Are you the same in your SO country as you are here?

[rebeccajo 14]

I just tried to be as polite as I might be anywhere I was for the first time...in other words 'on my good behavior'. LOL

I didn't attempt to assimilate the slang - I don't know what I would do if I was there long term. I don't know how you could live in NI and not start saying 'aye' instead of 'yes' or 'ok' - they utter it in nearly every sentence.

'Nor'n Iron' speak is actually very lyrical - there are upswings and odd little phrases at the end of sentences. I really don't know how you could 'pick it up' unless you had heard it from birth.

I'm sure if I were there long term I'd have to adjust my 'speed' - life there is just a bit slower. I felt healthier because I was walking MUCH more than here. I'd probably have trouble adjusting to the weather - grey skies depress me.

[Fandango 1,439]

I just tried to be as polite as I might be anywhere I was for the first time...in other words 'on my good behavior'. LOL

I didn't attempt to assimilate the slang - I don't know what I would do if I was there long term. I don't know how you could live in NI and not start saying 'aye' instead of 'yes' or 'ok' - they utter it in nearly every sentence.

'Nor'n Iron' speak is actually very lyrical - there are upswings and odd little phrases at the end of sentences. I really don't know how you could 'pick it up' unless you had heard it from birth.

I'm sure if I were there long term I'd have to adjust my 'speed' - life there is just a bit slower. I felt healthier because I was walking MUCH more than here. I'd probably have trouble adjusting to the weather - grey skies depress me.

lol, never uttered 'aye' in my life...to me it sounds manly, lol. For some reason, there are only particular words that I've picked up...dunno why some took and some didn't. And I know just what you mean about being lyrical...they do that in NE England too. when a woman says 'hiya' it's like 'hiiiiiiiyaaaa' and it's all sing-songy. It's cute...but ya can't get away with that unless it's where ya came from, you're right about that Becs

PS....Belfast is one of my fave cities. Never got out to the countryside in NI, but I could talk forever about my time in Belfast

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

sometimes you just adapt to saying the local way.

Three things I will never say, however:

Tomahhto

orrygano

bazzil

my friend's boyfriend used to refer to me as oregano so amused was he by my pronounciation of that particular herb, I mean 'erb

[Fandango 1,439]

sometimes you just adapt to saying the local way.

Three things I will never say, however:

Tomahhto

orrygano

bazzil

my friend's boyfriend used to refer to me as oregano so amused was he by my pronounciation of that particular herb, I mean 'erb

zactly!

tho I wound up saying i-BU-profin cos everytime I asked for it ibuPROfin, the ppl would be all

[Henia 11]

sometimes you just adapt to saying the local way.

Three things I will never say, however:

Tomahhto

orrygano

bazzil

my friend's boyfriend used to refer to me as oregano so amused was he by my pronounciation of that particular herb, I mean 'erb

LMAO

[SoL. 0]

Yeah, I also change a li'l bit, it's different there in NL so I try to adjust to their customs. I get somehow quiet while I watch and learn LOL

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

I spoke as clearly as possible, and probably a bit slower than I do here at home. I was not as mouthy when getting poor service, not wanting to add more to the "rude loud american" stereotype.

The one thing I did notice about my behavior is that I began to speak less in public to avoid stares. I don't think I did this consciously and regret that I felt the need to change myself that much in order to not offend, shock or amuse someone else.

I did pick up words I would not normally use, more because of Tim's children not knowing what the hell I was talking about. Rubbish, boot instead of trunk, oi instead of hey, toilet instead of bathroom, pants instead of underwear of course trousers instead of pants lol. I told one once to take off his pants after he had played in the mud and water, and got this look....... ! So change was necessary for somethings.

[MrsBruce5 0]

I am right there w/ you Bethanie-but not from spending time in his country-it's frm having him here with me in NY and conversing with him.

The 1st time I was in SCT, I was quiet-not wanting to draw attention to myself.

But after the second time, I realized that there isn't much I can do to divert attention from myself, as I am far from blending in with my coloring and my thick Sonny Corleone Brooklyn twang.

So, I was just simply me. Seems that the locals got quite a thrill from my way of "tawkin" and would ask me to say words just so they could hear the way I said them. It got annoying after a while-but I knew it was purely fascination as some of them hadn't really ever ventured too far from home.

Now, when I visit-I roll with it and just expect to be the oddity.

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Yes living with them and hearing it all day is the biggest reason for change. I constantly get, "you have picked up his accent". It is more accomodating than it is personal change. Things I say differently is so that he can understand what I am talking about. He has enough change going on in his life, sure don't mind making somethings easier for him.

Not sure I could ever let completely loose when visiting there. Though he demands I be myself, I just fear embarassing him in some way. Silly? Probably but I am always thinking of him first.

Guess much depends on the area as well. If he were from London it probably wouldn't be a big deal. Being in a rural area, there isn't much diversity and the population seems to be older and less accepting. Next time I go over I will just stick my tongue out at anyone giving me strange looks!

[CarolineM 0]

i agree with you Lisa...

Living with stewart, however I can't help but pick up some things..like I say "ring" instead of call...I can't help it.

I say "Car park" instead of parking lot.

I will NEVER cave on

Tamaaahto sauce...it's KETCHUP!!

And alUminium....(said weird) vs. aluminum

[rebeccajo 14]

Aluminum

Aluminium.

Which one is in the dictionary?

I keep telling my husband you can't add a syllable to a word just because you feel like it.

He says they can do whatever they want with english because they had it first........

Edited December 6, 2006 by rebeccajo

[rebeccajo 14]

I don't know how you could live in NI and not start saying 'aye' instead of 'yes' or 'ok' - they utter it in nearly every sentence.

lol, never uttered 'aye' in my life...to me it sounds manly, lol......

Hahahaha......well a lot of the time I heard the women say 'oh, aye'......maybe that's different?

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't know how you could live in NI and not start saying 'aye' instead of 'yes' or 'ok' - they utter it in nearly every sentence.

lol, never uttered 'aye' in my life...to me it sounds manly, lol......

Hahahaha......well a lot of the time I heard the women say 'oh, aye'......maybe that's different?

To me, it sounds very 'pint of lager-ish'

[hockeygal 0]

I blend, Canada is not that different, but I will never say "uh-huh" instead of "thank you".

Edited December 7, 2006 by hockeygal

[babybunny 2]

no.