How aware are you of your accent? (Read the whole OP before answering, yeah that's right, all of it)
- Thread starter The Iron Ninja
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I know I have an accent. Its a pretty neutral, American accent. (See also: Desperate Housewives)
I like to throw in a dash of Southern with phrases like, "Yall," "How come" and, "Critters."
However, my true southern drawl likes to pop out unexpectedly, like Paula Deane's, albeit with my voice.
When I want to sound eloquent, I can do so easily, making me very presentable.
I like whatever he's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWkhDR60So] got.
However, I hate those fake accents, like on the Closer. There are a wide variety of Southern accents, mind you.
I like to throw in a dash of Southern with phrases like, "Yall," "How come" and, "Critters."
However, my true southern drawl likes to pop out unexpectedly, like Paula Deane's, albeit with my voice.
When I want to sound eloquent, I can do so easily, making me very presentable.
I like whatever he's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWkhDR60So] got.
However, I hate those fake accents, like on the Closer. There are a wide variety of Southern accents, mind you.
Shamelessly stolen from FeNinja. Special thanks to him for the inspiration and format.
Have you ever put much thought towards your accent? How it sounds, the similarities and differences it has with other accents?
I actually spend a lot of time analyzing my accent. I have a Mid-Western American accent (which is the regional dialect south of the Great Lakes), with a hint of Southern drawl to my voice, specifically on marked vowel-syllables. Though it's not bad, only on occasional words, it's enough to make me bring it up. Largely, Mid-Western American is the blandest of the American accents. No drawled vowels or clipped consonants. It's the most "Default" of the American accents, though still remarkably American in diction and tone.
From a global perspective, how do you think your accent (note: Accent, not the country/place of origin in question) is viewed?
Being American, I'm convinced 90% of the world dislikes me long before it meets me, primarily for having the poor sense to be born American. That trivial semantic aside, as I understand it, few people actually have positive things to say on American accents as a whole. Though, those who've spoken with me for extended periods have shown to favor my accent, or at least like me enough to not let it discredit me entirely. Of which, I'm unsure.
Since we're sort of on the subject, what's a foreign accent you have fondness for (it would help to say what country you are viewing this foreign accent from so I can see if there is a link between accents and what accents are liked by people with said accents.)
Any non-American accent is beautiful and exotic to my ears, and thus attractive to me. Especially moreso when you consider that I have a biological soft spot for feminine voices. Considering I speak regularly to several female Escapists, I have a good setup. Though, I'll admit there are many accents I've yet to hear, and thus cannot judge them based on lack of experience. I have a very soft spot for certain English accents, and a few Australian accents are also highly attractive.
In the same sense as the above, is there any accent you don't care for at all, or find downright infuriating?
Most ironically, one of my least and most appreciated accent is the Southern, Texan-specific accent. It's very drawl-heavy, with an over abundance of "y'all" as a singular and a plural, and a certain affliction for reminding passers-by of the Alamo, and that they should be driving friendly. Which is arguably the Texas way.
Also, size. Talk a lot about the size of Texas.
Finally, does anything about your diction and tone have something to say about your accent, or vice versa?
I personally cannot separate method of speaking with sound of voice. Word choice is as much a part of my "accent" as the way my words sound. When I switch accent, my inflection, word choice, and vocabulary change. Though, I believe that it is not the way with many others. I accept that I'm strange, and are taking steps to recover [http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/NewClassic/Kittens/5acacea2ce867ce866e557dc549d116e.jpg] from it. It is a slow process.
Have you ever put much thought towards your accent? How it sounds, the similarities and differences it has with other accents?
I actually spend a lot of time analyzing my accent. I have a Mid-Western American accent (which is the regional dialect south of the Great Lakes), with a hint of Southern drawl to my voice, specifically on marked vowel-syllables. Though it's not bad, only on occasional words, it's enough to make me bring it up. Largely, Mid-Western American is the blandest of the American accents. No drawled vowels or clipped consonants. It's the most "Default" of the American accents, though still remarkably American in diction and tone.
From a global perspective, how do you think your accent (note: Accent, not the country/place of origin in question) is viewed?
Being American, I'm convinced 90% of the world dislikes me long before it meets me, primarily for having the poor sense to be born American. That trivial semantic aside, as I understand it, few people actually have positive things to say on American accents as a whole. Though, those who've spoken with me for extended periods have shown to favor my accent, or at least like me enough to not let it discredit me entirely. Of which, I'm unsure.
Since we're sort of on the subject, what's a foreign accent you have fondness for (it would help to say what country you are viewing this foreign accent from so I can see if there is a link between accents and what accents are liked by people with said accents.)
Any non-American accent is beautiful and exotic to my ears, and thus attractive to me. Especially moreso when you consider that I have a biological soft spot for feminine voices. Considering I speak regularly to several female Escapists, I have a good setup. Though, I'll admit there are many accents I've yet to hear, and thus cannot judge them based on lack of experience. I have a very soft spot for certain English accents, and a few Australian accents are also highly attractive.
In the same sense as the above, is there any accent you don't care for at all, or find downright infuriating?
Most ironically, one of my least and most appreciated accent is the Southern, Texan-specific accent. It's very drawl-heavy, with an over abundance of "y'all" as a singular and a plural, and a certain affliction for reminding passers-by of the Alamo, and that they should be driving friendly. Which is arguably the Texas way.
Also, size. Talk a lot about the size of Texas.
Finally, does anything about your diction and tone have something to say about your accent, or vice versa?
I personally cannot separate method of speaking with sound of voice. Word choice is as much a part of my "accent" as the way my words sound. When I switch accent, my inflection, word choice, and vocabulary change. Though, I believe that it is not the way with many others. I accept that I'm strange, and are taking steps to recover [http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/NewClassic/Kittens/5acacea2ce867ce866e557dc549d116e.jpg] from it. It is a slow process.
I talk in a thick NorthWest Accent.
I've been told I speak, and this is a direct quote "Very Richly, You have a very Whole and Delicious Voice."
...I wish I was kidding.
I've been told I speak, and this is a direct quote "Very Richly, You have a very Whole and Delicious Voice."
...I wish I was kidding.
I have another comment on accents that I would like to have:
Danish accent.
In fact, I think I'd more enjoy a Danish accent than even a Received Pronunciation accent......
Danish accent.
In fact, I think I'd more enjoy a Danish accent than even a Received Pronunciation accent......
I'm from Western Pennsylvania in the US, so I speak in a manner almost identical to the "neutral" American accent of the Great Lakes and Plains. What caught my attention during college is how traveling only a short distance, say two hours by car, from my hometown elicits quite a few varying accents.
I'm teaching in Japan now (what an original concept, I know) so I'm constantly being reminded that I don't belong and whatnot. I've been working very hard on my accent, to iron out unnatural pronunciations, so I'd have to say that I'm quite aware of my American accent in Japanese. Also since when I talk normally in English many of the teachers I work with and students I teach don't understand me, I always have to wonder if it was the speed or my particular dialect that they couldn't get. Usually it's both. :|
What is currently driving me up the wall though isn't necessarily an accent, at least not a real one. Although the national textbooks seem to be trying to teach American English, they do things like using words such as "jumper" ("sweater") and pronouncing "again" so that it rhymes with the letter A. Add a careless Japanese pronunciation and voila, aural pain.
I'm teaching in Japan now (what an original concept, I know) so I'm constantly being reminded that I don't belong and whatnot. I've been working very hard on my accent, to iron out unnatural pronunciations, so I'd have to say that I'm quite aware of my American accent in Japanese. Also since when I talk normally in English many of the teachers I work with and students I teach don't understand me, I always have to wonder if it was the speed or my particular dialect that they couldn't get. Usually it's both. :|
What is currently driving me up the wall though isn't necessarily an accent, at least not a real one. Although the national textbooks seem to be trying to teach American English, they do things like using words such as "jumper" ("sweater") and pronouncing "again" so that it rhymes with the letter A. Add a careless Japanese pronunciation and voila, aural pain.
Ummm...I'm from Indiana. I'm not a farmer kid and I'm not a redneck. I'm not really sure how I talk.
I live in America, but my mother's side of the family is British, so I have a British accent, which people usually notice due to it's rather rare having someone with a British accent (which later gained me a nick-name in High school as the "British kid."). I have noticed it for a while, and rather like it, it's unique, and people notice it, and some like to talk about it for a bit. Since in my High school I am one of the only teenagers with a British accent for a Freshmen, possibly the only that I am aware of.
Sure there is times I have problems pronouncing things with it, but for the most part it's acceptable. Also, the girls in my class for some reason love it, and constantly ask me to pronounce certain things or ask me questions about it, that is beside the point, however!
So yes, I do notice it, and I rather love it. Though certain words that I cannot pronounce for the life of me can go to hell. Damn "roof" versus "wolf."
Sure there is times I have problems pronouncing things with it, but for the most part it's acceptable. Also, the girls in my class for some reason love it, and constantly ask me to pronounce certain things or ask me questions about it, that is beside the point, however!
So yes, I do notice it, and I rather love it. Though certain words that I cannot pronounce for the life of me can go to hell. Damn "roof" versus "wolf."
I'm Canadian, so I don't really notice my accent too much, but apparently I don't have much of one. I talk to anywhere from 20-40 Americans a day and most are very surprised when I say I'm from Canada. They just assume I'm another American, often exclaiming how happy they are that I don't have an accent and most of the time, I'll play along. The only ones I've noticed who are able to pick out my accent are from Michigan, where they hear the accent so often, the know its subtle differences. Of course my giveaway is the ever so present "eh" at the end of some of my sentences, which is kind of ironic because I only started saying "eh" just to make fun of the stereotype that we say it all the time, but I did it so much that now I can't stop saying it all the time! Sigh, what a backfire that was, no doot aboot it.
I speak the bad english, ja?
Yes, I'm perfectly aware of my accent, and the fact that I speak the language poorly, as well as have an accent. I can write perfectly, since I practise that every day, but I rarely speak, so I don't get much practice. I used to be quite proficient in it, but I've been out of practice for a while. It'd take me a week or so to get back into shape. I probably would still have an accent, but not a very bad one.
Yes, I'm perfectly aware of my accent, and the fact that I speak the language poorly, as well as have an accent. I can write perfectly, since I practise that every day, but I rarely speak, so I don't get much practice. I used to be quite proficient in it, but I've been out of practice for a while. It'd take me a week or so to get back into shape. I probably would still have an accent, but not a very bad one.
Lots of people have said they have no accent, but since you're the latest I'm going to pick on you.urprobablyright said:
You do have an accent, that was the entire argument I had with the stoned chap mentioned in the OP. If you speak, then you have a way of speaking, it may not be crying out "Strewth I'm crooked! Someone stick another shrimp on the barbie. You do it Bodger, it's best you distract yourself eh? Get something else to do so you ain't milling about, grieving about that baby of yours. Yeah the Dingo taking it was pretty terrible, but we've had worse right? I mean, remember last week when that koala jumped down and clawed off Harry's face? Crikey dick that was gruesome."
Uh... Sorry, I kind of forgot where I was going with this and ended up trying to write an account of a very stereotyped Australian.
I'll start again.
You do have an accent, that was the entire argument I had with the stoned chap mentioned in the OP. If you speak, then you have a way of speaking, it may not be talking in a heavy drawl or pronouncing your 'I's as 'U's and maybe no one can put a finger on exactly what accent it is but it's still an accent.
Ah. I should probably put "read the whole OP before answering" in the title.urprobablyright said:
I've traveled a little bit in my tenure as a human being so i can say that i am well aware of my accent (I am Australian) because people generally point out how strong it is. When people try to mimic it they usually end up British so i've sorta figured that it might sound just a tad British or people can't work their voicebox around Australian just how i can't work mine around the bulk of the French accent.
I guess my accent is viewed as something to laugh at, but not in an insulting way. For instance, i'm currently staying at a college just outside of the French/Swiss border near Geneva and i've befriended quite a few people here and they usually get a laugh or two out of the way i say certain words (Usually Americans because they pronounce their R's and T's and Australians don't generally do that). I really couldn't say anymore on that because how my accent is viewed is in the eye of the beholder and that isn't me.
I have a distinct fondness for the American and Spanish accent, or a combination of the two. Not the thick, southern accent but a nice, light American accent is what i love to hear. And i also love African accents, especially Ugandan.
Now, accents i don't like? Indian. They are everywhere you go, always trying to sell you things you don't need with an accent you can't understand.
I guess my accent is viewed as something to laugh at, but not in an insulting way. For instance, i'm currently staying at a college just outside of the French/Swiss border near Geneva and i've befriended quite a few people here and they usually get a laugh or two out of the way i say certain words (Usually Americans because they pronounce their R's and T's and Australians don't generally do that). I really couldn't say anymore on that because how my accent is viewed is in the eye of the beholder and that isn't me.
I have a distinct fondness for the American and Spanish accent, or a combination of the two. Not the thick, southern accent but a nice, light American accent is what i love to hear. And i also love African accents, especially Ugandan.
Now, accents i don't like? Indian. They are everywhere you go, always trying to sell you things you don't need with an accent you can't understand.
*Looks at the OP's post*
Yeah, I think I can sum that up from the first few sentences.
People have constantly told me that my voice sounds very strange and it does not suit me at all. Why I met some whiminz the other day and they asked me to stop doing a fake voice which sounded like the voice of a pedophile. In the end, I bought a ghillie suit and went around annoying people.
Yeah, I think I can sum that up from the first few sentences.
People have constantly told me that my voice sounds very strange and it does not suit me at all. Why I met some whiminz the other day and they asked me to stop doing a fake voice which sounded like the voice of a pedophile. In the end, I bought a ghillie suit and went around annoying people.
Have you ever put much thought towards your accent? How it sounds, the similarities and differences it has with other accents?
I try not to, really. I don't particularly like the Australian accent (though luckily I'm sans a Bogcent, or else I would have ripped my voicebox out by now), so it's only when I listen to myself to speak on a recording or get a comment about my voice from other people that I realise I sound different, hehe.
From a global perspective, how do you think your accent (note: Accent, not the country/place of origin in question) is viewed?
Think Crocodile Dundee, or Steve Irwin, and that's how people view the Australian accent. The okker kind of ridiculous 'mate'- and 'crikey'-infested way of speaking. Coming into this thread and seeing how many people have a soft spot for Australian accents is really astounding to me, to be honest.
Since we're sort of on the subject, what's a foreign accent you have fondness for (it would help to say what country you are viewing this foreign accent from so I can see if there is a link between accents and what accents are liked by people with said accents.
Delicious English accents. Watching Doctor Who has given me a ridiculous love for English accents. Also, Scottish, Irish... German is rather nice if it's not too heavy. I also find that if I hear an American accent (excluding the one in the following answer) in passing while I'm in the city, I'm pleasantly surprised, but that may be the rarity of such an accent in Australia.
Oh, and since I'm listening to it, I love the way Neil Patrick Harris says 'Australia' in Dr. Horrible's. Doesn't really mean anything, but ehaufhakf his accent makes me happy.
In the same sense as the above, is there any accent you don't care for at all, or find downright infuriating?
American Southerners. It's great to poke fun at them, but I really dislike listening to them speak in general. Also, Russian and languages from around that particular area of Europe; I find them too harsh. D=At least I think that's where the accent in my mind comes from.
THEY. ARE. PRAWNS.
I try not to, really. I don't particularly like the Australian accent (though luckily I'm sans a Bogcent, or else I would have ripped my voicebox out by now), so it's only when I listen to myself to speak on a recording or get a comment about my voice from other people that I realise I sound different, hehe.
From a global perspective, how do you think your accent (note: Accent, not the country/place of origin in question) is viewed?
Think Crocodile Dundee, or Steve Irwin, and that's how people view the Australian accent. The okker kind of ridiculous 'mate'- and 'crikey'-infested way of speaking. Coming into this thread and seeing how many people have a soft spot for Australian accents is really astounding to me, to be honest.
Since we're sort of on the subject, what's a foreign accent you have fondness for (it would help to say what country you are viewing this foreign accent from so I can see if there is a link between accents and what accents are liked by people with said accents.
Delicious English accents. Watching Doctor Who has given me a ridiculous love for English accents. Also, Scottish, Irish... German is rather nice if it's not too heavy. I also find that if I hear an American accent (excluding the one in the following answer) in passing while I'm in the city, I'm pleasantly surprised, but that may be the rarity of such an accent in Australia.
Oh, and since I'm listening to it, I love the way Neil Patrick Harris says 'Australia' in Dr. Horrible's. Doesn't really mean anything, but ehaufhakf his accent makes me happy.
In the same sense as the above, is there any accent you don't care for at all, or find downright infuriating?
American Southerners. It's great to poke fun at them, but I really dislike listening to them speak in general. Also, Russian and languages from around that particular area of Europe; I find them too harsh. D=
PRAWNS.The Iron Ninja said:
THEY. ARE. PRAWNS.