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To an untrained non-English native with little exposure to Irish voices Irish English may well be confused with American English.
For exampe if you live in Germany, and this probably goes for other countries in continental Europe too, you rarely hear Irish people speaking. Most movies orininally in English are dubbed, including the few from Ireland. So when you suddenly hear someone on the street speaking with a rolling R (and people know that Americans roll their Rs) then you might as well think they are Americans.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vamos
The only people who would confuse an Irish accent with a Canadian or US accent are those that lack exposure or who are not native speakers. It's like confusing British and Australian accents - only happens if you are not really familiar with either.
That's it. There are similarities (rhoticisms, rather un-rounded short 'o' sound such as words as as 'block') but listen enough and you'll find the Irish accent is also very different.
The Irish accent had some influence in some Southern accents, but is most notable in the accent of Boston and Eastern New England, which seems to be pretty influenced by both Irish and West English accents. Think of the word 'for' being pronounced like like 'far.' Of course in the Boston version the 'r' is not pronounced.
Most young Irish people I've met have had very strong accents, not easily confused with the Canadians or Americans I've met.
They sound nothing alike.. how on earth can you confuse the two? But I'll be honest and admit I've often gotten confused between an Aussie/Brit on TV despite knowing the two accents apart..
I am an American living in Spain and we met an irish family while at some friends' house and I can tell you that the mother and father spoke with the expected Irish accent but the kids spoke with accents that sounded like they were from the upper midwest or somewwhere in the U.S.
Some Irish kids probably speak like Americans 'cause they think it's cool But some just aquire the accent from watching American t.v. shows and movies from when they are little to their teens.
when it comes to accents , thier is a phenomenon known as a mid atlantic accent which has become very common among the middle class youth in ireland and especially in the wealthiest parts of dublin , spend a few days hanging out with teenage well off middle class girls in dublin and you would think you were on the set of the OC , it is of course a contrived accent and those who use it are often figures of fun and ridicule
I never heard that one before. I have met loads of Americans and they sound nothing like an Irish accent. They cant even understand me and I could'nt understand them. Why do Americans say words like gas. I am putting gas in my car. Its not gas its petrol. Does anyone know why they say stuff llike this or Milon when its Milan or Iron when its Iran.
I never heard that one before. I have met loads of Americans and they sound nothing like an Irish accent. They cant even understand me and I could'nt understand them. Why do Americans say words like gas. I am putting gas in my car. Its not gas its petrol. Does anyone know why they say stuff llike this or Milon when its Milan or Iron when its Iran.
silly college girls from south dublin sound like people from california or at least try to
gas is short for gasoline petroleum , makes perfect sense , think about it , which is easier , refering to the gas pedal or the accelerator like europeans go
silly college girls from south dublin sound like people from california or at least try to
gas is short for gasoline petroleum , makes perfect sense , think about it , which is easier , refering to the gas pedal or the accelerator like europeans go
No its not college girls. Its just girls from certain area's of the city.
I have thought about it and if I was to go to the garage to get petrol I would just say I am going to the garage to get petrol. Easy
and if you wanted to get from the ground floor of a building to the sixth , you would use the lift where as americans would use the elevator
tomato - tomato
Or ass instead of arse or hobo instead of homeless person. Or soccer instead of football. Or finale instead of final.
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