British English or American accent?

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Originally Posted by RonBee

Hm. Is that anywhere near Queensland?

:wink:

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Hey! You've been there?!! :wink:

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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...

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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.

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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.

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There are dozens of British accents! Can you tell the difference between them? I've found that most Americans can't. Some British accents sound like honey, other sound like a visit to the dentist. 8)

Iain

The British accents you hera on the TV might not reflect the full diversity of spoken English. here's an attempt to give you a taste of the English you might here in a London pub:

Oright me ol' china? Wherya bin?

Artnabart, innit.

Wanna bevvie.

Nah, gorra gedda moveon, etc.

While I like the regional varietires, many of them would not strike many as the correct and proper. London grammar includes:
He don't (pronounced wivou' the 't')
I says
Innit
And that's before we move onto the joys of Cockney Rhyming Slang. ;-)

Cor blimey guv'nor, thas swee' as a nu', tha' is! :wink:

Righ' proper innit?

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Originally Posted by tdol

Righ' proper innit?

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Mest o' yez hivnae a klo aboot ene ither axent ither thin the sooth o' Inglnd. E think e'll rite lyk this fir a wile jist so yiz hae a chanz tae si a difrent akzent.

Iain

I was just wondering whether you guys, British, think you have an accent. I know that when I was growing up I didn't think I had an accent. I mean, that's the way everyone talked.

I come from a place about 50 miles north of London, and there the accent is quite neutral, so yeah, I always thought that I did not have any accent.

People here in China are always telling me I have a very 'standard' British accent (i.e.I sound like the BBC :wink: ), but when I went back home last year, friends & family told me I have a slight new Zealand accent!! This I guess, is down to the fact that all of the other foreign teachers at my school were (at the time) Kiwis.

The teachers we have now are from England, Ireland, Sweden & the US, so I have no idea how my accent is going to sound in a few months' time! :?

Shane

Ok, wait. Are Kiwis New Zealanders? I'm a tad confused.