NationStates Jolt Archive

I was watching The Departed (Awesome movie) the other day and all I can say is...I really like the Boston Accent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_accent), It sounded really cool to me...

anyways...NSG what is your favourite Dialect of the English Language?

Bostonian?
Cockney?
New Yorker?
Jamaican?
Scottish?

Use this For Reference (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dialects_of_the_English_language)

Favourite? Irish. It has a good accent to accompany it.

I was talking a look at the ref... and apparently I speak with an Ottawa Valley Twang (I never knew what that dialect of English I spoke was)... I never realised that I sounded like that until I heard a professor of mine talking in college after I returned to Toronto.

The Southern English of the wealthy. It has a nice, slow lilt to it, especially in New Orleans.


EDIT: This site (http://accent.gmu.edu/) has a bunch of recordings, if anyone is interested.

Southern US English is the best.I live in North Carolina I don't have the same deep accent like people in Mississippi and Alabama do.

I’m biased, but the Scots accent (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR23_8cuPG8) is my favourite.

Though sometimes it’s harder to understand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk0sS4IFGXA&feature=related), and sometimes it’s just completely inappropriate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcPgsMqPQpI).

I like the Yorkshire accent & the Scottish accent myself.


Edit: And the West Country accent (eg Devon & Cornwall).

The Southern English of the wealthy. It has a nice, slow lilt to it, especially in New Orleans.


EDIT: This site (http://accent.gmu.edu/) has a bunch of recordings, if anyone is interested.

To me, Southern English would be from southern England, in the UK, not the USA.

To me, Southern English would be from southern England, in the UK, not the USA.
I don't know that one, although I'm sure I've heard it before. Can you describe how it's different from, say, a BBC newscaster accent?

I don’t know that one, although I’m sure I’ve heard it before. Can you describe how it’s different from, say, a BBC newscaster accent?
Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j5-PHloBmI&feature=related) is an example of a strong Cornish accent; Cornwall being the most south-easterly English county.

All the southern English accents share the long, drawn out vowels, and other aspects of Cornish. You can easily hear how it’s different to the clipped English of a stereotypical ‘BBC voice’.

I don't know that one, although I'm sure I've heard it before. Can you describe how it's different from, say, a BBC newscaster accent?

No, given that BBC newscasters often have differing regional accents themselves.

From that list, I would say it was Estuary English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estuary_English).

All the southern English accents share the long, drawn out vowels, and other aspects of Cornish. You can easily hear how it’s different to the clipped English of a stereotypical ‘BBC voice’.

Hmph. I like the clipped English of the stereotypical BBC voice, especially when it is talking about cricket.

Although after hearing the Cornish, I may make that my new favorite British accent. It sounds slightly American.

I admit a great fondness for the Newfie accent. I also like South Boston accents, and the accents from around North Dakota.

Although after hearing the Cornish, I may make that my new favorite British accent. It sounds slightly American.
I suppose it does have a similar drawl.

Talking of the US, ever since watching Fargo I've been quite partial to the Minnesota accent.

New Yawk, uf cawse.

Scottish followed by Bostonian.

Being from southern Illinois, I grew up with some sort of weird mixture of St. Louis-area English, North Midland English, and a bit of Southern English. This all, of course, referring to American English. So, naturally, I favor what ever sounds right to me.

Ontarian

NO ACCENT!

This is why we make the greatest newscasters, we have no accent yet speak fairly quickly

Ontarian

NO ACCENT!

This is why we make the greatest newscasters, we have no accent yet speak fairly quickly

Everyone has an accent.

My boyfriend has a Singapore accent which he turns on and off depending on who he's talking to. Does anyone else here use different accents for different people?
One funny thing about his accent is he pronounces his "a" very similar to "u" so when he said "You can't" to me I got angery because it sounded like "You kunt"

Ontarian

NO ACCENT!

This is why we make the greatest newscasters, we have no accent yet speak fairly quickly

Bullll. You say out and ice funny, in a distinctly different funny way than other Canadians.

I suppose it does have a similar drawl.

Talking of the US, ever since watching Fargo I've been quite partial to the Minnesota accent.

Psst. Fargo's in North Dakota.

I'm reasonably fond of my own dialect, plain old American Midwestern. I do, however, really enjoy practically all variations on the British accent. Scottish and Irish accents are very fun to listen to (and irritatingly hard to imitate - I can't do Scottish well at all, and my attempt at an Irish accent always ends up sounding like a cartoon leprechaun).

My boyfriend has a Singapore accent which he turns on and off depending on who he's talking to. Does anyone else here use different accents for different people?
One funny thing about his accent is he pronounces his "a" very similar to "u" so when he said "You can't" to me I got angery because it sounded like "You kunt"

That could lead to some unfortunate mix-ups.

The deep south sugah! ;) (US)

Next would be Appalachian English which carries heavy remnants of Elizabethan.

I have friends who are migrants from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and their accent is awesome.

Psst. Fargo's in North Dakota.

And it's also terribly inaccurate.

As for mine, well, I have no idea. Some people tell me Boston, others say general Northeast, and others say Upper Midwest. You be the judge.

http://media.putfile.com/Basic-Irritation

The deep south sugah! ;) (US)

Ugh.

Ontarian

NO ACCENT!

This is why we make the greatest newscasters, we have no accent yet speak fairly quickly
Do you guys say about "a-boat" like they do in other parts of Canada and Minnesota?

My favorite dialects:

True no-accent American English http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Midlands_English
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/General_American.png(FYI some folks in the rural southern parts of the highlighted region say "Warshington" and "Missourah", but we'll just ignore them)


And ebonics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_Vernacular_English

Do you guys say about "a-boat" like they do in other parts of Canada and Minnesota?

My favorite dialects:

True no-accent American English

*snip*

There is no such thing as no accent, it's still a version of an American accent.

Southern US English is the best.

Ewwww........ Southern accents are the worse.

Do you guys say about "a-boat" like they do in other parts of Canada and Minnesota?

I've never heard "a-boat" and I've lived in Canada since I was 8.

Canadians say "about" in a way that rhymes with the way Americans say "route"

And Canadians say "route" the same way as "root"

Geordie/Yorkshire/Scottish, something like that.

New Zealand ftw!

I love the dialect where I live in Northwest Illinois. Wash is "warsh" and Button is "but-ton". :) Just two I can think of off the top of me head.

I love the dialect where I live in Northwest Illinois. Wash is "warsh" and Button is "but-ton". :) Just two I can think of off the top of me head.

North West Illinois? Well, how do ya do? I am going to university in the area(WIU). I am guessing you are in Quad Cities or Peoria area?

The British GF that I shacked up for awhile with in Leeds had that Yorkshire accent. I always found it pleasant being whispered in my ear at night.

Everyone has an accent.

Ever been to the Midwest? :p

But my favourite has to be British (or Scottish). I've been working to try and nail it down, just for the chance to go to my college class and say, "Professor? I have a question"
That and it just sounds frickin cool. The one downside to the American Revolution (sigh)

The British GF that I shacked up for awhile with in Leeds had that Yorkshire accent. I always found it pleasant being whispered in my ear at night.

Hmm, Was it a harsh 'city' accent, or the softer 'country' one? (I'm at uni in Leeds)

Hmm, Was it a harsh 'city' accent, or the softer 'country' one? (I'm at uni in Leeds)

I use to live down the road next to Sadler Hall (Church, Adel lane if I recall). Walked by that Uni many times. Don't recall recognizing a difference in the Yorkshire accent.

Ewwww........ Southern accents are the worse.

I hate them too.

Psst. Fargo’s in North Dakota.
Fargo the city is, but the film Fargo is set almost completely in Minnesota, apart from a couple of scenes at the beginning.

Midwest (Kansas city area), Atlanta area accents, and North Carolina (in the mountains) accent.

Midwest (Kansas city area), Atlanta area accents, and North Carolina (in the mountains) accent.

The N Carolina mountain accent is the same as the West Virginia accent?

Fargo the city is, but the film Fargo is set almost completely in Minnesota, apart from a couple of scenes at the beginning.

Yeah, but the film's portrayal of the accent(s) is horribly, horribly wrong.

The N Carolina mountain accent is the same as the West Virginia accent?

I've never stopped in West Virginia, but I'd assume it would somewhat similar.

I've never stopped in West Virginia, but I'd assume it would somewhat similar.

West Virginia accent can be a sexy one with the right woman. However I don't like the regular N Carolina accent. Seems a bit white trash to me.

I use to live down the road next to Sadler Hall (Church, Adel lane if I recall). Walked by that Uni many times. Don't recall recognizing a difference in the Yorkshire accent.

I know the very place! Just north of my halls in first year (well, over the ring road). I think the difference is quite subtle, maybe as an American (?) its harder to notice. Ah well. Thinking about it, the distinction might be more West Yorks/North Yorks.

I've never heard "a-boat" and I've lived in Canada since I was 8.
The border guards heading into Saskatchewan said "a-boat" when they decided that I looked shifty and searched my car. It made the ordeal far less intimidating than it could have been.

Mine (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=71) is my favourite although i'm thinking this link makes it sound milder than it actually is.

As an ESL teacher, I prefer teaching American Standard English. Much easier for students to comprehend and lots of easy to find Realia (movies, songs).

However, RP English makes me sound alot smarter than I actually am.

The language of country hices.

I like some Scottish and Southern Irish accents, for England I suppose Geordie is my favourite. Don't like the yokel sounding ones like Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Norfolk. Tends to be tied up with people I have known rather than the accent of its self.

I've never been sure I have an accent, but I suppose it's probably slightly BBC with some tinges of Yorkshire (dad's side of the family) and south London (mum's side); brought up in the Home Counties so this is why.

I love Irish accents, as long as I can understand them. Lovely sound to them in general.

Talking of the US, ever since watching Fargo I've been quite partial to the Minnesota accent.

There's no such thing as a "Minnesota accent." Take it from someone who's lived here his entire life.

Yeah, but the film's portrayal of the non-existent accent(s) is horribly, horribly wrong.

Fixed for accuracy.

Irish
Welsh
Yorkshire & Midlands (can't choose between)
And the particular way that gig people in Cape Town speak. (pronouncing things like "pretteh" for pretty, "meh" for me, dragged out Rs, pronouncing man as "mun" when used at the end of a sentence and a few other quirks)

Pittsburghese (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ihyTbi2Kw), of course. *chortle*

Ohhh I love regional accents. The way the Welsh draw out there sounds is pretty nice, I'm always heartend to hear a cockney accent, Geordie, whyaye man!, but I gota say when I hear an Irish women, well my heart and loins just melt.

I was watching The Departed (Awesome movie) the other day and all I can say is...I really like the Boston Accent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_accent), It sounded really cool to me...

anyways...NSG what is your favourite Dialect of the English Language?

Bostonian?
Cockney?
New Yorker?
Jamaican?
Scottish?

Use this For Reference (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dialects_of_the_English_language)

Haha yeah, The Departed is a wicked movie and the accents are awesome.
"Forr chrissake be shmarrt!"
Good times.

Hmm, accents from the Caribbean are awesome. A person inparticular whose accent is mint, is Chris Gayle the West Indies opening batter (cricket).. It's so lazy and relaxed.

Scottish accent is wicked sexy.

Irish accent is the most fun for me to listen to.

Southern USA is the English accent that makes everything seem funny to me.

Cockney is the accent I use when trying to get Himself to crack a smile.

Scottish, by miles.

I rather enjoy the way Jamaicans talk.:cool:

I can honestly say I loathe the following accents with a passion;

Scouse
Mancunian
Geordie
Yorkshire
Brummie
Cockney
Jamaican
Scottish
Essex (not the same as cockney, but far, far worse)
Aussie
Most american accents

I like;
South African
Sloane and middle class English
Welsh
Irish

British is nice to listen to, even though it's full of made-up words like "lorry" and "petrol". ;)

I like;
South African


What particular type of Saffrican?

Where is the Poll!?
A nifty barchart would go so well with this topic...

Out of native-Anglophone accents, Scottish is high on my list (My family originally comes from North Uist). Since I am from there, I like the mainland Nova Scotian accent the most out of any in Canada. Sometimes I like the speech from Carolina, and at other times I find it repulsive, just based on the whim of my mood. For speakers who do not have English as a mother tongue, those who speak Hindi, Turkish, or something in that vein sound nice. Almost any accent immediately raises a gal's hotness-level in my books.

I am not too familiar with other actual dialects, but my sister once asked some patrons at her store which language they were using, and it turned out to be Zimbabweyan English.

An Anecdote:
I grew up near Dalhousie University (I took some courses there, too, but my degree is from another school), and it is always pronounced Dal-how-sie. Near where I now live in Ottawa, there is a Dalhousie street named after the same man who gave his name to the university. Everyone here, however, calls it Dal-whoo-sie. I crack up each time I hear it. I imagine they make fun of me too, though, since I call another local area Too-nies Pasture while they say something more like tuh-nies. It is spelled Tunney's Pasture.

Can't beat a bit of Dundonian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EflfRbrYkjE&feature=related) for a laugh

What particular type of Saffrican?

Any, although I wouldn't claim to any sort of expert.

Where is the Poll!?
A nifty barchart would go so well with this topic...

Out of native-Anglophone accents, Scottish is high on my list (My family originally comes from North Uist). Since I am from there, I like the mainland Nova Scotian accent the most out of any in Canada. Sometimes I like the speech from Carolina, and at other times I find it repulsive, just based on the whim of my mood. For speakers who do not have English as a mother tongue, those who speak Hindi, Turkish, or something in that vein sound nice. Almost any accent immediately raises a gal's hotness-level in my books.

I am not too familiar with other actual dialects, but my sister once asked some patrons at her store which language they were using, and it turned out to be Zimbabweyan English.


I am more inclined to like accents from Romance languages like Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French and even Romanian. The accents of Southern USA and the states of MI, WV and IN completely disgut me. I can't understand a thing. These murder English. Well, most of the accents in the US revolt me.

As for English in general, I like the Irish accent.

Any, although I wouldn't claim to any sort of expert.

So from the nasal joburg whine to the effriken indigness eccent?
Or the standard SA accent that is somewhere between english and afrikaans pronounciation?

Yeeeerskshirrrre! :D

I'm fond of Seth Ifrican, also.

I'm actually rather disturbed that people like the accent I've been ridiculing and trying to avoid developing my entire life...

I'm fond of Seth Ifrican, also.

I'm a Floridian born with a New Jersey/New York accent, but its just fairly general English. I like anything from the Northern USA, I can tolerate anything but Southern dialect. Ew.

I really liked that woman police officers accent in the film FARGO...dont know what it was...Alaskan I think??

It's Scottish for me. Irish and all other British accent sound great if you'd ask me.

It’s set in Minnesota, so I thought it was a (characterised) strong Minnesotan accent.

However, a couple of posters have claimed that the accent’s ‘fake’. I think they just mean it’s inaccurate.

Oh maybe...I think I only said alaskan because she sounded very similar to the guys who were on that 'Ice Truckers' documentary :)

Received Pronunciation.

I really liked that woman police officers accent in the film FARGO...dont know what it was...Alaskan I think??
It’s set in Minnesota, so I thought it was a (characterised) strong Minnesotan accent.

However, a couple of posters have claimed that the accent’s ‘fake’. I think they just mean it’s inaccurate.

So from the nasal joburg whine to the effriken indigness eccent?
Or the standard SA accent that is somewhere between english and afrikaans pronounciation?

Probably the lattter...:p

It’s set in Minnesota, so I thought it was a (characterised) strong Minnesotan accent.

However, a couple of posters have claimed that the accent’s ‘fake’. I think they just mean it’s inaccurate.
I would say it's an exaggeration of the northern Minnesotan accent. It's also heard in much of the Dakotas.

If you go to the Twin Cities or the more urbanized areas of MN you won't hear much accent at all. I grew up in Minneapolis, and most people tell me I sound like I'm from the East Coast. However, if you head out into the farm country, the northern towns, and the small-town areas of the state, you'll hear the "Doncha Know" accent much more often.

My native Torontonian, New York (Manhattan, not the boroughs), and upper-class UK

My native Torontonian, New York (Manhattan, not the boroughs), and upper-class UK

Torontonians (native speakers that is) have an awful habit of dropping some letters from the middle of words. Or they string them together.

Bostonian is my native dialect. Hurray to The Departed for making people like our accents!

I'm actually rather disturbed that people like the accent I've been ridiculing and trying to avoid developing my entire life...
Well, that's one thing to cross off the checklist of things you have to make a concious effort to do, surely?:p

The Southern English of the wealthy. It has a nice, slow lilt to it, especially in New Orleans.


EDIT: This site (http://accent.gmu.edu/) has a bunch of recordings, if anyone is interested.

Scots. And whatever flavor of British accent they have in Snatch. I like some Southern accents, but not all. Brooklyn/Chicago mobster accents are also great.

I would say it's an exaggeration of the northern Minnesotan accent. It's also heard in much of the Dakotas.

If you go to the Twin Cities or the more urbanized areas of MN you won't hear much accent at all. I grew up in Minneapolis, and most people tell me I sound like I'm from the East Coast. However, if you head out into the farm country, the northern towns, and the small-town areas of the state, you'll hear the "Doncha Know" accent much more often.

A friend of mine grew up in rural North Dakota, and one of the funniest things I ever heard was her extended rant on how "Everyone thinks we sound like the people from 'Fargo,' and we absolutely don't!" which ended with the line, "No one - no one - talks like that in North Dakoota! *everyone laughs* Shit! no! I totally don't talk like that! Seriously! Shut up! I don't! Stop laughing, dammit! ...I hate you all."

A friend of mine grew up in rural North Dakota, and one of the funniest things I ever heard was her extended rant on how "Everyone thinks we sound like the people from 'Fargo,' and we absolutely don't!" which ended with the line, "No one - no one - talks like that in North Dakoota! *everyone laughs* Shit! no! I totally don't talk like that! Seriously! Shut up! I don't! Stop laughing, dammit! ...I hate you all."

Hahaha, that's so funny and so true. I've got a friend from North Dakota (yes, rural) who records voice clips and whatnot, and the long O sound and exaggerated E are everpresent, along with making U sound like "oo" a lot of the time... But definitely not to the extent of Fargo's ghastly portrayal.

I'm in Nashua, NH so I hear a lot of Boston, like it says in the Maine-NH English page. They're right about not really hearing Maine-NH English in the city. A few towns out you can hear it. I guess I like NH more than Boston, since NH to me is a more relaxed and less shrill version of a Boston accent. I don't have an NE accent, btw.

My boyfriend has a Singapore accent which he turns on and off depending on who he's talking to. Does anyone else here use different accents for different people?
One funny thing about his accent is he pronounces his "a" very similar to "u" so when he said "You can't" to me I got angery because it sounded like "You kunt"

One of my best friends is from Singapore, and she changes accents when speaking to other people from Singapore. I do adore the Singapore/Malaysian accent!

Ack, teh internets ate my reply!

Anyway, I have to say I am quite partial to the South Boston accent as well. I also like Singaporean accents (nod to whoever brought those up!), Czech accents, the nasal Provence accent and the Oakland accent.

Speaking from Geordie-lands here :) though I speak in a horrible BBC accent :(
I haven't had much experience with English accents from non-British countries, but I do like how Southern Americans speak. I can't stand anything that comes out of an American woman's mouth however (sound-wise, I am not being sexist).
I am biased towards Northern accents, I love how people from the Orkney isles speak! Southern Scots sound too boring and generic to me. :(

Yale accents (with the exaggerated "O"'s), Irish accents, and Spanish accents.

I really liked that woman police officers accent in the film FARGO...dont know what it was...Alaskan I think??

The movie takes place in Minnesota. However, what someone neglected to tell the filmmakers is that there is no such fucking thing as a "Minnesota accent."

However, a couple of posters have claimed that the accent’s ‘fake’. I think they just mean it’s inaccurate.

No, I mean "fake." Considering I live in the goddamn state, I think I would know.

If you go to the Twin Cities or the more urbanized areas of MN you won't hear much accent at all. I grew up in Minneapolis, and most people tell me I sound like I'm from the East Coast. However, if you head out into the farm country, the northern towns, and the small-town areas of the state, you'll hear the "Doncha Know" accent much more often.

Funny, I've visited pretty much the entire state, and have yet to hear any "accent."

Funny, I've visited pretty much the entire state, and have yet to hear any "accent."

...is it possible you speak with said accent, and thus it just sounds like "normal speech" to you? That would seem to be a possible explanation, as I promise you the accent exists. It's caused by the extremely large number of Scandinavian immigrants who migrated to that area - listen to speakers of Swedish or Norwegian, and you'll hear a lot of the same vowel sounds and a similar lilting tone. :)

...is it possible you speak with said accent, and thus it just sounds like "normal speech" to you? That would seem to be a possible explanation, as I promise you the accent exists. It's caused by the extremely large number of Scandinavian immigrants who migrated to that area - listen to speakers of Swedish or Norwegian, and you'll hear a lot of the same vowel sounds and a similar lilting tone. :)

No. I've seen the movie, and we don't sound even remotely like the people in Fargo do. Whoever made that movie needs to lay off the crack before it does permanent brain damage.

No. I've seen the movie, and we don't sound even remotely like the people in Fargo do. Whoever made that movie needs to lay off the crack before it does permanent brain damage.

Seeing as it was the Coen brothers, I think it may be too late.

No. I've seen the movie, and we don't sound even remotely like the people in Fargo do. Whoever made that movie needs to lay off the crack before it does permanent brain damage.

Oh, sure - the accents in "Fargo" are an exaggerated version of the most exaggerated versions of the Minnesota accent. Similarly, Dick Van Dyke's Cockney accent in "Mary Poppins" is totally ridiculous - but the Cockney accent still exists, as does the Minnesota/Dakota accent. :)

Oh, sure - the accents in "Fargo" are an exaggerated version of the most exaggerated versions of the Minnesota accent. Similarly, Dick Van Dyke's Cockney accent in "Mary Poppins" is totally ridiculous - but the Cockney accent still exists, as does the Minnesota/Dakota accent. :)

No. Just no.

I take it you've never been to Minnesota?

Seeing as it was the Coen brothers, I think it may be too late.

LOL

I have an accent related question, which perhaps one of our English friends can answer:
in the TV series Yes, Minister, no one, and I mean no one, ever says, "Yes, Min-i-ster." The middle "i" is left out, making the word, "min-ster." My first question is, which accent do most of the characters have in the show? My second, is that a regional thing, to leave out a middle syllable, or are all of the English guilty of this egregious crime against humanity?

Cornish. Hands down. Pure hilarity.

No. Just no.

I take it you've never been to Minnesota?

I think you've mistaken accent for drawl. Minnesota definitely doesn't have a drawl, at least nobody I've ever known, met, or heard from the state has had one.

Everybody has an accent. Accentuation is part of speech... Speech simply wouldn't be possible without it.

No. Just no.

I take it you've never been to Minnesota?

I have, actually, several times.

And I have friends from Minnesota and from North Dakota. (See earlier in the thread.)

And I promise you I've heard the accent. Promise. Scout's honor. :)

(That doesn't mean everyone there, or even most people, have a discernible Minnesota/Dakota accent. Most people all around the country have something very close to my own Midwestern "newscaster" accent - widespread media access tends to flatten accents like that.)

I have, actually, several times.

And I have friends from Minnesota and from North Dakota. (See earlier in the thread.)

And I promise you I've heard the accent. Promise. Scout's honor. :)

(That doesn't mean everyone there, or even most people, have a discernible Minnesota/Dakota accent. Most people all around the country have something very close to my own Midwestern "newscaster" accent - widespread media access tends to flatten accents like that.)

http://media.putfile.com/Basic-Irritation

That's me, a clip of me being irritated by the closed-minded twats in this area. I grew up in a fishing/resort/tourist town in Texas. Would you have guessed anywhere South from that clip?

I have, actually, several times.

And I have friends from Minnesota and from North Dakota. (See earlier in the thread.)

And I promise you I've heard the accent. Promise. Scout's honor. :)

(That doesn't mean everyone there, or even most people, have a discernible Minnesota/Dakota accent. Most people all around the country have something very close to my own Midwestern "newscaster" accent - widespread media access tends to flatten accents like that.)

There. Is. No. Accent. :p

If I had a microphone, I would record my own voice and prove it.

There. Is. No. Accent. :p

If I had a microphone, I would record my own voice and prove it.

You're definitely confusing drawl with accent.

You're definitely confusing drawl with accent.

Minnesotans have neither. :(

Minnesotans have neither. :(

*Everybody* has an accent, even the smooth-talking broadcasters. It's a fact of life. There's no such thing as "no accent", it's just physically impossible. The only way one can speak with no accent is if they communicate telepathically.

*Everybody* has an accent, even the smooth-talking broadcasters. It's a fact of life. There's no such thing as "no accent", it's just physically impossible. The only way one can speak with no accent is if they communicate telepathically.

Which is exactly what we do. ;)

*runs*

Which is exactly what we do. ;)

*runs*

*gives you the runs*

There is no escape.

Jamaican only because my father is Jamaican.

I would've said "American", but that's too vague. The Bostonian accent (which prevails in my area, unfortunately) makes ears bleed while the (true) Texan accent sounds OK.

the (true) Texan accent sounds OK.

Hmm? Texas has many accents, not all of which are native to the state, or even the region. Which one are you thinking about in particular?

Philadelphian English & Hiberno-English

Maybe it's not Texan, but it's kind of like Yosemite Sam's accent.

That's based on the West Texas grunt, and there are actually people who sound like that... Kind of. It's very charicatured (Yosemite Sam), of course.

Hmm? Texas has many accents, not all of which are native to the state, or even the region. Which one are you thinking about in particular?

Maybe it's not Texan, but it's kind of like Yosemite Sam's accent.

http://media.putfile.com/Basic-Irritation

That's me, a clip of me being irritated by the closed-minded twats in this area. I grew up in a fishing/resort/tourist town in Texas. Would you have guessed anywhere South from that clip?

Love the Queen in the background! :)

I'm not very good at American accents, yours doesn't sound like a very stong southern accent to me. Is it atypical for your area?

Love the Queen in the background! :)

I'm not very good at American accents, yours doesn't sound like a very stong southern accent to me. Is it atypical for your area?

It's very atypical, as it's not southern at all. I grew up (well, mentally, not physically) in a resort/fishing/tourist town full of Northeasterners and Midwesterners. I remember when I was living there, the people who actually had southern accents (and believe me, that was a very small minority) sounded really funky and weird to me. They still do. :p



Burning through the sky, yeah / Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit / I'm traveling at the speed of light, I wanna make a supersonic man out of you!

American...the sane parts like New Jersey and Pennsylvania...

It's very atypical, as it's not southern at all. I grew up (well, mentally, not physically) in a resort/fishing/tourist town full of Northeasterners and Midwesterners. I remember when I was living there, the people who actually had southern accents (and believe me, that was a very small minority) sounded really funky and weird to me. They still do. :p

Makes sense then. :)

Burning through the sky, yeah / Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit / I'm traveling at the speed of light, I wanna make a supersonic man out of you!

Don't stop me now / I'm having such a good time / I'm having a ball / Don't stop me now / If you want to have a good time / Just give me a call!

Ontarian

NO ACCENT!

This is why we make the greatest newscasters, we have no accent yet speak fairly quickly

Silly. You do have an accent -- it's just a rather neutral one.

Scots. And whatever flavor of British accent they have in Snatch. I like some Southern accents, but not all. Brooklyn/Chicago mobster accents are also great.

Eh, I grew up in Bensonhoist. (Bensonhurst to you outta towners). Fuhgeddaboudit.

I speak in a mixture of Tampanian English, New York-New Jersey English and African-American Vernacular English.

My favorite accent to listen to is probably Welsh.

Ewwww........ Southern accents are the worse.



What I really meant was North Carolinian dialects. I hate the other southern accents that I've heard so far.I find the Baltimore Dialect to be quite odd.I know this dielect very well since one of my cousins lives there.It sounds like a New England dialect and a Southern one mixed or something........

The English I speak is a cocktail of the North Carolina dialect(from the coastal plains region),Ebonics,and lots loanwords from my countless friends from Cali and New York.
I can bearly understand normal Ebonics sometimes,even thought I'm 75% Black.


North Carolina is lame,but I still love her!

Other than US dialects,I like the London,French,and German accents!

Cockney or French accent. :)

I like the way we've segued seamlessly from dialects (points at the OP) to accents. :p

I like this one English accent, but I'm unsure of the region.

Probably the lattter...:p

*is thoroughly disturbed*



*still can't believe people actually like that*

My favorite accent to listen to is probably Welsh.

Quite a rare thing that. People make fun of me because I have a thing for north and south welsh accents.

British is nice to listen to, even though it's full of made-up words like "lorry" and "petrol". ;)

you idiot :p - English is our language those words are real, There is no such thing as a British accent either - I am from north Liverpool so I have a slight scouse accent but not a strong one yet if I went to say devon or somewhere I sound really scouse - Scouse will probably become a new language in the future , it has loads of words that noone else uses. The stereotype of Liverpudlians is so stupid as well, it was a stereotype from the 80s when Liverpool was poor, now it is a much richer City with much less poverty. (Capital of Culture - but the buildings aint be finished for it)

I like this one English accent, but I'm unsure of the region.

describe it

Torontonians (native speakers that is) have an awful habit of dropping some letters from the middle of words. Or they string them together.
Or they simulataneously remove some letters and add others:

"I'm from Toronto."
"That's the capital of Albania, right?"

And whatever flavor of British accent they have in Snatch.
Mockney. :p

No, I mean "fake." Considering I live in the goddamn state, I think I would know.
I've heard folks speak in a similar way to the characters in Fargo, both in-person and on interviews on US news programs.

It's a characterised, exagerrated accent that's only spoken in the rural north (I believe), sure, but I believe it's an accent none-the-less.

I have an accent related question, which perhaps one of our English friends can answer:
in the TV series Yes, Minister, no one, and I mean no one, ever says, "Yes, Min-i-ster." The middle "i" is left out, making the word, "min-ster." My first question is, which accent do most of the characters have in the show? My second, is that a regional thing, to leave out a middle syllable, or are all of the English guilty of this egregious crime against humanity?
I hail from north of the border, but I think I can answer this (and kudos for watching such a brilliant show!):

The characters in Yes, Minister, especially Sir Humphrey, speak with a posh south-English accent, or 'BBC English' as it's sometimes known. Jim Hacker has a slight London inflection, especially when he's getting excited or agitated. When he's getting all patriotic and duty-bound, he puts on a very posh, aristocratic even, accent; imitating Winston Churchill.

As to the question of regionality, depending on where you go in Britain, we add or drop letters like nobody's buisness. The south of England accents tend to drop letters, especially h's off the start of words and t's and g's off of the end of words ("how is that happening?" often turns into "ow is tha appenin?").

Conversely, the further north you go, the more syllables get tacked onto words. Up here in Scotland, for example, the city of Edinburgh (usually pronounced "Edinburr" in England) is pronounced "Edinburra", while the word's like 'film' are often pronounced "fillim".

Though obviously, there's massive variation in any region.

I hail from north of the border, but I think I can answer this (and kudos for watching such a brilliant show!)

It really is fantastic, isn't it? :)

It really is fantastic, isn't it? :)
Yup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRVvjGL2C0&feature=related). :D

If you like Yes, Minister, you'll love The Thick Of It, a modern-day version of Jim Hacker's nightmare writen by Armando Iannucci; one of the funniest comedy writers in the UK.

Insted of MP's being given the run-around by civil servents, it's MP's being given the run-around by PR men and policy advisors. The first part of the first episode is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzx_Z-TGe4). Be warned though! It's certainly not as family-friendly as Yes, Minster was.

Yup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRVvjGL2C0&feature=related). :D

If you like Yes, Minister, you'll love The Thick Of It, a modern-day version of Jim Hacker's nightmare writen by Armando Iannucci; one of the funniest comedy writers in the UK.

Insted of MP's being given the run-around by civil servents, it's MP's being given the run-around by PR men and policy advisors. The first part of the first episode is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzx_Z-TGe4). Be warned though! It's certainly not as family-friendly as Yes, Minster was.

Excellent! I shall have to check that out.

West African. They truly sound freaky.

Mockney. :p

Turkish: You've got a gun in your trousers. Why have you got a gun in your trousers?
Tommy: I need protection.
Turkish: Protection from what? "Zee Germans"?

Eh, I grew up in Bensonhoist. (Bensonhurst to you outta towners). Fuhgeddaboudit.

Speak English.

Zee mad German scientist speakink Enklish!

Zee mad German scientist speakink Enklish!
And we just ran and ran (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBharndqLNA&feature=related) with it..

I don't know but it would definately not be the Bpston/New England in general accent.

All accents are wierd. A Midwestern accent sounds normal to someone from there a a British accent seem different, and vice vers.

Some people devolp accents when moving to a new place, some don't.

So it all depends on what you can tolerate. I like the New York accent, not the heavy sterotypical one, the less emphasized one. and the more clean cut British accent.

Zee mad German scientist speakink Enklish!

Ernst Wolf, nicht?

you idiot :p - English is our language those words are real, There is no such thing as a British accent either - I am from north Liverpool so I have a slight scouse accent but not a strong one yet if I went to say devon or somewhere I sound really scouse - Scouse will probably become a new language in the future , it has loads of words that noone else uses. The stereotype of Liverpudlians is so stupid as well, it was a stereotype from the 80s when Liverpool was poor, now it is a much richer City with much less poverty. (Capital of Culture - but the buildings aint be finished for it)

Slightly scouse? That strikes me as being nothing more than a middle class kid trying to pretend they don't sound like a chirping seagull.:)

I speak in a mixture of Tampanian English, New York-New Jersey English and African-American Vernacular English.

My favorite accent to listen to is probably Welsh.

Southern Welsh rather than North Wales, I assume. To North Wales people, anyone south of Snowdonia sounds a bit like they've had a stroke... :p
Nah, th North Wales accent is basically the same as Chester and such... except for the wonderufl lads from Dyserth and Flint... "eeeeeeeeey, what're youms doin', dickeeeeeaddd?". Wonderful.

Slightly scouse? That strikes me as being nothing more than a middle class kid trying to pretend they don't sound like a chirping seagull.:)

Come on Chris, if Scouse or Wirral lads aren't comprehensible you've not been North of Watford, surely? Where is it you're studying, again? If it's not Oxbridge, I shall be greatly dissapointed. (No I won't. Oxbridge is not the be-all and end-all, and anyone who thinks they are should, to speak plainly, get over themselves.) Sorry. I may be slightly inebriated. By which I mean I am. But I remain lucid.
I'll stop typing now. :P

Come on Chris, if Scouse or Wirral lads aren't comprehensible you've not been North of Watford, surely? Where is it you're studying, again? If it's not Oxbridge, I shall be greatly dissapointed. (No I won't. Oxbridge is not the be-all and end-all, and anyone who thinks they are should, to speak plainly, get over themselves.) Sorry. I may be slightly inebriated. By which I mean I am. But I remain lucid.
I'll stop typing now. :P

Why bother...I never post sobre, on the grounds I never post in the day time.

I am greatly disappointed; I'm at York for what its worth, and yes, I probably should get over Oxbridge. I'm not going to though, instead I'm doing my utmost to go there for an Ma..:D

It is odd actually. All my friends at uni are from Birmingham and below, with the exception of one Mancunian lass, who doesn't actually sound like a Manc. Either I put out anti-Northern rays, most people like me are from down south, or I'm not trying hard enough, becuase I really don't socialise with northerners. Nor, for that matter, would I sleep with one with a heavy accent. Nothing's less arousing than seductive talk in a scouse accent.:p

Gude. Yu stap gut? Nem bilong me Aridd. Ples bilong mi Franis. Mi no toktok long Tok Pisin. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tok_Pisin)

All right, so it's a language, not a dialect of English. It's still my favourite. :)

To actually answer the question, I suppose I prefer my own. Which is fairly close to Southern British Standard.

And we just ran and ran (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBharndqLNA&feature=related) with it..
Ze good news is zer is no more bad news. :p

Bullll. You say out and ice funny, in a distinctly different funny way than other Canadians.

What, like owt? and eyess (difficult to speak when posting)

I have no idea why you think Canadians say aboot

Maybe east coasters but everyone in Ontario is unaccented

Received Pronunciation.
Liar ;)

My native Torontonian, New York (Manhattan, not the boroughs), and upper-class UK

Manhattan is a borough...:confused:


Mine:
Bostonian (except the North End...emphasis on JP, Fenway/Kenmore)
South African
Australian
Georgian
Caribbean
RP
Standard American

Newfoundland English

The vocabulary is mostly English, but the grammatical structure is all Irish Gaelic.

Newfoundland English

The vocabulary is mostly English, but the grammatical structure is all Irish Gaelic.

I never knew this until I watched some Rush footage from the mid-80s, taken in Newfoundland. That is one kick-ass dialect.