I'm NOT a Yank!

[Guiscard]

this is true, but why do americans think we speak like that

The only real exposure to the british most of them have are Hugh Grant and a couple of others?

Helen Mirram.

[sam_levi_11]

this is true, but why do americans think we speak like that

The only real exposure to the british most of them have are Hugh Grant and a couple of others?

Helen Mirram.

mirren...

[btownmeggy]

Even if you speak very plainly and clearly and without any regional "dialect", you still have an accent. If you think you don't have an accent, it's probably one called Standard British English, or General Received Pronunciation. Likewise, people in the US who think they "don't have an accent" probably speak something similar to General American, aka Standard American English.

[Guiscard]

this is true, but why do americans think we speak like that

The only real exposure to the british most of them have are Hugh Grant and a couple of others?

Helen Mirram.

mirren...

Oops... Although google Helen Mirram and you get a rather interesting picture... Can anyone see the one I mean?

[sam_levi_11]

the man dressed up as a p*ssy?

[Skittles!]

I can safely say that Yanks are pussy's.

[muy_thaiguy]

I can safely say that Yanks are pussy's.

If by that you mean those in New England, then I guess so. Haven't met to many of them though.

So, what snorri said is that instead of one stereotype of British (the whole "pip pip" thing) it's instead the tavern-tough type of thing (Oy, oo o'er thar, get yer arse ova 'ere sos I's can beat ya to a bloo'ey pulp!).

[Snorri1234]

I can safely say that Yanks are pussy's.

If by that you mean those in New England, then I guess so. Haven't met to many of them though.

So, what snorri said is that instead of one stereotype of British (the whole "pip pip" thing) it's instead the tavern-tough type of thing (Oy, oo o'er thar, get yer arse ova 'ere sos I's can beat ya to a bloo'ey pulp!).

Well ofcourse there are more types, but at least that one actually has a bit of truth to it.

[Dancing Mustard]

I can assure you that both of those British stereotypes actually exist in staggeringly large quantities, though seldom in the same place. If you're prepared to move between the various regions of the United Kingdom then you will find multiple disturbingly accurate real-life portrayals of both of those two characters. They are very very real.

[Snorri1234]

I can assure you that both of those British stereotypes actually exist in staggeringly large quantities, though seldom in the same place. If you're prepared to move between the various regions of the United Kingdom then you will find multiple disturbingly accurate real-life portrayals of both of those two characters. They are very very real.

Really? I've been in the UK quite a few times, but never encountered the former. Though I suppose I missed a great deal of England and Wales.

[Napoleon Ier]

I can assure you that both of those British stereotypes actually exist in staggeringly large quantities, though seldom in the same place. If you're prepared to move between the various regions of the United Kingdom then you will find multiple disturbingly accurate real-life portrayals of both of those two characters. They are very very real.

I'll second that.I was once told at Blockbuster's, and this, I kid you not, is literally true, that "compu'er says no.".

[Dancing Mustard]

Really? I've been in the UK quite a few times, but never encountered the former. Though I suppose I missed a great deal of England and Wales.

Speaking purely from my own experience: Bath, Oxfordshire and Hampshire (the countryside bits of it at any rate) are both completely awash with the 'pip-pip' brigade, and Hampshire's ports (Southampton and Portsmouth), the East-End of London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds are all infested with the "I'll fooking av ya" hooligan types.

Well, either that or I need to find myself a more up to date copy of the Good Pub Guide.

[The1exile]

I don't give a shit.

[brooksieb]

I am an American citizen. That term might have worked back in the 1700s, but now it only works for the New England states! So could you guys find something a bit newer? Or am I going to have to start calling you guys lobster backs and the likes? Also, I've never been to the East coast, much less to the Mississippi! That's like calling all of you British folks English. And knowing how the Scots, Whelsh, and Irish feel about that, you get the idea.

we will call u it until the americans realise we dont speak like are from 1800 or in mary poppins. NO ONE IN ENGLAND SPEAK LIKE THAT ANYMORE.

apart from the royal family, where we get our stereotype from

[Minister Masket]

Did I start this? Honestly mui, it's all fun and sport old bean!
What you're doing here is just not cricket!

[Guiscard]

Really? I've been in the UK quite a few times, but never encountered the former. Though I suppose I missed a great deal of England and Wales.

Speaking purely from my own experience: Bath, Oxfordshire and Hampshire (the countryside bits of it at any rate) are both completely awash with the 'pip-pip' brigade, and Hampshire's ports (Southampton and Portsmouth), the East-End of London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds are all infested with the "I'll fooking av ya" hooligan types.

Well, either that or I need to find myself a more up to date copy of the Good Pub Guide.

University campuses are awash with Pip-Pip's also. I believe the current term is 'rahs' or 'yahs'. So you can get a good cross section up in Leeds if you want...

[Grooveman2007]

To the world all americans are yanks, to southerners northerners are yanks (damnyankees in the deep south). In the North, New Englanders are yanks, while in New England people from New Hampshire are yanks. In New Hampshire, it's people from Vermont, and in Vermont, it's people specifically from Montpellier. So, those in Montpellier are the purest of yanks.

[johnnyrotten]

I am an American citizen. That term might have worked back in the 1700s, but now it only works for the New England states! So could you guys find something a bit newer? Or am I going to have to start calling you guys lobster backs and the likes? Also, I've never been to the East coast, much less to the Mississippi! That's like calling all of you British folks English. And knowing how the Scots, Whelsh, and Irish feel about that, you get the idea.

We care.

[Frigidus]

well just imagione the most accentless person in the world and thats the accent a lot of england has

the exeption being scousers, mancunians, brummies, neys and anyone from norwich

I think that least accent in the world can be found a bit West of Illinois...the Great Plains simply have no noticeable accent.

[Risktaker17]

No one where I live in on the east coast of US has any accent. I guess we sound American...

[Snorri1234]

well just imagione the most accentless person in the world and thats the accent a lot of england has

the exeption being scousers, mancunians, brummies, neys and anyone from norwich

I think that least accent in the world can be found a bit West of Illinois...the Great Plains simply have no noticeable accent.

Actually, my province doesn't have a noticeable accent either, unless you count being obnoxiously loud an accent.

Too bad when we speak english it sound like butchering kittens...

[sam_levi_11]

i guess what we can gather from this is that u tend to think u dont have an accent. this is obviously bullsh*t. either way, the americans dont all speak like 15% of brits think and visa versa

[sully800]

well just imagione the most accentless person in the world and thats the accent a lot of england has

the exeption being scousers, mancunians, brummies, neys and anyone from norwich

I think that least accent in the world can be found a bit West of Illinois...the Great Plains simply have no noticeable accent.

I refer you to btownmeggy's earlier post. The concept of speaking without an accent is ridiculous. An accent is just the way a group of people say certain words. So if everyone from the Great Plains speaks in a similar manner, and its different from other accents, than it is an accent as well.

I'm sure that your concept of a person without an accent is different from sam_levi's definition of an accentless person. Thereby proving that they are both actually accents.

[Snorri1234]

i guess what we can gather from this is that u tend to think u dont have an accent.

Yeah I think this is kind of the problem. I never considered myself to have an accent either, untill I realised that is only because I am used to it. Sure it's not as thick as some of the more isolated places, but there is still quite a trace there.

[muy_thaiguy]

i guess what we can gather from this is that u tend to think u dont have an accent.

Yeah I think this is kind of the problem. I never considered myself to have an accent either, untill I realised that is only because I am used to it. Sure it's not as thick as some of the more isolated places, but there is still quite a trace there.

Everyone does have an accent, it just varies from region to region. Look at Texas, the people from there seem to have a combination of Southern and Western accents, though the 2 are similar, there are noticeable differences as well.