Do you understand different UK and US accents?

[Torsten]

Hi Stew,

Thanks for posting that video -- yes, this Northern Irish accent sounds interesting but I don't think that every person from Northern Ireland speaks like that. The thing with and accent or dialect is that once you get accustomed to it, it no longer sounds foreign to you. You have heard it so often that you start thinking this is the standard accent.
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[Torsten]

It just occurred to me that when you sing, your accent becomes much less distinctive. Let's say, an American sings a song together with a Brit (as a duet). Then it's much harder for you to distinguish between both accents.
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[stew.t.]

Hi Torsten

I did not claim if was a generic Northern Irish accent as it is accentuated (pardon the pun) for comic purposes.

It is true that a lot of singers lose their accents when they sing. However there are exceptions.

Cerys Matthews from Catatonia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caXkHq3Q0N8

the great Tom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieo_ClJpvMM

the Proclaimers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7bLYMU_L7c

To quote but a few.

Another curiousity of mine is how many guys really understand early "The Streets", they are relatively BIG in America but are they really easy too understand for non-native speakers and non-Brit native speakers alike:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qRKGrYklHw&mode=related&search=

before they went more mainstream and poplike and easier to understand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHOf3s70w-c

So which accents do you have problems with in English? I have problems with the rural Cornish accent or some small town American accents.
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[stew.t.]

Hi all

As a follow up check this great resource for students and teachers. If you really wanna understand accents it is a must, as well as great for if you are moving to a certain area abroad.

http://web.ku.edu/idea/dialectmap.htm

Have fun with the lingo!
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[Conchita]

[Englishuser]

Hi,

Have you tried the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/routesofenglish/storysofar/posh.shtml ?

Englishuser

[Conchita]

[Englishuser]

Hi Conchita,

Do you have Real Player installed on your computer?

Englishuser

[Conchita]

[Englishuser]

Hi Conchita,

I would very much like to know what you think of the voice clips.

Englishuser

[Conchita]

The only accent I found somewhat affected was Lady Diana Mosley's (talking about her sister Nancy Mitford, who must have had a similar style of speech). However, I think it's more a question of voice than of pronunciation. In other words, it's the peculiar way she had of modulating her voice that made it sound so posh. The Queen's accent sounds much more natural in comparison.

[Yankee]

My RealPlayer refuses to open those files...

[Englishuser]

Hi Conchita,

I have made pretty much the same conclusions as you have. What do you think there is in late Lady Mosley's voice that makes her sound so 'posh'? What advice would you give to a person with that voice in case they wanted to sound less affected? Also, what do you think of No?l Coward's and Gertrude Lawrence's accents?

Englishuser

[Conchita]

[stew.t.]

Hi Conchita

Glad you enjoyed the files. I like the East Anglian one myself as it is a great anecdote and a wonderfully broad accent.

I agree with you that no one should get rid of their accent only unless it hinders their chances for a job.

I met my cousins for the first time in 8 years last Summer and realised just how much my accent has changed due to travelling and teaching. I did not deliberately change my accent for work but it has happened naturally.

Who has noticed a change in their accent over time and why?

Maybe we should have recordings of our voices here: DO you think we should sow the seed in Torsten and the other guys heads ; )
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