Why is that.. (question about accents)

Let me preface this by saying this ISN'T a critique of either country's accents..

Anyway, what I'm curious about is why it seems that often in the USA, an English accent isn't understood very easily, whereas an American accent can easily be understood by someone from England?

I used to think it was just me this happened to, but I've spoken to several people who have found this when they go to the states.

I was thinking perhaps it's because you unconsciously 'tune in' to the American accent as that's the majority of what you'll be hearing whilst you're there, whereas for the American, they are 'tuned in' to the American accent and the English accent is going to be in a minority of what they will hear day-to-day. If that makes any sense!

Just to re-iterate, this isn't some kind of anti-American rant, I'm just curious, as I find language and so on very interesting.

Thanks

[Decker]

Perhaps we see more American TV shows and are thus used to the accent?

[honey lamb]

I have close friends from North Carolina and when I phone or meet them it takes me a few minutes to tune into them because of their accent. I also have to blink and think when they use words and phrases I wouldn't normally use. For example the wife referred to my butter dish as a "butter keeper" but the best one was when they first came to visit me. The very first morning the husband asked me "What kind of varmints do you have here?" As I hadn't heard that phrase outside of "The Beverley Hillbillies" I was completely taken aback and stammered some kind of feeble answer.

[preiffer]

What did you say there, GJ? [:w]

[honey lamb]

I should also add, that apart from my difficulty with my friends in North Carolina, I can't understand a word they say in Eastenders. Having gone to school in Lancashire I can manage Coronation Street, though.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by honey lamb
I can't understand a word they say in Eastenders.

I had them all pretty much figured out except for Wellard. And Sonia. But I got the two of them mixed up anyway so it made no difference...

GJ

Actually Wellard was the only one I could understand. In any case I have long since discovered that to suss out the main plotline is to find out which lot is the most miserable and watch them till another group descends into the depths of misery

I even find understanding some "briddish" regional dialects difficult to understand - I guess it's just what you're used to hearing.

VS.

2. An American listening to Brad Pitt's character in "Snatch." INCOMPREHENSIBLE!

It's incomprehensible to all as he couldn't master the required accent so just spoke gibberish.

We as Britons, do not in the main, differentiate between the regional accents in the US. As GJ says, we think that there is only one American accent or possibly two a southern and a northern accent, when in fact even each southern and northern state has a different accent, take Vermont compared to Mass. for example.

Also as an Aussie that has been to the US, I think they listen to the accent and not the words, as it is something different. As they often didn't understand me, and I don't have a strong accent I promise! [:?]

I think the number of American accents on British TV has a lot to do with it. Channels such as MTV, Channel Four, Five etc are full of American programmes. Where as the British accent isnt as often heard on American TV (although its great to see ex Blue Peter presenters on MSNBC!).

This is why I believe, young American girls love the British accent where as young British girls dont feel the same way about the American accent! [8D]


I did have a conversation with a DL flight attendent who clamied to me that the Irish and British flights were the toughest flights to work on due to the language barrier. I didnt believe her at first but she claimed that us Irish/British always answer a question with a negative and that confuses them rahter than the accent.

Jings ye should see the bother ah huv when ah go fur a wee trip across the pond!!

Orra best

John

Agree with most comments here in that I think it's because we in the UK have grown up with a tv diet rich in US accents. I've never had a problem understanding any US accent, in whatever region I've visited, but the one thing that DOES both puzzle and bemuse me is this - why do so many peeps in the US assume a UK accent is an Oz one?????

In my experience of the USA - limited as it is to the West and east coasts - it is New Yorkers who struggle most with the way I speak. I don't think I have a particularly strong regional accent - though northern in origin, years of living in the soft underbelly of the south mean I no longer "looook at a boooook" and rarely admit to being klemmed - three experiences spring to mind.

1. Asking for a Coke and getting a carrot juice;
2. A tennis match of misunderstanding in a deli over the word "butter". As is "you want budda with that?" "yes, butter please" "No buddy do you want BUDDA with that?" and so on for about 5 minutes
3. A waitress asking me to repeat the word "banana" because "I just love the way you say it"

Best US accent I ever heard was in Charlotte where one of the secretaries was pure Scarlett O'Hara.

Paul

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
[brJust waiting for them to get through "Good afternoon, this is Sally Creamcheese" gives one enough time to boil and egg. (Not an EGG).

GJ

:D:D Brill!

When we visit Florida we stay up on the Gulf Coast in a very small town. The locals there don't get a great many English people staying there and we have so many times been asked just to speak, they don't care what we say they just love to listen to our accent (Leeds, West Yorkshire).

We have had some problems being understood when asking for things, one comes to mind of the day we went to a Wendy's for a cup of tea and a bottle of water, we asked over and over again and the girl was just completely confused and had to call the manager over to listen to what we wanted. Also we have been asked on numerous occasions if we are German[:0]

We try very hard to speak clearly but still they don't understand.

thelaceys

[Scrooge]

Honestly I cannot count the number of times I have been called on to "translate" for someone speaking English, I will also add that there are certain American accents that I have to stop and think through what they are saying.

For the most part it is the speed at which English people talk at that confuses Americans and also the way some words are kind of slur together. Let's not even get started on the way some area's drop their H which throws everyone for a loop.

I once had a buff and polish before a wedding in Florida, and the beautician asked me what language we spoke in England. 'Oh wow' was her answer when I repied 'English' Still, a lady from Tunbridge Wells was also trying to sell me her house whilst I was waiting. Odd afternoon.

OK. I'm Scottish. my wife comes from London (she still takes medication).

So, how come when in Las Vegas do I get 'accused' of coming from 'The Lakes' and why does my wife asked 'how is the weather in Australia'?

[Scrooge]

Because to most Americans English is Australian...and as far as most Americans are concerned Australia is only a few miles south of England.Sorry to be general but it is the sad truth.

Remember when Microsoft released a version of the OS featuring a language list that went "English English - Australian English - US English, etc."? Total chumps that they were (akin to BA perhaps) but am beginning to feel they had a point .

I think in some cases English English is often better understood in countries that don't speak the language than in certain parts of the US. Having said that, it's not often that I am misunderstood across the pond, my accent being a mixture of South African and southern England.

VS.

We've become used to asking for water in a non-UK way (and have overcome our embarrassment at doing so!) However, the one time we didn't understand was in Tennessee, a couple of years ago. The waitress was asking about what sides we wanted, it was the usual fries, salad, baked potato or.... what??? We asked her to repeat it, but were just puzzled at what raarce might be. It clicked eventually, that she meant rice! OK, so not THAT funny maybe, except that I was the one who realised what she was asking - and we were with friends who are from Georgia - and they didn't understand her either.

Accents aside though, I admit I really quite like the different phrases and words used....

[Decker]

Tennessee - no candy(ied) yams or collard greens?

Must admit the MS query made sense to me - alters the keyboard layout and default dictionary.

Well, look at the situation in the UK if you go into a bakers and ask for a round bread with some meat in.
a) A batch
b) A cob
c) A roll
All the same thing depending on where you come from in the UK