Changing Accents

Blisterman · 21-01-2009 11:10PM

buynow wrote: »

Maybe you're the alpha male

If that were the case, wouldn't my English friends develop Irish accents?

Rabies · 21-01-2009 11:32PM

Daddio wrote: »

I believe the medical term is W.A.S. (Wandering Accent Syndrome)

What about travellers?
No wonder their accent can be odd at times. Best/funniest example is Brad Pitt's character in Snatch.

I don't think I've picked up a kiwi accent, but Have picked up some of the local sayings.

Loopy · 21-01-2009 11:33PM

I have a lot of family in Australia and they have been there over 20 years and still have very strong Belfast accents.

My cousin from Dublin goes over for 6 weeks and comes back actually speaking like an australian, not just expressions, his accent had completely changed. Aw ye mate..:rolleyes:

Tosser.

Davidius · 21-01-2009 11:36PM

I don't remember what my accent sound likes seeing as I enjoy taking off everybody else's accent for the lulz. :pac:

I do remember that it was better than everybody else's.

21-01-2009 11:47PM

Some people have an ear for accents and language and pick them up easily. That's all it is. All this about being a weak person or easily influenced is pure tripe. :rolleyes: Do you really think people go around putting on an accent on purpose? How much effort would it take to do that?

There is a theory that if you like the community you're in, you'll pick up the accent, but that isn't true for me. I moved to Tyrone when I was 11, detested the place, and had the accent within a month. Happens everywhere I go. Perhaps because I was exposed to loads of different accents as a kid, I don't know.

It's strange how it's seen as 'cool' to speak a foreign language with the local accent, and 'weak' to pick up accents in your own language. What's the difference? The same people who think it's amazing that I was mistaken for a native in Seville are scornful about the fact I pretty much have a Dublin accent after living here for 6 years. Strange logic - wouldn't you think it was easier to pick up an accent in your own language?

Latchy · 22-01-2009 12:01AM

I suppose if you find yourself isolated at any time from your own local dialect ,say abroad someplace and there is nobody with you ,you may have to slow your dialect down to make yourself understood.I do recall staying in a hostel in Amsterdam once with a mixture of Irish ,English, a few Americans,Kiwi's and some Germans and this one guy ( Brian ) from somewere in the north of ireland ,cant remember, had the strongest accent that even I failed to understand him and it was hilarious the other nationalities asking me with quizzical looks ' what did he just say ' :eek: lol

He was a lovley guy and felt sorry for him at times, but none of us could understand a word he said

BraziliaNZ · 22-01-2009 12:01AM

mine isn't as strong as it would have been when i was a teenager, but you'd still know i was north dublin, i'd say it calms down from working abroad, if you speak with a thick dublin accent people dont know what you're on about so you begin to pronounce words properly and finish words etc. So my accent hasn't changed but I have improved my elocution, so to speak.

Latchy · 22-01-2009 12:05AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

mine isn't as strong as it would have been when i was a teenager, but you'd still know i was north dublin, i'd say it calms down from working abroad, if you speak with a thick dublin accent people dont know what you're on about so you begin to pronounce words properly and finish words etc. So my accent hasn't changed but I have improved my elocution, so to speak.

Yes indeed , you do become more aware of how your accent is perceived abroad and my elocution also improved over a time .

YDMHSSB · 22-01-2009 12:13AM

my uncle is abroad 40 years and still has a big thick irish accent.

i know one tool that went to london for 3 months and came back with a massive cockney accent:eek:

BraziliaNZ · 22-01-2009 12:22AM

knew a bloke when living in Calgary that had been there 30 years, still sounded like he was straight outta Donnycarney

buynow · 22-01-2009 01:01AM

Blisterman wrote: »

If that were the case, wouldn't my English friends develop Irish accents?

Stop poking holes in my hypothesis!

dSTAR · 22-01-2009 01:14AM

An Irish accent has a lot of pulling power in certain places. I lay it on for the laydees but am usually disappointed when they ask what part of Canada I am from :-(

Most of the time I just keep my accent parked in neutral. I might not get lucky as often but it still leaves people guessing.

BraziliaNZ · 22-01-2009 02:16AM

Irish accent doesn't provoke any interest at all with the ladies for me in Australia or NZ. They're probably sick of us by now.

Thrill · 22-01-2009 02:20AM

javaboy wrote: »

Has to be done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZnoP4sUV90

What a pleb.

Xavi6 · 22-01-2009 02:24AM

2 years here and my accent is still as north Dublin as when I left, probably even more so in fact due to my determination not to lose it and have one of those fucked up half and half ones like Delta Goodrem.

dSTAR · 22-01-2009 03:23AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Irish accent doesn't provoke any interest at all with the ladies for me in Australia or NZ. They're probably sick of us by now.

Cuts both ways though. The Aussie ocker accent still makes me cringe. Gimme Delta anyday

anonymous_joe · 22-01-2009 03:26AM

Heh, my Dutch ex sounded quite Irish when we were going out. Some people pick up these things a lot quicker than others.

22-01-2009 04:44AM

[quote=[Deleted User];58707154]Some people have an ear for accents and language and pick them up easily. That's all it is. All this about being a weak person or easily influenced is pure tripe. :rolleyes: Do you really think people go around putting on an accent on purpose? How much effort would it take to do that?
[/quote]

QFT

ziggy · 22-01-2009 10:35AM

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ziggy · 22-01-2009 10:38AM

This post has been deleted.

Latchy · 22-01-2009 11:41AM

Originally Posted by BraziliaNZ
Irish accent doesn't provoke any interest at all with the ladies for me in Australia or NZ. They're probably sick of us by now.

Speaking of which I find some Australian accents nice but there are some horrendous ones to ,like they are talking with a bunch of feathers down there throats or something .

consultech · 22-01-2009 12:36PM

ashyle wrote: »

Also when I fly, jet lag makes me hoarse and I sound like I'm from Roscommon or something

You're mixing "hoarse" up with "a horse"

:P

Brian · 22-01-2009 12:54PM

I've lived in a couple of English-speaking countries (CA, NZ, US, IE) and have ended up with a touch of all the accents in my way of speaking. I find that my accent/mannerisms vary greatly depending on to whom I am speaking at the time; an adult that I don't know would result in a somewhat American accent, a friend in Cork would result in a few "like"s, and with my parents I'd say things like "sweet as". After 7 years in NZ I had a purely Kiwi accent, and after some time in the States I was definitely more loudly spoken.. mixing that in with a Cork and now Dublin accent, I think my voice has become fairly neutral.

ashyle · 23-01-2009 03:39AM

Lol this entered my head ... Whes the cah?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2gii2nenUg

Changing Accents

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