British English or American accent?

[SUDHKAMP]

Originally Posted by mirrorXmask

And if you for some odd reason don't like the fact that American speak English , I'll tell you right now that it's the fault of the British only.

Originally Posted by Anglika

How remarkable. I had no idea there was one way it is supposed to be spoken. What way is that?

Simple, just speak the way your dictionary guides you to.

[jyss101]

Originally Posted by Tdol

I'm not sure you'd say that about all British accents.

that is very true
im from the uk and i live in liverpool
and sometimes i speak in a HEAVY scouse accent
and no1 can understand me
but i do think when you speak in a proper english accent it sounds
well posh.
but its up to u
:)
x

[SUDHKAMP]

Originally Posted by jyss101

that is very true
im from the uk and i live in liverpool
and sometimes i speak in a HEAVY scouse accent
and no1 can understand me
but i do think when you speak in a proper english accent it sounds
well posh.
but its up to u
:)
x

Dear Tdol and all,
just notice the script above. Forget the pronounciation, English now faces a new challenge by these net surfers of losing its traditional way of writing the full words.
Ex: im, i, no1, its, no use of periods or commas, No capital letters.
Is this the way the English language is going to develop in the 21st century? Are the lexiconist taking into account this kind of usage becoming standard?
For me, the picture is very gory.

[sassik]

Re: British English or American accent?

In American English the neutral accent is usually " (Emerging)General American English" and occasionally "Network English" and Broadcaster English."
In British English, the neutral accent would be RP (or Received Pronunciation) based primarily on the upper middle-class speech of London.

American English and British English (BrE) differ at the levels of phonology, phonetics, vocabulary, and, to a lesser extent, grammar and orthography.

Read more...
Neutral Accent - The Complete Guide

[makaveli]

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...

Have to say I have heard this type of comment many times and being from the UK I have to agree, and respect to you Kathryn for being so honest!

However to the original poster; there is a misconception by many learning English that "an American accent" means one only as if their is no variation! There are many different accents and some border on very posh/neutral English accents.

I have to also say as an observation of teaching many years in Asia that a lot of students have and continue to comment that they have a great deal of trouble understanding many American accents. That is not to say the same wouldn't happen with some UK accents but it is a common opinion put over to me many times!

I have a young student now who has had many hours outside of school with an American teacher and I and most of the rest of the class have problems understanding her. Maybe because it has become muddled with her native Asian tongue and American plus 3 years with me!!!!

Personally I want and like my students to develop a nice rounded Asian accent, maybe that is what you should aim for?



Mak

[gawad]

Really this is a very important topic.I'm Egyptian ,living in England-Newcastle I was shocked when I came here because all people here in Newcastle pronounce the letter (u) as (o) ex:bus is pronounced as boss and so on .so English people accept all accents easily

[Offroad]

Originally Posted by Will

I totally agree with Kathryn about the fluidity and aesthetic qualities of the British accent. It really does sound more refined and proper.

My feelings exactly!
However... American English has influenced many "Englishes" out there, wich includes British English.
I believe some day the world will speak American English. It's happening to Portuguese! Portugal has to start spelling BR Portuguese.

[guoguohu]

I believe people should not be judged on the accent he or she holds. I like both English and Amercian accents. I also love the Scottish one which in my opinion is purely sexy.

[IvanV]

Originally Posted by mirrorXmask

And no I'm not jelous. WHy would I be? Nothing to be jelous about. Maybe you're jelous for some reason...I could call you jelous just as much as you could call me. You also sound a bit closeminded. SOme people from European English SPeking countries get off thinking they speak "right" and anyone else speaks "wrong". That's very close minded and ignorant so I wouldn't go around with a prideful attitufe like that. I honestly don't like Birtish English accents or any British accent at all.

Nervous?

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by mirrorXmask

British accents are very over-rated.They're aren't great at all. I wont say they're ugly because they're not, but I don't like them. I prfer some types of American accents. The personally love Southern accents, like Kelly Clarkson's when she was on AMerican IDol. Very pretty.Other Southern accents are nice too. If I'm not mistaken there are quite a few different ones than the most popular one.

And no I'm not jelous. WHy would I be? Nothing to be jelous about. Maybe you're jelous for some reason...I could call you jelous just as much as you could call me. You also sound a bit closeminded. SOme people from European English SPeking countries get off thinking they speak "right" and anyone else speaks "wrong". That's very close minded and ignorant so I wouldn't go around with a prideful attitufe like that. The beuty of language is the different dialects and accents.

And yes I speak English the way it's supposed to be spoken,...for communincation to other English speakers...

I honestly don't like Birtish English accents or any British accent at all.

Xenophobic perhaps, as well as semi-literate..