Funny misconecptions from your country or state!

[Nik+Heather 121]

I was in choir growing up, but haven't done any of that in 8 years. (8 years!! wow!) I guess it's not that I can't tell one from the other, I just can't name where it's from.

No one has mistook me for an Aussie yet. I still just get the stare of doom.

Haha! What's the stare of doom again? Maybe you mentioned it in the AOS thread....Sounds great though.

[Gemmie 142]

You know the one.. when you say something, and they stare at your lips, and go silent for a few seconds, before confirming what you said.

And I have a generic Southern English accent.

[treehugger 23]

You know the one.. when you say something, and they stare at your lips, and go silent for a few seconds, before confirming what you said.

And I have a generic Southern English accent.

I got that all the time when I was over there as well - and my accent is very easy to understand How would they cope with one of the more colourful accents I wonder

[Nik+Heather 121]

How would they cope with one of the more colourful accents I wonder

My typical when I get someone who I really can't understand is SoD (Stare of Doom ™) followed by "Wut?" Wash, rinse, repeat. I find myself doing this more as I'm interacting with more international colleagues (Not native english speakers) lately...

I don't have an issue with Nik's accent, but he does sometimes speak too softly. It was really bad when we were over the internet and I would have him alllll the way up, and still couldn't catch it. Could make it very frustrating (for both of us) to discuss serious issues going through several repeats...

Edited May 26, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[bwelty 0]

My typical when I get someone who I really can't understand is SoD (Stare of Doom ™) followed by "Wut?" Wash, rinse, repeat. I find myself doing this more as I'm interacting with more international colleagues (Not native english speakers) lately...

I don't have an issue with Nik's accent, but he does sometimes speak too softly. It was really bad when we were over the internet and I would have him alllll the way up, and still couldn't catch it. Could make it very frustrating (for both of us) to discuss serious issues going through several repeats...

My husband's got a very deep voice, and a nice proper "business" accent. The women I know sort of swooned, and I told him to be prepared for a lot of that, hah! When he's had a few pints or is nice and relaxed his propa Cornish accent appears. I love it...I think he sounds like a pirate.

[Andrew + Bethany 4]

I've been living here in Missouri for 2 weeks now and am constantly being asked if I am Australian. When they find out I'm English they invariably ask if I'm from London. When I was in a bookstore I decided to try and show where I was from, went to the travel section to get a book on the UK and all I could find was London specific ones!!!

And I'm not even from frickin London lol

[Rob and Jill 82]

When I was in a bookstore I decided to try and show where I was from, went to the travel section to get a book on the UK and all I could find was London specific ones!!!

Unfortunately, a lot of people live in very small worlds. I was asked if they used cars in Scotland. My old boss thought they still drove horses and carts. I looked right at her and said "I know he's Scottish, but I met him on the internet, not the movie set for Highlander."

Oiy.

[justashooter 430]

an english friend we met while living in china plans to be on florida next month. he asked if we would drive down for the evening to visit. i had to explain that it's over 1000Km from where we live, but that if he flew up to DC we could get together.

[Damian&Kelly 16]

an english friend we met while living in china plans to be on florida next month. he asked if we would drive down for the evening to visit. i had to explain that it's over 1000Km from where we live, but that if he flew up to DC we could get together.

This is a misunderstanding my many, especially the English because England is so small, you can drive to any part in one day easy. My brother-in-law came to visit and we were showing him around, before he arrived I asked him where he wanted to see. He said he'd like to go to Vegas and asked if we could drive, Vegas is just as far from us(PA) as England is, He just didn't understand how big the US is.

[yankepeach 2]

This is a misunderstanding my many, especially the English because England is so small, you can drive to any part in one day easy. My brother-in-law came to visit and we were showing him around, before he arrived I asked him where he wanted to see. He said he'd like to go to Vegas and asked if we could drive, Vegas is just as far from us(PA) as England is, He just didn't understand how big the US is.

I have had this happen several times as well. But sort of in reverse. It seems to me that heading down to Atlanta (driving) is only about 8 hours. No big deal really. But for my SO he groans with dismay when I say something about traveling more then a hour from home. He is saying all the time that there is simply too much space over here. His family is much the same way...as far as their concerned..... To go further then a hour from home, you have gone to the polar ice caps. Suppose that is again because they live in such a small country.(physically speaking of course) For them to go on a long trip, is driving a couple hours away.For me to go on a long trip....8-12 hours....16 to Miami Florida.

[Rob and Jill 82]

I couldn't help but laugh at Rob's family freaking out about a 3 hour car trip. I was thinking....he's going to have a cow when the day comes I drive him 14 hours straight through to North Carolina to see family...LOL.

[yankepeach 2]

I couldn't help but laugh at Rob's family freaking out about a 3 hour car trip. I was thinking....he's going to have a cow when the day comes I drive him 14 hours straight through to North Carolina to see family...LOL.

am grinning here and just shaking my head. I can certainly see that event happening......Bryan would be just the same.

[Becky&Steven 1]

My personal favorite.......and most embarrassing after explanation.....

When I visited over there, I slipped and fell on my back side...my fanny... as we call it down south .....Lets just say those of you from the U.K. know exactly why every one started laughing hysterically when I said I fell and busted my fanny.

LMAO! I still find the double meaning for this word to be hysterical

Also, we don't have the same ear for accents as you do. We Americans can usually tell the difference between east coast, southern, Minnesontan, and midwestern (this is the "no accent" version of American English), but English (not even counting the various versions of this!), Irish, Scottish AND Australian all sound the same to us.

amen on this. my fiance took me around manchester and liverpool to go accent listening. to be honest, it almost all sounded the same to me!

his sister was terrified that I was going to have a deep south accent. I very much wanted to pull out my best impression of a southerner when I first met her, just to mess with her however, she was relieved that I sounded like the typical 'no discernible accent' american you hear on TV.

[dmd01708 3]

When my friends and family got told I was moving to New York they all assumed NYC (because thats all NY is isnt it?), when I told them that NYS

was as big as England they asked if I could see Lady Liberty from the garden, after I had explained about Up State NY and all its wonderful things (we live closer to Canada than NYC)I was then asked "oh do they speak American there too" DIMLOW...... On the other hand though I have been asked if they speak English in London or is cockney from another country and also if its true that you can walk from England to France oh and all the British are rich as we all have nanny's lol (this one had me in fits as I was saying NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO my nanny is my mums mum)

[mamaSue 38]

I had an unbelievable experience recently....

we were on the car park transfer bus at Atlanta airport.

An American guy said "You're English.... can I guess what part??"

I said.... "go ahead"

He said....."Surrey!"

He was spot on!!!