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MotherF · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:32 pm Post subject:

I once worked with a teacher who switched back and forth between his regional UK accent and RP. It was kind of creepy. I had been on vacation when he started and on my first day back we did some speaking exams together. While getting every thing ready I noticed he didn't pronounce th sounds. Three was free and mother was moder. And I thought to myself, oh, that's going to be hard for the students. But the students can in and it was like switch had been flipped, I thought I was in a Cambridge video!

And speaking of Actors. Seen The Good Wife? Alan Cummings talked about his accent on the show in an NPR interview a while back. Here is the link
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/11/141240655/good-wife-s-alan-cumming-on-his-career-in-acting

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:44 pm Post subject:

Dear MotherF,

Love that show - one of the very best on TV. I'd never have guessed he's Scottish - he does an outstanding job.

Regards,
John

simon44 · Joined: 15 Mar 2013 Posts: 118

JustinC · Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject:

Cool Teacher · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 5:01 pm Post subject:

it'snotmyfault · Joined: 14 May 2012 Posts: 527

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

My Newfoundland accent was not easy to understand overseas at first. There are lots of people in this province I would still have a bit of a time following to this day. I haven't heard some of this stuff in ages.

It's hard enough for students and others with poor English to understand the clearest and simplest slowly spoken English, but to also contend with a harsh accent makes it rough for sure.

It slipped into an easier to understand, slower and clearer pattern after not so long, and over the years overseas many have said it's clear and easy to understand.

Then I find myself back in Canada and in Newfoundland, and it is back somewhat to the old way. Not entirely, but why not slip into the local way.

By the same token I have met a few I couldn't understand well myself. I'd say at least one Scotsman, Aussie, Kiwi, and Welshman all qualified as tough to get, some of them from really small places. I'm sure to be understood they had to slow down and clear it up a bit.

JustinC · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 4:05 am Post subject:

I used to work for a bank and on the pheaun, when speaking to people I didn't know before I would sometimes change accents for fun.

Like changing a shirt, it's not difficult to mimic the caller's accent after you get a bit practiced. After half an hour on more complicated problems I think they sort of wised up but weren't, quite confident enough to say "Hey, what's up with your voice?" when we were speaking about their pension, ha ha.

I worked in a call centre when I was at Uni, for a breakdown/recovery service. 95% of calls went through to the same team so I made up names for it, because after 400 times saying "I'll put you through to our recovery department" it got a bit boring. I changed my accent into ridiculous stereotypes (they were more interestered in getting to work than asking me where I was from) and said stupid stuff like;

"Wait while I put you through to our broken wing mirror team."
"Just a minute, please hold while I put you through to my stuck on the M1 colleagues."
"I'll just put you through to our puncture experts."
"Our specialised, crack, cracked windscreen negotiators will take your details and one will arrive within the hour."
etc

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

These are brilliant Justin!

I used to work in a sort of call centre. After a while you have to change the script just to liven things up a bit. We'd challenge each other to crowbar in the most ridiculous words / phrases without laughing.