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Originally Posted by Kathryn I am an American who grew up on the West Coast of the United States and have what I consider to be a very plain accent. British English comes across to me as polished, fluid and calming. I also feel there is something "upper crust" and refined about the sound of an English accent.
Personally, I think that American English is easier to understand (of course, I'm biased) but lacks the aesthetic, phonetic appeal of the English accent.
In the United States, I also prefer a Southern American accent (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc.) to accents used in other parts of the country as well as accents primarily used on television and in movies.
Alas, the grass is always greener on the other side... |
I think Kathryn hit the nail on the head. I feel exactly the same way. I grew up almost everywhere in the U.S. (Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and finally, but most unwontingly, Ohio). I think my accent, if I can call it an accent, was shaped mostly by the speakers in Illinois (very close to Chicago). Perhaps it's a Midwestern accent, but I here myself, my accent that is, when listening to people from Chicago speak. It's kind of scary.
I totally agree with Kathryn about the fluidity and aesthetic qualities of the British accent. It really does sound more refined and proper.