Do american accents sound weird to non americans?

[Overlord Moo]

Forget non-Americans, a person with a Boston accent REALLY get under my skin, and I'm American.

 

[Yokai]

I have to agree with some of the previous statements. American accents sound weird enough to Americans. Maybe it comes from having such a hugeass country, I don't know. I'm from the Pacific Northwest and possess a rather boring accent myself, but I have to say New Yorkers sound awesome.

 

[Lord Monocle Von Banworthy]

You're trying to defend people who have an accent that conveys little understanding of English itself. But I never made an attack on such people, nor did I make a suggestion that they learn a "better" accent (there is no such thing, just accents that more people will understand, and accents that people find aesthetically appealing for subjective reasons) so all you need to defend is the accent itself, thank you.

Actually you are insulting people who have accents you don't approve of, because you're ascribing value to them where some are correct and some are incorrect. That you don't suggest they fix what you see as a problem doesn't ameliorate that. A different dialect will have a different lexicon. It will have different grammar. That doesn't make it wrong, that makes it different. People who have an accent you don't like don't sound like they learned it from drunk people, they don't sound stupid, they just sound different. That's a stunningly parochial attitude to have.

And "biological urges?" Seriously? Because you're uncomfortable with the unfamiliar? You learned your attitudes from your culture, just like other people learned their accents and dialects from theirs. That's awesome that you can go through life secure in the knowledge that the way you do it is always going to be the correct way, but the rest of us lack your confidence and have to look around, adapt, and keep an open mind.

 

[Jackson - Deathclaw]

australians are fine with the accent, generally
yet somehow americans cant seem to comprehend us when we speak, we always get subtitles put on when you see us on US TV

 

[Silva]

Actually you are insulting people who have accents you don't approve of, because you're ascribing value to them where some are correct and some are incorrect. That you don't suggest they fix what you see as a problem doesn't ameliorate that. A different dialect will have a different lexicon. It will have different grammar. That doesn't make it wrong, that makes it different. People who have an accent you don't like don't sound like they learned it from drunk people, they don't sound stupid, they just sound different. That's a stunningly parochial attitude to have.

I was making a consciously subjective comment, my friend. Don't worry, I know it's not the absolute truth. Just a truth of my feelings. I don't mean to offend anyone; I was merely making a light-hearted point. If you're going to be precious and take offense, then that's up to you. But people are going to wonder why you're taking me so seriously. Take a look at some of the other things I've said in other threads, perhaps. You might find I'm actually, when being serious, on the same side as you are about these things.

And "biological urges?" Seriously? Because you're uncomfortable with the unfamiliar?

I obviously debunked that assumption by saying I found foreign accents attractive and exotic, if I found the person intelligent. I love difference and attract it in force in my friends. I find a different person can be a powerful ally, especially if they disagree. I can fill in for such a person's weaknesses as they fill in for mine. That is my philosophy.

You learned your attitudes from your culture, just like other people learned their accents and dialects from theirs. That's awesome that you can go through life secure in the knowledge that the way you do it is always going to be the correct way, but the rest of us lack your confidence and have to look around, adapt, and keep an open mind.

Please, I never asserted an absolutist attitude like you imply. I was very clear with you on how relative what I was saying was. It's entirely a matter of the subjectivity of personal experience. Keeping an open mind is central to any good philosophy, because it allows you to take on other's ideals and understanding. With that said, personal feelings are not on the same level of philosophy, and can't be subject to much control. I was relating such feelings, not deeper philosophy on outward action. If I had, I would have been saying something very close to what you're saying.

As far as I see it, this has all been a misunderstanding, mate. So I wish you luck fighting discrimination, when you do find it.

 

[Gruthar]

Australian chicks. HAWT accent.

New Zealander chicks too.

QFT, my friend. QFT...

 

[NeoAC]

Well, I talk to Americans all day, and I can definitely pick out where someone is from by their accent now, Boston, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, it's gotten pretty easy. Weird? Not as much as they think my accent is weird, although apparently they can't tell since I only Canadian when I say about. My buddy on the other hand, they picked him out right away with his accent on the phones, he was so ticked about it too, I just laughed at him.

 

[Gruthar]

(I'm from Argentina)

Oye, che!

(Desde un huevon que vivio al lado de tu pais! ;D )

 

[Vrex360]

I'm from Australia, however I have watched enough American movies that I am used to them talking like that in the films (though I am determined to keep my English-Australian accent thank you) that said listening to them talk outside of the films does confuse me.
Especially the American girls.

 

[twistedshadows]

I find accents other than my own interesting (and oftentimes sexy) no matter where they're from. I'm not a huge fan of Southern accents or the stereotypical New Jersey accent, though.

To all the people saying they hate the "valley girl" accent: it's not an accent so much as a way of speaking - people with different accents can talk like a valley girl.

I have a far more important question: are there any people from other countries who find our accent sexy???

I second this question.

 

[SyphonX]

How about the Jersey accent. Where bird = board, and ball = bowl, etc.

"Hey you twos wanna play'sum stick bowl?"

 

[FROGGEman2]

VERY WEIRD! VERY ANNOYING!

Mainly annoying is because it is in all of our TV shows and movies all the time. Makes me want to vomit.

 

[Lord George]

Think about it man. When someone from another country moves to the Americas they are bound to sound odd to some people. It's only logical to say that when we move over there we will sound kind of weird to some.

Yes you all sound like Yanks.

and there's nothing wrong with that.

Well. No its kind of expected, Yanks live in America therfore America is full of Yanks


Also followed on from a conversation I had last night, can people tell the TF2 sniper is Australian or do you think he's British. Its the most confused mix of stereotypes I've ever seen in a character.

 

[traceur_]

Valley girls send me into a homicidal rage but the average american, meh.

It doesn't sound weird on TV but here in oz it sounds weird.

 

[Jharry5]

I don't really find the accents from America weird. I grew up on American films, so I'm used to it. Got to say, I like the southern states' accents. I can't stand Valley girl's accents though. Just no...

Any foreign accent sounds weird to someone who doesn't speak it. I've moved forty miles south of my hometown, and people have a hard time understanding my thick(ish) Yorkshire accent. The amount of accents in Britain is kinda staggering considering how big a country we are.

 

[Tharwen]

YES.

YES

YES

 

[twistedshadows]

The amount of accents in Britain is kinda staggering considering how big a country we are.

Seriously! I was shocked by just how many there are when I visited the first time. I even had a bit of trouble understanding one or two of them, and that's not usually a problem for me.

 

[Gruthar]

Also followed on from a conversation I had last night, can people tell the TF2 sniper is Australian or do you think he's British. Its the most confused mix of stereotypes I've ever seen in a character.

He sounds pretty Australian to me. I think it's the "God save the Queen!" taunt that throws people for a loop.

 

[Skeleon]

Southern: Yes.
Northern or center or whatever: No.
But that might be because I mainly used South Park as a means to learn spoken English.

 

[Jharry5]

The amount of accents in Britain is kinda staggering considering how big a country we are.

Seriously! I was shocked by just how many there are when I visited the first time. I even had a bit of trouble understanding one or two of them, and that's not usually a problem for me.

It depends on whereabouts you visited...(?)
There are some I have trouble understanding as well, and I've lived here all my life!