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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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 Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| JL wrote: |
| seklarwia wrote: |
 I'm botoxing my forehead as I type...
I left out the "in London" bit (notice my edit to the quote). I'd love if you could find an example perhaps on youtube or something. I'd love to know what you Americans hear when when our "London workers" speak. [/b] |
"London workers"
Oh, is that what I got you hung up on? "Workers" and "working man?" Is "working class" and an Americanism too? I'm not trying to be cute, here. Now you've really got me wondering which words I should use. No, I did not mean to say that anyone in London who is gainfully employed, thus takes on a new accent. Though you have me thoroughly enjoying the hilarity of this.
I've now got to call it a night. But I look forward to picking this up again, tomorrow. |
Oh... working class accent. I did think you meant those who work and I'm thinking no way you can compare a business man to newsagent worker even if they both live on the same road in Walthamstow, or a workers in the same office when one went to a regular comprehensive and the other the neighbouring grammar school, or pretty much anyone from Notting Hill (arguably the most multicultural part of London), or... you get the idea.
I guess I know what accent you are refering too, but I'm still inclined to disagree. I mean, if I dumped you in Brixton or Seven sisters, I'd love for you to even find a handful of working class who speak in that stereotypical accent when most of them sound eastern European or "black" (It always makes me giggle when you have an Indian, Afro-carribean and an English rose all sounding like Snoop-Dog  )
I think if you were talking about much of the area north of London to the Midlands then you might be able to call "working man/class" accent.
 I'm wondering what happened to the poor Japanese that was meant to be in all these comparisons. Maybe we should create a ACCENTS! - The great debate thread. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| I guess I'd have to include Sam Neill in the accomplished category as well. Because I didn't know until half way through his career, that he was Australian. |
Arrgh!! Sam Neill is a New Zealander!  He was born in Ireland, but has lived in New Zealand for most of his life, he is never an Australian! Russell Crowe I will let the Australians have, even though he was born a Kiwi, but not Sam Neill! 
Take that back!  |
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JL
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 241
Location: Las Vegas, NV USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Apsara wrote: |
Arrgh!! Sam Neill is a New Zealander! He was born in Ireland, but has lived in New Zealand for most of his life, he is never an Australian! Russell Crowe I will let the Australians have, even though he was born a Kiwi, but not Sam Neill!
Take that back! |
Just as Canada is really just America Junior, don't you Kiwis realize you're simply Ozzie Juniors?
(Hey, I can hardly let Elkarlo have all the fun around here. Besides, I needed to create a diversion to escape Seklarwia. She was starting to box and close me into a rhetorical corner. ) |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:45 am Post subject: |
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| JL wrote: |
| Apsara wrote: |
Arrgh!! Sam Neill is a New Zealander! He was born in Ireland, but has lived in New Zealand for most of his life, he is never an Australian! Russell Crowe I will let the Australians have, even though he was born a Kiwi, but not Sam Neill!
Take that back! |
Just as Canada is really just America Junior, don't you Kiwis realize you're simply Ozzie Juniors?
(Hey, I can hardly let Elkarlo have all the fun around here. Besides, I needed to create a diversion to escape Seklarwia. She was starting to box and close me into a rhetorical corner. ) |
And the US and Oz are really England's love children You leave Oz Junior alone.
And don't think you get out of this little box so easily. I will beat all the false stereotypical beliefs out of you yet. *Heads to garden to cut a switch* 
But seriously, I actually find it interesting to know how we are perceived by the other English speaking nations. Certainly there are lots of hilarious beliefs here about you all (well more about US and Oz. I think the NZ and Canada get off pretty lightly). |
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JL
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 241
Location: Las Vegas, NV USA
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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aspara posted
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| ...and for those from outside the US, the difference between a California accent, a Boston accent and a Midwest accent is barely discernible,... |
I think when you included 'those from outside the US' found it barely discernable was what I disagreed with. If you had just said that "I find it barely discernable', I probably would have found your statement easier to understand and agree with.
Anyway, even myself, I'm hardly a well traveled linguist, so I would have a hard time picking out accents from all over (even regional accents have variations) in the US, and that and living overseas for close to 17 years doesn't help me with remembering all the dialects that I have been exposed to at various times.
As to London accents, I recognize some of them, but then some people lviing in London have different English accents originating outside of London proper. Just so you know, cities like NY and LA have different accents as well, they just haven't been shown on BBC as much. Certainly the ones in NY you've probably heard in the American TV programs and movies you might have seen.
I can generally tell the difference between Kiwi, Australian, and British accents. I work with all three sorts at several jobs, and it's usually pretty obvious who is from where. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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gaigjinalways, I very much doubt that it is limited to just me, and I have had this conversation before, both online and with friends and coworkers. Basically the differences between the regional US accents are not as obvious to those unfamiliar with them as most Americans think they are. There are no doubt non-Americans with excellent ears who can pick a California accent, but the majority of us just can't.
Can you point out the differences that I should be listening for? I can recognise the stereotypical New York accent of course, so don't bother with that one. What tells you that the person you are talking to is from the Midwest?
Also with some Kiwis and Australians with more mild accents, I have to listen to a few sentences at least before I can pick which country, so you are doing very well if you find it obvious every time. Please don't look down on those of us with less-developed ears! |
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