keen on the American accent. Also someone mentioned it is very difficult to sepak antoher language with no trace of an accent, if you don't live in the country. Well, my husband is Belgian and has no trace of a Flemish accent when speaking English, in fact it often gives him problems at customs as they don't believe he is Belgian!! PEople here also thought I was the Belgian and that he was the English man, but maybe that is to do with his red hair!!!!!!! :D My kids all have different accents, the youngest sounds cockney, the middle one had a definate Flemish accent when speaking English and the eldest speaks very "nice English" Do we say the Queens English?  |