Accent Description ???

[j4mes_bond25]

Just as small, slim, fat, thin, petite, pear-shaped or bosomy (in "certain" cases ;) are some of the words we use to describe the way people LOOK PHYSICALLY.

What could be the widely used words that describes someone's accent ???

Following are few celebs whose accent tickles my fancy (along with the way I describe their particular accent):

>> Hugh Grant (plummy accent)
>> Pierce Brosnan (NOT his "James Bond" accent but his "real life" accent, as rather "peculiar but pleasant")
>> Richard Brandson (???)
>> Simon Cowell (deep accent)
>> Austin Powers (strong accent)
>> George Clooney (???)

How would people around here describe the accents in general & bearing in mind these celebs or any other celebs they've in mind ???

[Ouisch]

George Clooney was born and raised in Kentucky, and you can still hear a slight Southern twang when he speaks.

Fran Drescher (who starred on the TV series The Nanny)has a very pronounced Queens, New York, accent. (In describing it, folks might say she has a "Noo Yawk" accent.)

Of course, most celebrities that crave a successful career in acting or broadcasting (in the US, anyway) work hard to lose any trace of a regional accent and strive for a traditional flat, Midwestern pronunciation. (Have you ever seen the sitcom Home Improvement? Tim Allen was born and raised in the Detroit area; his is a good example of the Midwestern accent.)

If you ever watch re-runs of Cheers, it's interesting to note that although the show is set in Boston, the only character that has anything close to a traditional Boston accent is Cliff the Mailman.

[Tdol]

Pierce Brosnan sound very self-satisfied when talking in his normal accent- a sort of quiet smugness to me.

[fabiopepper]

It is much more common to "identify" accents rather than describing them...plus you tag them as well...
-Crocodile Dundee speaks in a broad australian accent.
-Hugh Grant´s got a posh british accent.
-Jim Carrey has a slight canadian twang (He´s canadian by birth)
I can´t think of any more examples,sorry!

[Ouisch]

Jim Carrey has a slight canadian twang (He´s canadian by birth)

Interesting that you use this phraseology. To my (American) mind, a "twang" involves a distinct drawl from the south or the west. I live very near the Canadian border (Detroit/Windsor), and am familiar with the Ontario accent...which we describe simply as an accent, not a "twang." (As you mentioned, Jim Carrey does have a discernable Ontarian accent. But keep in mind, different areas of Canada have different accents.)

Just my two cents, your mileage may vary, etc.

[Tdol]

In BrE, a twang can be from pretty much any region.

[SKYPECAST]

clooney grew up in cincinati. brosnan has lived in britain since age 12, and said that he was forced to speak with a british accent because he was bullied, so i dont know why he would speak in anything other than a british accent considering he probably spoke with one from 12-18. generally, you will speak with the accent you had when you were 18.