Accents

07-13-2006, 07:25 AM

What sort of accent do you have ? Does it place you as belonging to a particular area ? Does it place you as belonging to a particular group ? To a particular time ?

Thank you .

Trilby · 07-13-2006, 07:45 AM

I sound just like the American newscasters. I've a Midwestern accent--which is like having no accent at all!

Pangloss62 · 07-13-2006, 08:18 AM

A touch of grey in my sideburns; the girls like it.

07-13-2006, 08:43 AM

I can believe that , Pangloss . A touch of salt and pepper always accentuates the taste .

Stormieweather · 07-13-2006, 09:53 AM

I've posted this before. I am fairly accentless overall, in that people can rarely place my roots from my accent. However, I tend to take on the accent of the person I'm talking to. I grew up in the Smoky Mountains of GA, so have a deep southern base which only shows itself when talking to another southerner. I spent quite a few years overseas working and living with the British and other Europeans as well as Middle Easterners. This has also affected how I speak.

Hoof Hearted · 07-13-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

However, I tend to take on the accent of the person I'm talking to.

My husband does this! At first, I thought he was 'making fun' of the person he was talking to but then I realized he doesn't even KNOW when he is doing it! He would speak with a Swedish accent when talking with Gunnar (from Sweden) and when we moved to the South, I've caught him speaking with Southerners in a Southern accent.
I was born in FL but raised in CA. I don't think I have any accent, but NYers have been able to tell I was from CA.

Something odd...
I had maxilofacial surgery when I was in High School to correct a very large overbite from a lower jaw that did not grow properly. When my broken jaw was unwired, I found that I spoke with an English accent for several weeks until my mouth (tongue) learned the new territory and how to form the sounds.
hh

07-13-2006, 10:48 AM

Your husband has empathy Hoof Hearted .

What you say about maxilofacial surgery is extremely interesting . I always tell my students to change their faces when attempting to speak unfamiliar languages . I tell them to keep their upper lip immobile when speaking Spanish for example , or to pout their lips when speaking French . For a reasonable R.P. British accent , they have to imagine their mouth is full of marbles . The list goes on .

Language is about sounds , after all .

Ridgeplate · 07-13-2006, 04:04 PM

On a somewhat related note, I overheard this today:
"...have a mouth full of ethnicity, and I can't understand a word you say."

Rock Steady · 07-13-2006, 04:24 PM

During graduate school I eliminated most of my local accent. A New York Italian accent doesn't make you sound well educated. I defended my PhD in perfect "newscaster" standard american english. I didn't actively decide to change my speech, just tried hard to fit in.

I slip back into local accent when I'm on the phone with my sister still in NY.

Language has many aspects, but for us search engineers it's just statistics.

KinkyVixen · 07-13-2006, 05:27 PM

I'm from the midwest, and as Brianna said it's like having no accent at all...until you end up way on the outskirts of the east coast and you use the phrase "I'm gonna go put on some pants" and everyone thinks you said "paints".

Pie · 07-13-2006, 05:44 PM

Everyone? How many people are you pantsless around, usually?

KinkyVixen · 07-13-2006, 05:51 PM

LOL...I usually try and flash people between 7-10 times a day

ferret88 · 07-14-2006, 02:10 PM

I am New Mexico born and raised. I, according to the newsfolk and the accent surveyors, have no accent.

The weird thing is that, when I'm tired, I talk with that Fargo/Minnesota accent, eh. I've spent all of like 5 days in that part of the country in my 36 plus years.

bluecuracao · 07-14-2006, 03:13 PM

Whenever I visit ABQ, since moving away about 20 years ago, everyone there sounds to me like they have a slight Spanish accent. I bet you do too, Ferret--just other Albuquerqueans can't tell.

bbro · 07-14-2006, 03:09 PM

I was born around Pittsburgh so didn't develop the deep Yinzer accent, but I tend to slip into it with some specific words. I have had people tell me that I don't have an accent in Pittsburgh, but when I moved south, I was told I had an accent. That and I talked really fast. If they think that I talk fast on my own, they should hear me when I am with old friends!

07-13-2006, 07:25 AM	#1
Buddug Guest Posts: n/a	Accents What sort of accent do you have ? Does it place you as belonging to a particular area ? Does it place you as belonging to a particular group ? To a particular time ? Thank you .

07-13-2006, 07:45 AM	#2
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I sound just like the American newscasters. I've a Midwestern accent--which is like having no accent at all! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

07-13-2006, 08:18 AM	#3
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	A touch of grey in my sideburns; the girls like it. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

07-13-2006, 09:53 AM	#5
Stormieweather Wearing her bitch boots Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Floriduh Posts: 1,181	I've posted this before. I am fairly accentless overall, in that people can rarely place my roots from my accent. However, I tend to take on the accent of the person I'm talking to. I grew up in the Smoky Mountains of GA, so have a deep southern base which only shows itself when talking to another southerner. I spent quite a few years overseas working and living with the British and other Europeans as well as Middle Easterners. This has also affected how I speak. __________________ "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

07-13-2006, 04:24 PM	#9
Rock Steady Day Tripper Join Date: May 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 784	During graduate school I eliminated most of my local accent. A New York Italian accent doesn't make you sound well educated. I defended my PhD in perfect "newscaster" standard american english. I didn't actively decide to change my speech, just tried hard to fit in. I slip back into local accent when I'm on the phone with my sister still in NY. Language has many aspects, but for us search engineers it's just statistics. __________________

07-13-2006, 08:43 AM	#4
Buddug Guest Posts: n/a	I can believe that , Pangloss . A touch of salt and pepper always accentuates the taste .

07-13-2006, 10:48 AM	#7
Buddug Guest Posts: n/a	Your husband has empathy Hoof Hearted . What you say about maxilofacial surgery is extremely interesting . I always tell my students to change their faces when attempting to speak unfamiliar languages . I tell them to keep their upper lip immobile when speaking Spanish for example , or to pout their lips when speaking French . For a reasonable R.P. British accent , they have to imagine their mouth is full of marbles . The list goes on . Language is about sounds , after all .

07-13-2006, 04:04 PM	#8
Ridgeplate Zen Laxatives: "This too shall pass..." Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 53	On a somewhat related note, I overheard this today: "...have a mouth full of ethnicity, and I can't understand a word you say."

07-13-2006, 05:27 PM	#10
KinkyVixen Marching In! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 580	I'm from the midwest, and as Brianna said it's like having no accent at all...until you end up way on the outskirts of the east coast and you use the phrase "I'm gonna go put on some pants" and everyone thinks you said "paints". __________________ "Smile before bed.You'll sleep better."

07-13-2006, 05:44 PM	#11
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Everyone? How many people are you pantsless around, usually? __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

07-13-2006, 05:51 PM	#12
KinkyVixen Marching In! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 580	LOL...I usually try and flash people between 7-10 times a day __________________ "Smile before bed.You'll sleep better."

07-14-2006, 02:10 PM	#13
ferret88 (This space left intentionally UN-blank.) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 604	I am New Mexico born and raised. I, according to the newsfolk and the accent surveyors, have no accent. The weird thing is that, when I'm tired, I talk with that Fargo/Minnesota accent, eh. I've spent all of like 5 days in that part of the country in my 36 plus years.

07-14-2006, 03:13 PM	#14
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Whenever I visit ABQ, since moving away about 20 years ago, everyone there sounds to me like they have a slight Spanish accent. I bet you do too, Ferret--just other Albuquerqueans can't tell.

07-14-2006, 03:09 PM	#15
bbro Insert witty comment here Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,182	I was born around Pittsburgh so didn't develop the deep Yinzer accent, but I tend to slip into it with some specific words. I have had people tell me that I don't have an accent in Pittsburgh, but when I moved south, I was told I had an accent. That and I talked really fast. If they think that I talk fast on my own, they should hear me when I am with old friends!

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