Reactions to you accent!

[louandmikek3 0]

Does other peoples reactions to your British accent drive anyone else mad??!! I can't even buy anything in a store without people saying stupid things to me! Just this weekend I got...

1. (While giving me phone number to a shop assistant - why why oh why do you have to do that any time you buy anything)??

She repeated the number I had said in a silly voice and then said 'are you from London?' Before telling me the history of her family and their various visits to England.

2. (While buying something else in a store).

The lady on the till said 'my brother is actually in Australia right now...' (hahaha! )

3. (A man fixing something in my house).

I'm sensing that's not a London accent is it? (Yes, you would be right in thinking that some British people do live outside our nations capital )!!

4. (A taxi driver)

He said 'Is that an Irish accent', then when I told him it was English he said 'I am English' in his American accent. So I said 'really? Where you born there or is your heritage English?' He said he his heritage was 15% English, 25% whatever etc... I think it is nice that Americans never forget their heritage but sometimes I think they should get over it and just say 'my great great grandfather was British' rather than say they are...

I guess I should lighten up - its a good conversation starter - but sometimes it really irks me!!!

[Dr_LHA 3]

As someone who's been in the USA 7+ years, and hasn't lost his accent, you just have to learn to live with it I'm afraid. Just think of it as people trying to make polite conversation. I know that being from the UK you're used to shop assistants/people that look pissed off and don't talk to you, but here its different a lot of the time.

Learn to smile and get your potted answer together.

All in all, don't blame the Americans for thinking you're from Australia. In general it seems that Americans have a tin ear for accents compared to people from the UK.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I am from the east coast of Scotland and I am always being asked if I am from Dublin!!! when I say I am from Scotland I often get "I know a lady/man called ****/**** they are from Scotland, DO YOU KNOW THEM"?????

I dont think my accent has changed but my family back home think it has..... maybe its just easier to say thing the american way rather than spending all day repeating myself....

I was asked once how long it took me to learn the language after I arrived in the States!!!!!!

Kezzie

[Dr_LHA 3]

I was asked once how long it took me to learn the language after I arrived in the States!!!!!!

Guy: Where are you from?

Me: England.

Guy: Oh really? You speak very good English.

The above conversation actually happened.

Edited July 24, 2006 by dr_lha

[Lou Lou 1]

I really don't want to lose my English accent and refuse to 'adapt' so people can understand me. I speak perfectly clearly. Something foreign throws them off and they forget to listen

I usually get "You're not from around here, are you?" and my answer is a firm "No" which makes them laugh nervously

If anyone else asks about my accent I usually say "My parents gave it to me". That shuts them up.

MY OH would be gutted if I started to sound American. He said it would be terms for divorce

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

I've given up asking for Ranch in a restaurant, I let hubby do it now!

The "I'm part Irish, Scottish, Italian, French," etc etc etc makes me laugh LOTS! Hubby now laughs too and wants me to get a T shirt made up saying i'm "100% ENGLISH.. anything under that doesn't count"

It is a great conversation starter and amuses people.. just call us jesters!

[Lou Lou 1]

I hate all that "I'm part English, Irish, French" #######. Get over it. You're a yank

[pj1959us 0]

MY OH would be gutted if I started to sound American. He said it would be terms for divorce

And he's right!

[TracyTN 237]

My fiance usually gets 'Where are you fruuum' in that way that only swooning, Southern women can manage.

Anyone who asks you how long you've spoken English or whatever needs to be smacked. Sometimes I think people don't know WHAT to say, but they want you to know that they've noticed, so they pop off with the first thing that comes to mind (usually something stupid).

Oh and my fiance even has people in ENGLAND asking him if he is from Australia. Go figure.

[Anyta Holland 0]

I am going to barge in here and tell my story...

I am american by birth, raised in Venezuela and have been living in the uk for the past 3 and 1/2 years.

When I first arrived I had a really broad american accent, which started fading away, but comes up every now and again... Funny though... Went to Florida last year on holiday and got asked a thousand times if a) I was English or b ) I was Irish.... It always made me laugh as I was onviously neither...

In Bristol, I used to work in a restaurant, and people usuallt had trouble picking up where my accent was from, and I was asked more than once if I was Irish, every time when I said that I was raised in Venezuela, by Venezuelan parents who speak Spanish they would not believe that I spoke so perfectly...

Back to the holidays in Florida, we were travelling with my parents, and I would be speaking in English to my hubby and then would turn around and start speaking in Spanish to my parents, more than once the shop assistants would turn around a couple of times before realising that I was speaking both languages!

I find it nice thought that at least you get asked and as someone said is a nice polite way to start conversations.... It does p£@£$£$ off those who don't know that English is the official laguange of the UK!!

Edited July 24, 2006 by Anyta Holland

[MrsBruce5 0]

Kezzie, Where abouts are you from in the NE?

Hubby is from Aberdeen, and has heard the same bit from just about everyone in NY. Once he was in Oklahoma, and he was asked how long it took to learn English !

Yes, I agree. We yanks do have a tin ear for that-until we are exposed to it more frequently.

I suppose once he finally gets here in 2 weeks, we will hear that stuff often !

: )

[Kez/JWolf 6]

MrsBruce5

Hi I am from Arbroath... thats about 52 miles south of Aberdeen... tell your husband that many americans think that Scotland is part of England.... and may ask if it is far from London... that one just makes me giggle....

Hope he has a safe flight over...

Kezzie

[#@!!* 0]

My fiance has been asked if he's from Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland (?), and then as a last resort, England (he's English by the way). He has also been accused of speaking Japanese with me. The fella just would not believe that he wasn't. This accusation came as quite a shock to the both of us since neither one of us speaks Japanese. My grandparents may be from Japan but the only Japanese I know is to ask for money, a textbook, neighbor, shut-up, and beer.

On the flip side, when I was working in London, co-workers refused to believe that I was American because 1. I am not blonde with blue eyes although these days that can be readily fixed and 2. I did not speak with a Southern accent, an East Coast accent, valley girlspeak, or surftalk. They finally decided that I must be from Canada. Imagine my surprise. I knew my geography was ####### but I didn't know it was that bad. I guess I did deserve that D after all.

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

I have shared before, my husband was offered money just so she could, "sit and listen to him talk". Which was more like this, "wayre ewe frum? Oh muh lawdy I could pay, just to sittin lassen to you tawk"!!!!

Then my loverly little grandmother, ask what language "their bible is in over there", and "did you meet the queen", amongst other ridiculous questions. Yes London is the only place in the UK, have had family members introduce me or whatever and make the comment to the other party, "her husband is from London". #######

[MrsBruce5 0]

That is funny Bethanie ! LOL

I have to say, when I have been in more remote places in Scotland, ppl have asked me and to say things again and again b/c of my NY accent simply because they like the way it sounds.

I have been to Arbroath Kezzie-nice place..I love all of Scotland...