Poll: Do You Think British Accents Are More..."Sophisticated"?
- Thread starter DrunkPickle
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You mean that people that talk like you talk like you.xXxJessicaxXx said:
This is not the same as not having an accent, there's no objective default all accents are deviations from.
Depends, "British" covers a lot of differant accents.DrunkPickle said:
The typical hollywood upper class british accent DOES sound more intelligent and sophisticated, but an accent like that comes from breeding (or practice) and is designed to sound that way to everyone.
In comparison on the extreme other end you have your guttersnipe and cockney type accents which sound roughly as intelligent and well educated as your average American redneck. Which isn't surprising because like the whole Redneck drawl/slang schtick they are also lower class.
The US has it's own snooty, upper class accents which generally convey the same effect as the more Upper Class British schtick, but you hear them less often especially in the cinema.
You won't hear much that is snootier, intelligent, and vaguely condescending sounding than say an upper class Bostonian accent (East Coast Old Money). I also think people tend to forget some of the other upper class accents, like upper class southern ones which do appear in the media with a reasonable amount of frequency, especially in westerns.
Overall though an exotic lilt to a clearly understood voice is usually seen as being fairly attractive irregardless of culture. Brits and Australians seem to find the same kind of appeal in certain American accents, but I have notice a tendency among Americans to gush unsubtly about everything, and that includes awkwardly blurting out how much they like someone's accent like 15 seconds after meeting them. I've notice Brits and Aussies will usually say a lot of the same things, but rarely directly to the person in question or when they are around.
As a southerner, if I heard you speak i'm pretty sure you'd have an accent. Northerners always so have one, must be something in the air. I actually had a girlfriend who was just east of Birmingham and even that 3 hour train ride was enough for me to hear massive changes.xXxJessicaxXx said:
Essex is down south...thaluikhain said:
So no I'm not saying people like me, talk like me :/ I don't think anyone talking to me would know where I am from in Britain, the same as my friend.
Hmmm... I wouldn't say my normal voice is that posh, it's fairly neutral. When I'm angry/pissed bits of Brummie sneak their way in though. Shropshire lad here.
i think it depends on the accent. sure, the accent of a fine, upstanding gentleman will sound like hells of the sophisticated; but the accent of a commoner just sounds adorable.
You can´t say Cockney sounds sophisticated!?
Yes it sounds rather cool but not sophisticated. As thaluikhain said england has many accents some more sophisticated then others.
Yes it sounds rather cool but not sophisticated. As thaluikhain said england has many accents some more sophisticated then others.
It like accents in the States and anywhere else in the world, some are really nice and smooth sounding accents, and then you get some really harsh, and barely legible accents.
For example, I think that Scottish accents can be truly lovely, but I know accents like the ones in this video are unfortunatly common in certain areas of Glasgow. (especially the little twat around 2:25) http://youtu.be/Xan2xU-ZFic
For example, I think that Scottish accents can be truly lovely, but I know accents like the ones in this video are unfortunatly common in certain areas of Glasgow. (especially the little twat around 2:25) http://youtu.be/Xan2xU-ZFic
I have a very generic "English" accent, obtained from living all over the UK; though now I also have a healthy dose of a south-Wales accent - the place I've lived in for the past 6 years.
I love going to the USA, you get swarmed in seconds for the accent. I can see how others hear it as quite intelligent, because we pronounce the language exactly as intended, but when you're used to it you can start distinguishing accents within GB and even then determine how stupid someone is. We are in no short supply of Brits whose stupidity rivals that of the stupidest of Americans.
I love going to the USA, you get swarmed in seconds for the accent. I can see how others hear it as quite intelligent, because we pronounce the language exactly as intended, but when you're used to it you can start distinguishing accents within GB and even then determine how stupid someone is. We are in no short supply of Brits whose stupidity rivals that of the stupidest of Americans.
What this guy said, except replace 'Chatham' with 'Basildon'...!Kron_the_mad said:
As has already been mentioned... which British. Dear lord, she's great to look at but fucking hell, I can't stand Cheryl Cole's speaking voice...Regnes said:
I see you have to tolerate that justifiably maligned dialect 'Chavvish'... -_-Blunderboy said:
See, the problem is that 'Queen's English' is generally disliked by the British because it's so horribly forced and has affectations to vowel structures that strictly speaking, even the Queen doesn't speak like that. Also, even within the Home Counties, there are at least seven or eight discrete accents that can be placed.bahumat42 said:
OT: I think what OP is trying to get at is British Standard RP... i.e. Stephen Fry. In that case, yes, it is sophisticated above all else and all other spoken English accents.
But it also depends on vocabulary and expressions used in common parlance and occasionally, verbal affectations etc.
As I'm sure many people have pointed out already, it depends on which 'British' accent you're going for. For example, I have the monotone accent which is often represented in films, probably the one you're thinking of and yes it does make me sound somewhat intelligent. However, if you heard a Geordie or a Scouse accent I doubt you'd think it made anyone sound more intelligent, perhaps you would think it made them sound less so.
Also, which American accent are you talking about? To me New York accents sound less sophisticated than Californians, but more so than Texans etc.
And once again, which part of Britain? You are aware that 'Britain' encompases Wales? Do you think South Welsh accents sound more sophisticated than Americans, or do you prefer North Wales accents? Some specifics here are needed quite badly
Even if we presume that you're talking about the 'usual' accents that are portrayed in American/British films then I don't see where you're coming from. To me, an American popular accent sounds just as sophisticated as the British popular accent.
Also, the forum ate your poll! Omnomnom.
Also, which American accent are you talking about? To me New York accents sound less sophisticated than Californians, but more so than Texans etc.
And once again, which part of Britain? You are aware that 'Britain' encompases Wales? Do you think South Welsh accents sound more sophisticated than Americans, or do you prefer North Wales accents? Some specifics here are needed quite badly
Even if we presume that you're talking about the 'usual' accents that are portrayed in American/British films then I don't see where you're coming from. To me, an American popular accent sounds just as sophisticated as the British popular accent.
Also, the forum ate your poll! Omnomnom.
I'm from Kent (though my mother is from London) and I have a pretty standard British accent. I always used to get teased for sounding `posh` at school (because pronouncing your T's are for losers).
I haven't really known many people outside of England, so I couldn't really comment on my own accent. Unfortunately some people do think that my accent makes me sound a bit stuck-up, which I'm really not.
I haven't really known many people outside of England, so I couldn't really comment on my own accent. Unfortunately some people do think that my accent makes me sound a bit stuck-up, which I'm really not.
Speaking as a Brit and having heard meany of the different British Accents I think what you mean is 'do people speaking in a Received Pronunciation or Estuary English accent sound more sophisticated.' Because no one in their right mind would think that Ozzy Osbourne sounded sophisticated.
Think of it this way, I could say that people who speak with an American accent always sound dumb, but then who am I talking about? A redneck drawl may not sound sophisticated but an Ivy League accent (I'm thinking mostly Princeton here 'cos that's the only one I've actually heard in real life) sounds very sophisticated.
Both of the above are American accents, but both sound entirely different. The same is true of Britian, it's just that over in America you only get to hear celebrities with RP or close to it. The reason for this (and I wish I was kidding) is because American consumers say that regional British accents on the TV (Welsh, Irish, west country) are harder to understand. British people can apparently understand all the American accents, but Americans can't understand us unless we sound like Doctor Who or Jean Luc Picard.
Think of it this way, I could say that people who speak with an American accent always sound dumb, but then who am I talking about? A redneck drawl may not sound sophisticated but an Ivy League accent (I'm thinking mostly Princeton here 'cos that's the only one I've actually heard in real life) sounds very sophisticated.
Both of the above are American accents, but both sound entirely different. The same is true of Britian, it's just that over in America you only get to hear celebrities with RP or close to it. The reason for this (and I wish I was kidding) is because American consumers say that regional British accents on the TV (Welsh, Irish, west country) are harder to understand. British people can apparently understand all the American accents, but Americans can't understand us unless we sound like Doctor Who or Jean Luc Picard.
Well I live in liverpool, and the most sophisticated greeting we can muster is "arr eh laa, y'right kidda'?"
Scousers are great people, as long as you have nothing of value on you
-edit- Although, then talking to an American, you can be most assured that my accent will, at least, cut glass. It doesn't do to let standards slip when addressing the colonials, what what?
Scousers are great people, as long as you have nothing of value on you
-edit- Although, then talking to an American, you can be most assured that my accent will, at least, cut glass. It doesn't do to let standards slip when addressing the colonials, what what?
If you're only experience with an English accent is received pronunciation, then you of course you're going to think it sounds great. I'm from Nottingham, which is in the East Midlands. Our accents aren't as heavy, as say, someone from Yorkshire, but there's still something there. Not for me though, strangely enough, I don't really have an accent, so yes, I may sound like standard generic English accent number 7.
Does this man sound sophisticated to you?
I have poured knowledge into your brain's most wrinkled places, now go! Spread the news!
Does this man sound sophisticated to you?
I have poured knowledge into your brain's most wrinkled places, now go! Spread the news!
Quoted for truth my friend.Zhukov said:
But yeah, I assume OP means the classic "BBC English" accent?
If so, then yes, does sound sophisticated, reminds me of Stephen Fry.