Reactions to you accent!

[Patricia_and_andy 0]

I have many many examples of my accent either being a source of interest of an absolute block during everyday communication. Here are few of the choice ones...

1) Waiting to order in KFC. I decided to make things simple by ordering using the menu number instead of the meal name. Me - "I'll take a number 3 please", KFC Worker - "Huh ??", My Wife - "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA".

2) Whenever I have to give my name in a resteraunt etc.. I say "Mark" like I have for the last 28 years but to people around here it sounds like "Mork" or "Molk" or "Malk". depending on my mood I either just go with whatever they write down or spend 5 minutes trying to sound out the letters so they get it right.

3) Ordering water is always a tricky one. At the moment I refuse to change the way I say it so I either say "I'll take the same as her" or I order coke.

4) I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked where I was from but the funniest times are when people try and guess without asking. "I'd love to visit Australia" or "I've never been to New Zealand". The best one was when i was in Best Buy last weekend and a woman at the cash register asked me if my accent from the East Coast ?? "Ummm... Slightly East of Boston yeah !!" nudge nudge wink wink.

Most of the time I can laugh it off and am pretty understanding about the source of the confusion. It's only when the reactions are rude or the confusion is almost treated like it's my fault that I speak differently. Only then do I get rude back.

Anyways... I have no intentions of trying to tone down my accent, It's what makes me me. I am in touch with enough friends and family back home that the second I start sounding even slightly American they'll let me know !!

Mark

Mark ...that made me spit my drink out...hahaha! Andy has done the same thing...and my reaction the same as your wifes!! hehe toooo funny

Andy now refuses to order anything at a drive thru....even though I try all the time to get him to for my own ammusement....

The best accent issue we have had I have posted before but will post again

We are in a bar here known for it's international beers (We live in a college town)

Waitress: what can I get you to drink?

Andy: I'll have a Harp Lager

Waitress: do you want a towel with that?

Andy: (looking at me with a confused look and me looking at him just confused) Huh?

Waitress: would you like a towel with the hot water????

Andy: Huh?

Me: He said he wants a Harp Lager

Waitress: ohhhh I thought he said hot water

Andy and I when the waitress walks away:

We both decided a tea bag would have been better with the hot water....lol

He has been asked if he is from England or Kentucky by a guy at the parts store too... which I found histerical!! ( we live in Indiana)

Patricia

[louandmikek3 0]

Everyone I know here thinks its wierd that I drink tea from a mug, like its a cardinal rule that only coffee is served in a mug - I guess 'tea cup' is just taken literally! I also like the way you have to ask for 'hot' tea!

Also, my in-laws cannot believe we British put butter on all our sandwichs (even tuna? Eeeew)... I personally would like a slice of ham and a slice of cheese between buttered bread than layers and layers of thick meats with shed loads of mayonaise... My mum-in-law tells everyone about when she was in england helping my mum to make a sandwich buffet and my mum asked her to put butter on ALL of the sandwiches! And they all screw their faces up like she is actually telling them my family and I bathe in it.

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Me: Can I have some ranch please

Waitress: A wrench?

Me: No, ranch dressing

Waitress (to my hubby): What's she saying

Hubby: (Laughing alot) She wants some ranch

Me (to hubby): ####### would I want a wrench with my meal for!

Our friends use the term A$$hat alot, they think it's so funny I say arsehat and have all started saying it now, apart from they say ####### hut!

[pj1959us 0]

Oh my word, it's good to see that David is not alone! That poor man and what he has endured. I always have to interpret for him when we order anything, anywhere, or it's hard telling what he will get.

The one that still tickles me is when he was working at Lowe's in their garden center during the Christmas season and he was helping a woman choose a tree, discussing the various ones. She goes to the cashier to pay and was asked who was helping her...she said, "that Mexican guy over there", pointing to David.

I hope he doesn't get fed up with the nonsense 'cos his accent still makes me weak in the knees.

P.S.-Hey, I thought a mug was a "beaker" or have I been watching too much Keeping Up Appearances?