Reactions to you accent!

[#@!!* 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...

I have nothing to add to the accents conversation, but do understand your amused frustration, louandmikek3.

However, as for giving out your phone number to clerks, just politely decline to offer it, since it's rarely required to complete the sales transaction. I hate offering my number as well, and decline every single time.

Or maybe you can say something along the lines of "That's flattering and all, but I am a happily married man/woman" or "You are a bold little cupcake aren't you. My wife/husband is right here." I don't give my number out to them either, nor do I usually give out my zipcode. My sister shops enough at those places that I figure she's got the whole family covered.

[louandmikek3 0]

Those stories made me laugh - so glad I started this thread! Someone once asked me if I was German!

Someone mentioned not losing their Manchester slang - my slang was the first thing that went for me. Which is a shame because on the odd occasion that I do say a british slang word people love it and try it out for themselves in a sentence which always makes me smile. Oh how I miss saying that something was 'dead' funny, or 'minging' etc etc.

One thing that annoys me on the flip side (not really accent related though) is when I introduce my american man to people I see in the UK they say 'he's not how I imagined'. When I ask them what they mean they always say they expected a 'typical american' blonde haired blue eyed man (my hubbie is dark haired and hazel eyed). Now I live in New York, not cali, and I don't recall ever seeing a blonde haired blue eyed man!!!

People in the UK are usually too shy to ask where he is from, or already know, or don't want to appear like they care!!

I don't think I will ever lose my accent though.

Keep the stories coming!

[Lizzy 0]

I was in a bar with my hubby to be.....we where leaving when he said he needed to go to the loo, so i waited for him just outside.

Just to state Im 29 years old, a young man of about 21 came up to me. Looks at me and says 'your hot' and gives me a wink..i open my mouth to say, my husband is coming along now...bye, when he says OMG your English and with that accent your double hot!!

I did not know whether to laugh or run in the opposite direction.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Keep in mind this goes both ways... Brits can't distinguish an American versus Canadian accent and to hear it from my father-in-law, all Americans sound like they are from Texas...... "howdy"

And as for wanting to claim to have heritage, it's beyond me why it bothers other people that Americans like to claim their ancestry...I'd say get over it!!! And don't call someone form the south a "yank"...FYI

[iceyspots 0]

hehe canucks... i love it

[Lou Lou 1]

And don't call someone form the south a "yank"...FYI

I don't call southerners yanks. I call them hicks or rednecks. All in friendly jest, of course

And I will continue asking for "water" and not "wadder"...even when I'm on my deathbed

[ladybutterfly 0]

Yup, it annoys me too! And its so funny to hear alot of americans think London is the same as the UK. I had to try to explain to someone once that its just like saying New York is the same as America!

[Dr_LHA 3]

And as for wanting to claim to have heritage, it's beyond me why it bothers other people that Americans like to claim their ancestry...I'd say get over it!!!

It can become bothersome where some 5th generation American "Irish" kid gets in your face for "occupying Northern Ireland" and "stop repressing my people" and gives some bullshit about the IRA being "freedom fighters" because they hear you have an English accent.

This happened to me rather a lot when I lived in California.

Of course my response usually went along the lines of: "#### off, I'm more Irish than you" (1 generation removed), which shuts them up!

My wife also got pretty perscuted (in a "F" on her report way) when she was at school for refusing to call her "heritage" anything other than "American", despite the fact that she can trace back her ancestors to coming over with the pilgrims and has a direct line from a signer of the declaration of independance. Apparently not feeling any connection with your ancestors country from hundreds of years ago is a bad thing.

[Euro 3]

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!!!

.I get the same kind of thing every day..............I was really impressed though when 1 man said to me, um thats not a London accent its a Yorkshire accent!!, i was like .....I said thats really good, and asked if he had been to Yorkshire for him to know, he had'nt even been to England .................so he was Goooooooood

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Man: Where are you from?

Me: London, England

Man: My neighbours from there, I can't a understand a damn word he says either

Me (in my head): Isn't it about time you learnt? Does this mean the only other person in Pittsburgh who understands me is your neighbour?

This annoys me. I don't speak quickly and didn't mention apples n pairs or rub a dub

Maybe i need to practice my pittsburghese.

[Widge 0]

Oh my....... working as a cashier (who now firmly believes i was only employed for my accent/entertainment value) i get about 1/3rd of the customers commenting EVERY DAY

"oooh I could listen to you talk all day" - always want to record this one and send it to my mother who spent my entire life telling me to be quiet

"does it really rain every day in England?" NO NO and THRICE NO!

"did Charles really have Diana murdered" nooooooo comment

the other thing that amuses me is Americans are sooooo patriotic but can't wait to tell you my "x" is English and then you discover they mean six generations back.

But at least i am attempting a bit of language conversion ..... everyone is amused that I call buggys/carts TROLLEYS so I got a friend to send a picture of a Tesco TROLLEY park over and that pic is now plastereed all over the store here ....... little steps little steps.

but the classic (which I couldn't laugh at at the time as it was genuinely said by a customer was

" oooh your from England, I've got a friend there John Smith do you know him?"

[Dr_LHA 3]

but the classic (which I couldn't laugh at at the time as it was genuinely said by a customer was

" oooh your from England, I've got a friend there John Smith do you know him?"

Perhaps he meant the beer?

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Don't forget the good ole English fog!

I've seen way more fog in the US in the last few years than in 34 years in UK

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Raise that pinky finger when having your tea, it is expected of you!

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

A spot of tea! Pip pip cheerio!

The damage ####### Van ####### did is irreversible.