how would you describe your accent?

[cacian]

regional intentional high pitched trendy or something else?
accents are fascinating and brings a whole range of symphonies to the ear and listening strategies.
accents are what makes us keen to listen and decipher. some are easier then others but they are part of our genetic make up unique I guess.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'regional intentional high pitched trendy.' But I think it's difficult to get away from your regional accent and you do change it to suit sometimes, consciously or subconsciously I'm not sure, like in a job interview for example. In casual conversation I suppose something moderate Sheffield/Yorkshire, not too broad and not too artificial (like they speak in the 'posh' end of Sheffield!) a bit like Sean Bean I suppose though he has quite a deeper voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaBSd1QL1B8

I don't know though as I've not heard myself back on film for a while, I don't like it.

This is one of my most often quoted clips when ever someone talks about accent, I must have posted it before, it's Michael Mcintyre taking the mick out of the Yorkshire accent, really funny: (though I've now seen it about 10 times)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzAD2GLfaNU

[Calidore]

The standard, neutral "General American" accent sought by newscasters and actors come from here in the Midwest. So it's you all who talk funny, not me.

[YesNo]

Living near Chicago, I have heard the same thing that Calidore states and assume my accent would qualify as neutral, general American, but I haven't listened to myself recently.

[YesNo]

This is one of my most often quoted clips when ever someone talks about accent, I must have posted it before, it's Michael Mcintyre taking the mick out of the Yorkshire accent, really funny: (though I've now seen it about 10 times)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzAD2GLfaNU

That was funny, but I realized I didn't actually understand much of the Yorkshire accent especially stuff like "nowt" and "summit".

However, I had no problem understanding the redneck accent in the following clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62uzvRPaz5s

EDIT: Perhaps the real question should be: what accents can you understand?

[LitNetIsGreat]

That was funny, but I realized I didn't actually understand much of the Yorkshire accent especially stuff like "nowt" and "summit".

However, I had no problem understanding the redneck accent in the following clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62uzvRPaz5s


EDIT: Perhaps the real question should be: what accents can you understand?

:lol: It sounds like 'humna humna humna cue ball! Humna humna humna chickin'! And what's with that beer belt! :lol:

The the stuff about Yorkshire was very true. There would be no way I would say 'The good the bad and the ugly' if I wasn't consciously thinking about it, or trying to sound posh around sexy ladies*, I would definitely say 'good bad and t' ugly' or 'Lion, Witch and Wardrobe.'

* 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, yes it is one of Clint's finest of the genre. Another glass of lightly chilled Pinot?' :ihih:

[OrphanPip]

I recorded myself reading a list of words for another forum not too long ago, so here is my accent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMebMJ3oF3U

[Desolation]

A sort of soft Californian beach bum accent, with a rasp cultivated from chain smoking and binge drinking bourbon.

[*Classic*Charm*]

* 'the good, the bad, and the ugly, yes it is one of clint's finest of the genre. Another glass of lightly chilled pinot?' :ihih:

bah haha.

[YesNo]

I recorded myself reading a list of words for another forum not too long ago, so here is my accent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMebMJ3oF3U

The only differences I noticed in your pronunciations and mine were the words "aunt" (I would say something like "ant"), "mayonaise" (I would the "may" part like the month not like "mai") and I think you said "sorry" as the last word. I would have said "saw-ry".

[*Classic*Charm*]

I recorded myself reading a list of words for another forum not too long ago, so here is my accent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMebMJ3oF3U

Pip, if I didn't know otherwise and just heard your voice, I would have guessed you were American.

I too am Canadian, and say some of those words completely differently. Mostly these:


The only differences I noticed in your pronunciations and mine were the words "aunt" (I would say something like "ant"), "mayonaise" (I would the "may" part like the month not like "mai")

Did you speak French first, or English?

[YesNo]

:lol: It sounds like 'humna humna humna cue ball! Humna humna humna chickin'! And what's with that beer belt! :lol:

The the stuff about Yorkshire was very true. There would be no way I would say 'The good the bad and the ugly' if I wasn't consciously thinking about it, or trying to sound posh around sexy ladies*, I would definitely say 'good bad and t' ugly' or 'Lion, Witch and Wardrobe.'

* 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, yes it is one of Clint's finest of the genre. Another glass of lightly chilled Pinot?' :ihih:

I don't see how you could avoid saying the "the" part. The beer belt also seemed strange to me. It is something I haven't seen, but I suspect if you're hunting and waiting for the deer to wander by you may need something like that.

[YesNo]

Did you speak French first, or English?

My mother tongue was probably redneck since I was born in rural Indiana.

I listened to this accent of a girl from Alabama saying the same words and it makes me wonder if I even understood all the words OrphanPip originally said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMH9buOxoE

[*Classic*Charm*]

My mother tongue was probably redneck since I was born in rural Indiana.

Apologies, YesNo, my question was directed at Pip. I quoted you for your explanation of how you pronounce words differently.


Also, I'm losing my mind over the bit in the video by the girl from Alabama where she says

"'What do you call your grandparents?' ... Well, my mom's mom is Dead"

[OrphanPip]

Did you speak French first, or English?

I spoke English at home but attended school in French from age 4.

The word list from my video was: Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught.

I don't usually pronounce the 'l' in salmon, I think that was just a slip from reading a list of words rapidly. As to mayonnaise, that probably is me slipping into a French influenced pronunciation.

[jajdude]

I'm from Newfoundland (island of easternmost Canada), and there is Newfoundland English. I have lived abroad as an English teacher for about 15 years. At first people had trouble understanding me, and on phone calls to the hometown I sometimes thought the people I know sounded Irish, but not quite. I am back in Newfoundland. On the flight back a guy sat next to me and said something, and I have no idea what he said. Maybe he thought I was deaf. I don't think he was from my hometown as I can understand the people here pretty well.

[jajdude]

"I don't usually pronounce the 'l' in salmon"

No one does, or at least I have never heard it.

[cacian]

Hi jajdude where do you live abroad? and yes no one pronounces the L in salmon. It is as if it was written like this SAMON.

[OrphanPip]

"I don't usually pronounce the 'l' in salmon"

No one does, or at least I have never heard it.

Yes I know, the slip was a result of reading the list quickly, and probably my habituation to saying "salmonella" from my degree in microbiology.

[Emil Miller]

While I usually try to make conversation interesting I'm afraid the accent is featureless and bland. I would much prefer it to sound like Jeeves in this particular advert.

http://youtu.be/v05FCTLVSes

[YesNo]

Also, I'm losing my mind over the bit in the video by the girl from Alabama where she says

"'What do you call your grandparents?' ... Well, my mom's mom is Dead"

I think she said, "My mom's mom is dead, but I'd call her grandmaw..." or something like that.

One of the things I heard was "teepeeing" or "rollering a house" for when kids throw rolls of toilet paper up over a house and the trees nearby often as a Halloween prank. In redneck, that might be referred to as "stupid sh1t", but that phrase covers a lot of other stuff as well. A listener would need a context to get more specific information about what was referred to, so one might hear, "Look at the stupid sh1t those rich kids did." You would look in the direction your friend was looking and understand. Or, "I'd like to see those kids get away with doin' that sh1t to my house."

[YesNo]

While I usually try to make conversation interesting I'm afraid the accent is featureless and bland. I would much prefer it to sound like Jeeves in this particular advert.

http://youtu.be/v05FCTLVSes

That's how I expect people from Britain to talk, or something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydHR45L5yI

[Emil Miller]

That's how I expect people from Britain to talk, or something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydHR45L5yI

Unfortunately too many of them talk like this.

http://youtu.be/Pmno3TQtiwM

[*Classic*Charm*]

I think she said, "My mom's mom is dead, but I'd call her grandmaw..." or something like that.

You're correct, but there was enough of a pause for me to think it sounded as though she was naming her grandmother Dead.

[Paulclem]

I used to talk a bit like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3cayRMnVb8

[kasie]

Paul - just hearing that music took me back years!

And there was me thinking you'd sound a bit lak a Cyoventri kid....

Me? When I'm on my best behaviour I sound as if I've come straight from the BBC. Or as my friend's son once told his mum, 'Your posh friend's here....' I may forgive him - one day. However I have an unfortunate tendency to absorb the accent of wherever I happen to be living, so I've had flat Midland vowels, a right good Leeds twang, Sarf London, Berkshire, Welsh - that was easy, I grew up with it. Now I'm working on Hampshire, it's taking a while as lots of my neighbours are incomers like me but I've found one or two voices that are a delight to listen to. It's not mimicry, I just absorb it and reproduce it - no offense meant.

[kiki1982]

In Dutch I've got a pretty bad accent. I don't like it. It's pretty nasty, in fact (uneducated, if you like, although I'm not ;)).

In English I sound much like the president of the EU, Mr Van Rompuy. He's Flemish. I used to sound abysmally like Mr Verhofstad (our former PM, but not anymore, since I've been subjected to nothing but English).

In German, I'm told by several people I sound Luxembourgish. I'm quite flattered, because on the radio it sounds a nicer and less in-your-face version of German. It's a bit more gentle.

In French I am told by one Frenchman I sound Corsican, although I don't believe that.

[cacian]

In Dutch I've got a pretty bad accent. I don't like it. It's pretty nasty, in fact (uneducated, if you like, although I'm not ;)).

In English I sound much like the president of the EU, Mr Van Rompuy. He's Flemish. I used to sound abysmally like Mr Verhofstad (our former PM, but not anymore, since I've been subjected to nothing but English).

In German, I'm told by several people I sound Luxembourgish. I'm quite flattered, because on the radio it sounds a nicer and less in-your-face version of German. It's a bit more gentle.

In French I am told by one Frenchman I sound Corsican, although I don't believe that.

Hi kiki why have you been subjected to nothing but English?

[kiki1982]

Well, it's not that I don't hear anything else but English here in Germany, but at home it's nothing but that. BBC all the way, the hubby speaks English and I translate largely into English (we do that together) and I largely read only in English. Otherwise my English suffers. I sometimes still read a French book, but not often. I can read German, but it takes longer and my English suffers as well. Nonetheless, my German (also spoken) has got better since I've been reading so many texts for translation.

We used to have Dutch and Flemish TV channels, but we never watched them as they were uninteresting, so we cancelled them. French you don't hear here enough to practise, so it's only German when I stick my nose outside the door (which isn't often if I'm working). Dutch language books are too expensive. Paradoxically their English translations aare cheaper than their originals.

So, nothing but English for me much of the week.

[jajdude]

Hi jajdude where do you live abroad?

South Korea and China mostly. Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam too. Sort of missing it again.

[Delta40]

I like to think I sound educated but I've been corrupted by an Australian accent. On the other hand, if I had stayed in England I would have been leaning toward an ee by gum twang so perhaps I'm better off..

[kiki1982]

ekkie thump (or however you spell that). We use it regularly :D

[kiki1982]

ekkie thump (or however you spell that). We use it regularly and we've even taught little children, they like the sound of it :D

[kev67]

I thought I spoke with a generic southern counties English accent, not working class like a builder, but not posh like a chartered accountant neither. My last job involved a bit of travelling from time to time. Once I had to meet a Mr Potter who worked for ESPN in Connecticut. When I reported at the gate, the security guard did not understand the glottal stop in the middle of Potter. After that I had to remind myself not to say Pott'ah. Another time I was at a TV station in Alberta when one of the engineers started talking to me in some odd Dick van Dyke cockney accent. I don't speak like that, but it made me wonder whether I have a touch of it. I suppose I must speak Estuary English.

[kiki1982]

Yes, but people from across the Atlantic, mostly the USA though, have that quite easily. This morning on BBC Breakfast, they were discussing that the Beckhams's (mainly David's) accents have changed. Then and now tapes... My husband said the only thing that had changed maybe was the tone of his voice (and my hubby can spot the nationality of someone through how he/she pronounces his/her vowels or diphthongs, in multiple languages; if he says it hasn't changed, it hasn't). I couldn't hear the difference to be honest.

Maybe David B had to mind his language too and has started speaking properly, like ;).

Mind you, a glottal stop is pretty badly regional (I find).

[tonywalt]

Mid Atlantic. I'm culturally Mid-Atlantic as well- maybe leaving towards England.

[Lokasenna]

I speak with a near-RP accent (BBC English if you prefer). I think the neutrality of my accent is a result of having grown up with a Lancastrian father and Liverpudlian mother in the middle of Wales - with so many accents around me, I took up none of them.

A few years ago I was recorded by the Nigerian eductional board - I'm quite pleased to think there are children out there in Africa learning English from my voice.

[liza]

I am a balkan girl .. :) I don't have English accent .. or maybe I have .. Balkan English accent .. I learned english from school :) but I can seperate American English from British English :)

[Paulclem]

Can you understand this accent from our isles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUUXz7ZScA

[liza]

Can you understand this accent from our isles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUUXz7ZScA

I don't understand anything .. I suppose they speak .. english .. accent from somewhere in England :)

[LitNetIsGreat]

I don't understand anything .. I suppose they speak .. english .. accent from somewhere in England :)

Somewhere in England? Take that back. We keep to our side; they keep to theirs!

[YesNo]

Can you understand this accent from our isles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUUXz7ZScA

I could not understand the man who was pushing the cart until he was seated watching television, but even then it was difficult to understand why he was saying what I imagined he was saying, something about "European culture". Except for the doctors the others didn't make much sense either.

[cacian]

I could not understand the man who was pushing the cart until he was seated watching television, but even then it was difficult to understand why he was saying what I imagined he was saying, something about "European culture". Except for the doctors the others didn't make much sense either.

Hey YesNo this makes me think about this: are we able to tell the difference between American English and English English from someone's typing not so with say a novel?
for example i could not tell your way of expressing yourself here on LitNet any different from say an English person?

[JuniperWoolf]

Alberta is like Canada's deep south in that there's a cowboy/americana music/conservative vibe. According to the Ontario exchange students who show up in my home town every two years Albertans speak slowly and sound stupid. I remember one long conversation about the pronunciation of the word "hammock" with a group of them.

Their pronunciation: Hay-mick. Very quick, to me they sounded kind of like soccer moms.

Ours: Haah-mohck.

Only we're also very isolated in Grande Cache and have people moving here to work from all over the world, and we also have a 40% Cree native population (thick accent, a lot of "sh" thrown in) so most kids grow up with their own unique speech style depending on their personal exposure. Maybe I'll do one of those tumblr accent challenges like Pip.

[Paulclem]

I could not understand the man who was pushing the cart until he was seated watching television, but even then it was difficult to understand why he was saying what I imagined he was saying, something about "European culture". Except for the doctors the others didn't make much sense either.

That's the Glaswegian accent as expounded by Rab C Nesbitt - the character on the show. It's the hardest accent to understand, with perhaps the Northern Island accent coming second.

I've got the ear now, but I used to work with a Glaswegian and spent two and a half years not understanding anything he said. Luckily he never seemed to require a response, as most of it was cursing and complaining.

[kiki1982]

That's the Glaswegian accent as expounded by Rab C Nesbitt - the character on the show. It's the hardest accent to understand, with perhaps the Northern Island accent coming second.

I've got the ear now, but I used to work with a Glaswegian and spent two and a half years not understanding anything he said. Luckily he never seemed to require a response, as most of it was cursing and complaining.

:lol: Fortunately for you (not that you would have understood what he called you for not understanding him, though :D).

We watched the later new series of Rab C Nesbitt a few years back. I remember the very first episode was too much for me to get all to the end. I had a deja-vue of ten years ago where as the evening drew on I couldn't understand Have I got News For You anymore because my brain switched off.

It was difficult to understand this clip, but some of it has stayed. Although I would have to watch it about three times to really get everything. The problem with this Glaswegian is that it mainly the men in the clip speak very quickly. The women are easier (do they speak something less pronounced, towards the assistant of the Lord Provost or something?).
Indeed, Northern Irish is also difficult.

Mind you, my father's got problems with Scottish football managers :lol:.

[hannah_arendt]

I recorded myself reading a list of words for another forum not too long ago, so here is my accent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMebMJ3oF3U

I have to record myself every month for my pronunciation course. To be honest, it is embarassing listening to your own voice:D

[hannah_arendt]

Could you give me any examples of words, changing their meaning depending on stress placement?

[Lokasenna]

Could you give me any examples of words, changing their meaning depending on stress placement?

Well, an obvious example would be the phrase 'I read the book'.

The only way to know whether this is in the past or present tense (aside from context) is the pronunciation - specifically, how long you make the vowel sound. 'I REE-D the book' is present tense, whereas 'I RE-D the book' is past tense.

[YesNo]

Hey YesNo this makes me think about this: are we able to tell the difference between American English and English English from someone's typing not so with say a novel?
for example i could not tell your way of expressing yourself here on LitNet any different from say an English person?

I remember Calidore posted a link to an Onion article which used dialog that made it clear to me that the speakers had an Indiana (rural midwestern USA) accent however I can't find it now. It was about a Ford truck that was "stoled". I could hear them say the words when I read it and I was quite envious of the writer's ability to capture that. I think accent can be captured in dialog by the choice of words one uses and how they are used in a sentence even without having a video to hear the words.

That Glaswegian accent example PaulClem linked to was disturbing. I realized that I could understand almost none of it.

The speed of the speaker may have had something to do with it as kiki1982 mentioned. I recall conversations with my eldest daughter, who can speak very rapidly when she wants to, that I sometimes found extremely difficult to understand. Maybe one should call this the "teenager sub-accent". At the time, I figured I was just getting old.

[Paulclem]

That Glaswegian accent example PaulClem linked to was disturbing. I realized that I could understand almost none of it.

The speed of the speaker may have had something to do with it as kiki1982 mentioned. I recall conversations with my eldest daughter, who can speak very rapidly when she wants to, that I sometimes found extremely difficult to understand. Maybe one should call this the "teenager sub-accent". At the time, I figured I was just getting old.

It's the speed, syntax and also a lot of different words. My wife can't understand them at all.



It was difficult to understand this clip, but some of it has stayed. Although I would have to watch it about three times to really get everything. The problem with this Glaswegian is that it mainly the men in the clip speak very quickly. The women are easier (do they speak something less pronounced, towards the assistant of the Lord Provost or something?).
Indeed, Northern Irish is also difficult.

Mind you, my father's got problems with Scottish football managers :lol:.

I watch the Premiership every weekend, and have trouble with the Aston Villa manager - Lambert - he mumbles as well.

[kev67]

Can you understand this accent from our isles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUUXz7ZScA

I will see your Rab C Nesbit and raise you an Auf Wiedersehen Pet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mTY2xoGalw

[MANICHAEAN]

I unconsciously drop into the same accent as the person I am talking to. It's odd, but its true. I even use the patois!!
This is particularly the case with accents that I am particularly familiar with like: North London, Jamaica, Nigeria, Australia, South Africa.
Do you think I need medical help??

[Pensive]

I think it is quite Indian.

[kiki1982]

I unconsciously drop into the same accent as the person I am talking to. It's odd, but its true. I even use the patois!!
This is particularly the case with accents that I am particularly familiar with like: North London, Jamaica, Nigeria, Australia, South Africa.
Do you think I need medical help??

It is known that people's brains tend to do this. I don't know what the common timeframe for that is, though. Mind you, if it's too quick, that would be a problem for language teachers, but I don't suppose thaat happens within five minutes...

[RicMisc]

I would describe my accent as ever changing, because it really is. When I am talking to native speakers (from Irish to Southern English) I tend to kind of take on their accent. But only slightly. I think I would mainly describe my accent as a light version of BBC English, but not quite native. I usually get compliments on both my use of language and my accent when speaking English, so I'd say I'm doing alright for a Dutch person who has never been to, let alone lived in, an English speaking country.