To those from the UK: Your thoughts on American accents...

[poc301]

Something has been running through my head all day and I figured I would ask since there is a good mixture of different nationalities on here..

My wife and I are Americans, we live right near Washington DC, so we have normal run-of-the-mill (IE: non-southern) American speech patterns.  We watch a lot of BBC America and had this discussion the other night with some of our friends who agree:

Most Americans find British accents to be suave, even sexy sounding.  I find females with a British accent to be more sexy than if they spoke with an American accent, as do some of my friends.  My wife feels the same way about males with British accents (I need to be careful not to introduce her to any), as do some of her girlfriends.

Scottish, Irish, Welsh (very hard to understand) and other UK accents are similarly rated, but not as high as British (primarily the London, Liverpool and even Cambridge dialects, not so much the Cockney and others).

I was wondering if those in the UK have the same feelings about American accents, speech patterns, or whatever you'd like to call it?

Thanks!

Bill

[Calin Leafshade]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6K8yfQYOTQ

[Sam.]

To me, the American accent is not one I typically associate with intelligence or sincerity.

Thankfully, I don't allow this xenophobia to penetrate my decision making, so yes, I will gladly seduce your wife. I am British so it shan't be a problem for her.

[Matti]

Well, I'm not from the UK but one thing I dislike is the southern/texan accent, just like I dislike the southern german accents.

[monkey0506]

I like how much you must hate me entirely based on my voice seeing as I was born in the southern part of West Germany (yes I know that country no longer formally exists, but I was born there!!!) and have lived the majority of my life in southern Texas.

[Bror_Jon]

Well, I'm not from the UK but one thing I dislike is the southern/texan accent, just like I dislike the southern german accents.

Is it universal that southern accents suck? Cause the South Swedish accent sound horrible as well... 

[Calin Leafshade]

Generally its the northern british accent which is frowned upon.. until you hit scotland and then no cares anymore.

If your british its usually best to be from the oxfordshire area re:accent.

Im from Nottingham but i dnot really have a conventional notts accent.. im also awesome with a bow and arrow.. its in the blood.

[poc301]

Oh no Monkey!  Double whammy!  

Interesting thoughts on the subject.  My wife was in Paris for a few weeks while in college and had similar problems with preceonceived stereotypes about Americans.  

I don't know which I dislike more, the fact that Europeans feel that way about us, or the fact that so many of my countrymen must have been bumbling idiots in a public way for this to have become the norm...

-Bill

[Ryan Timothy B]

I don't know which I dislike more, the fact that Europeans feel that way about us, or the fact that so many of my countrymen must have been bumbling idiots in a public way for this to have become the norm...

I hope that it isn't that way with Canadians.
I actually remember hearing my old teacher way back in high school, would tell us that Americans would stitch a Canadian flag to their backpacks and whatnot just so they could be treated with respect when traveling over seas.  I wonder if that is true.

[Calin Leafshade]

I think the reason America (in a very general sense) is so despised by europe is the kind of isolationist thing you have going on.

I was once asked by an American if England was part of London or if they were separate states.
That kind of ignorance annoys us a great deal since it belittles us as not important.

I can name all the US states and roughly point them out on the map and they don't even know where London is?

Also the whole religion thing in the states doesn't help. Around half of Americans don't accept evolution and consider it some kind of scientific conspiracy against god with no evidence. And the main problem with that is that it isnt just random nutcases. You have governors and presidential candidates believing that stuff.

And then you have George Bush.. when your president says "is our children learning?" it really doesnt help your case as a progressive nation.

Again, It's obvious not ALL americans are like that. Its a stereotype and for every nutcase who rejects evolution in the place of magic you have someone who doesn't. Its just a culture that isnt very compatible with european thinking.

[Matti]

I like how much you must hate me entirely based on my voice seeing as I was born in the southern part of West Germany (yes I know that country no longer formally exists, but I was born there!!!) and have lived the majority of my life in southern Texas.

Oh boy, oh boy... I'm glad I didn't have to listen to you yet...

Just kidding 

Well, I'm not from the UK but one thing I dislike is the southern/texan accent, just like I dislike the southern german accents.

Is it universal that southern accents suck? Cause the South Swedish accent sound horrible as well... 

Maybe.

I've often been to Sweden, but always to the very south (Småland that is), so I only experienced that accent. Then again, I don't even understand a word...

I actually remember hearing my old teacher way back in high school, would tell us that Americans would stitch a Canadian flag to their backpacks and whatnot just so they could be treated with respect when traveling over seas.  I wonder if that is true.

I heard that too. And I know a Simpsons episode where Lisa does the exact same thing, while Homer is waving a US flag, telling everybody not to mess with America. Ah, it was that funny episode where the Simpsons went to England and Tony Blair had a funny appearance at the airport.

I was once asked by an American if England was part of London or if they were separate states.
That kind of ignorance annoys us a great deal since it belittles us as not important.

Yeah, just watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

(admitted: The reporter just picked out some of the most incredible nutcases and you could do such a survey in any country)

Its just a culture that isnt very compatible with european thinking.

Nah, they are just still young and can't overcome puberty, in fact, they're children from Great Britain.

[Bror_Jon]

Maybe.

I've often been to Sweden, but always to the very south (Småland that is), so I only experienced that accent. Then again, I don't even understand a word...

Well, if you go there again, listen to how they do not say R alot and when they do it's some kind of throat sound, not a rolling R.

But I was thinking more of the more southern parts like Skåne... a horrible place...

[Calin Leafshade]

Yeah, just watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

(admitted: The reporter just picked out some of the most incredible nutcases and you could do such a survey in any country)

I dont think you could do that in any country. You'd have to walk around britain for quite a long time to find such a massive collection of idiots.

They arent stupid, just very ignorant of the world outside the US. Like i said.. isolationism.

[markbilly]

Have you ever met anyone from around the Birmingham area in the UK?

Sexy and suave kind of breaks now there...

[Bulbapuck]

Maybe.

I've often been to Sweden, but always to the very south (Småland that is), so I only experienced that accent. Then again, I don't even understand a word...

Well, if you go there again, listen to how they do not say R alot and when they do it's some kind of throat sound, not a rolling R.

But I was thinking more of the more southern parts like Skåne... a horrible place...

What? Scania (Skåne) is not horrible, it's a beautiful place! I've spent many summers there

I was once asked by an American if England was part of London or if they were separate states.
That kind of ignorance annoys us a great deal since it belittles us as not important.

I can name all the US states and roughly point them out on the map and they don't even know where London is?

Hahaha, I once got the question: "This 'Sweden' you talk about, is it in Alaska?"

[Bror_Jon]

What? Scania (Skåne) is not horrible, it's a beautiful place! I've spent many summers there

Hahaha, I once got the question: "This 'Sweden' you talk about, is it in Alaska?"

It's horrible because they speak horribly... I can understand a thing...

hehe Alaska, that's a good one...
I was asked once: Why doesn't Sweden celebrate 4th of July.

[Calin Leafshade]

everyone knows where sweden is.. through the magic wardrobe, past the Tree of Life, second star on the left and straight on till morning..

[Darth Mandarb]

Stupid and ignorant people aren't an American exclusive.  The world is full of them. 

I think the problem is, for whatever reason, my country (and everybody else) seems to want to showcase the stupid and ignorant people here.

Anyway ... back on topic:

For me, growing up, I had very little diversity in accents.  Maybe a slight Canadian lilt (eh?), or a southern drawl (y'all) when I visited family down south but for the most part it wasn't much different.  There were variances but it was still basically the same English.  So when I hear an accent that is noticeably different I find it slightly appealing, sure.  This isn't ignorance or stupidity.  It's just an appreciation of the difference. 

I think another reason you find Americans enjoying a foreign accent is because America is large.  I have made the road-trip from Michigan to Florida many times.  It is very far (roughly 1300 miles) yet I don't leave the country.  Were I to make a similar length journey in Europe I'd probably travel through 3 countries minimum (I didn't load google maps to make a scientific study of this ... I'm just making a point).  So maybe Europeans are just more accustomed to hearing a variety of accents/languages which makes it more normal and less "exotic" for them?

I actually remember hearing my old teacher way back in high school, would tell us that Americans would stitch a Canadian flag to their backpacks and whatnot just so they could be treated with respect when traveling over seas.  I wonder if that is true.

When I was in Vienna last year Nacho, Lorena and I went into this restaurant.  The waiter wouldn't speak to me when he found out I was American.  He would ask Nacho to ask me questions.  It was hilarious.  I could care less ... if he is that ignorant I don't think there's anything I could do to change his mind.  As I said above, ignorance is not exclusive to Americans!

Yeah, just watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

(admitted: The reporter just picked out some of the most incredible nutcases and you could do such a survey in any country)

I dont think you could do that in any country. You'd have to walk around britain for quite a long time to find such a massive collection of idiots.

They arent stupid, just very ignorant of the world outside the US. Like i said.. isolationism.

Now now ... we generalizing and stereo-typing here (which is just as bad as the claims being made).  I know people that are isolated, sure.  But most of the people I associate with are very knowledgeable about the "outside" world and would have gotten those questions correct.  If I had been asked those questions I would immediately have seen the real reason behind it and would have put the guy in his place because I find that kind of thing to be just as ignorant as the ignorance they were attempting to point out.  Of course I would end up on the editing room floor 'cause they couldn't show that!

Sure that video is funny but why do they not show the people that got [at least] some of the answers correct?  Because that wouldn't be as funny!  I guarantee you if you gathered up the equivalent kind of people from any country the results to those questions would be the same.

[Calin Leafshade]

Darth i'm fairly sure (as ironic as it is) that you are using 'ignorant' in the wrong context.

Ignorant doesnt mean you ignore someone or something. It means you arent aware of something.

Someone cant be "ignorant to you" and if someone ignores you they arent being ignorant.. they are being rude

Im saying that Americans simply dont look outside their back yard (again remember i AM stereotyping heavily and you are lovely yourself)

It just seems to be the culture. Americans like all-american things and see little point in extending their horizons beyond your shores and it can appear insulting to people who arent american.

We use the term 'Americanisation' as a synonym for 'homogenisation'

[monkey0506]

The appropriate term is Amerikaanization to distinguish "The United States of America" from the American continents.


P.S. This is entirely based upon my own methodology and preference and in no way reflects the opinions of others.