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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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I know alot of you think you 'don't have an accent' but to others you do have one, a very strong one at that. An American accent here sticks out like a sore thumb!
I'm just wondering, for those who do notice their accent or who aren't even American, what kind of words would you use to describe the General American accent, and what are your general 'impressions of it?' An Aussie friend of mine said the American accent was a little '***** sounding' (my words not mine!), and sometimes it can sound a bit nerdy, a little effete. It depends alot on who speaks it, though, you wouldn't say the way Bruce Willis or Hulk Hogan speak is girly.
Overall, it can be really annoying but sometimes quite cool, and friendly even. Can be a bit nasal though at times, especially on women, but as for female pornstars or something anything other than an American accent sounds a bit weird. It can be kind of sexy . British or Australian is more 'throaty' and a different part of the larynx is used. How would you compare it to other accents, and are you glad you speak with it? What do you think about people in other places like Australia adopting Americanisms?
Yesterday this Australian girl told me and a group of people that she thought we talked funny and we all have that general American accent. I can understand if she heard a southern, Boston, or New York accent, but as someone with the most generic American accent, that is weird! The other people were claiming that she was the only one with the accent, but I stepped in and told them that everyone in the world has an accent(I'm sure they knew that, but you know how Americans say they don't have one). I think my voice is so bland. It's not bad, like nasally or anything, just that generic accent.
Since you're Australian, what do you think of the generic American accent? What do you mean by annoying, the generic one or others? I really like Australian accents(pretty hot), but I was wondering if any American ones are considered a turn on. The Aussie girl said that back in Australia everyone tried to do an American accent. She said that since she's been over here, no one's got it right back there! lol
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lovely95
Yesterday this Australian girl told me and a group of people that she thought we talked funny and we all have that general American accent. I can understand if she heard a southern, Boston, or New York accent, but as someone with the most generic American accent, that is weird! The other people were claiming that she was the only one with the accent, but I stepped in and told them that everyone in the world has an accent(I'm sure they knew that, but you know how Americans say they don't have one). I think my voice is so bland. It's not bad, like nasally or anything, just that generic accent.
Since you're Australian, what do you think of the generic American accent? What do you mean by annoying, the generic one or others? I really like Australian accents(pretty hot), but I was wondering if any American ones are considered a turn on. The Aussie girl said that back in Australia everyone tried to do an American accent. She said that since she's been over here, no one's got it right back there! lol
I think it depends alot on the speaker, which is funny, because people in America tend to all speak pretty much the same (ok, gross generalisation, I mean those with a GenAm accent), while here there is quite a various across gender, age and social boundaries. In some ways I actually prefer it to Aussie; the annoying part is more the way some teenage girls talk, or the way American's use alot of catchphrases.
As for your Aussie friend in America, I get what she's on about. We're very familiar with hearing American on TV but in real life it can seem slightly strange, almost surreal at times. I generally appreciate hearing American accents 'in the flesh' so to speak, especially regional ones. Should be interesting when I go over there!
I speak Russian, German and English fluently, but for some strange reason I don't have a typical Russian or German accent when I speak English. I DO have an accent, but it's a weird unrecognizable one. Americans often ask me if I'm from New York lol.
I think it depends alot on the speaker, which is funny, because people in America tend to all speak pretty much the same (ok, gross generalisation, I mean those with a GenAm accent), while here there is quite a various across gender, age and social boundaries. In some ways I actually prefer it to Aussie; the annoying part is more the way some teenage girls talk, or the way American's use alot of catchphrases.
As for your Aussie friend in America, I get what she's on about. We're very familiar with hearing American on TV but in real life it can seem slightly strange, almost surreal at times. I generally appreciate hearing American accents 'in the flesh' so to speak, especially regional ones. Should be interesting when I go over there!
So even that typical American accent is pretty noticeable down there? They'll hear me and say "Oh she is definitely American"? It's so strange since I'm used to this accent by hearing people speak it everyday and to have someone else think it's one of the weirdest, standoutish ones out there.
I was talking to some friends yesterday also and I mentioned that if me(with a general American accent), someone with a southern accent, a person with an Australian accent and a British speaker were having a conversation, to someone who doesn't speak English, we probably sound the same!
I was talking to some friends yesterday also and I mentioned that if me(with a general American accent), someone with a southern accent, a person with an Australian accent and a British speaker were having a conversation, to someone who doesn't speak English, we probably sound the same!
Actually, I think British and American English sound totally different. I've been studying American English since I was 7, and the first time I went to England (age 17), I couldn't understand a word they were saying LOL
I know alot of you think you 'don't have an accent' but to others you do have one, a very strong one at that. An American accent here sticks out like a sore thumb!
I'm just wondering, for those who do notice their accent or who aren't even American, what kind of words would you use to describe the General American accent, and what are your general 'impressions of it?' An Aussie friend of mine said the American accent was a little '***** sounding' (my words not mine!), and sometimes it can sound a bit nerdy, a little effete. It depends alot on who speaks it, though, you wouldn't say the way Bruce Willis or Hulk Hogan speak is girly.
Overall, it can be really annoying but sometimes quite cool, and friendly even. Can be a bit nasal though at times, especially on women, but as for female pornstars or something anything other than an American accent sounds a bit weird. It can be kind of sexy . British or Australian is more 'throaty' and a different part of the larynx is used. How would you compare it to other accents, and are you glad you speak with it? What do you think about people in other places like Australia adopting Americanisms?
Well, which American accent are you talking about? The Northern Midwest accent which is very rhotic and often nasal? Or a southern accent which is slower and more drawn out? Or a New England accent which can be harsh like a Midwest accent but is non-rhotic? Or the west coast "surfer" accent? Or a Southwest accent influenced by the Spanish common to the region? There's lots of different American accents.
Well, which American accent are you talking about? The Northern Midwest accent which is very rhotic and often nasal? Or a southern accent which is slower and more drawn out? Or a New England accent which can be harsh like a Midwest accent but is non-rhotic? Or the west coast "surfer" accent? Or a Southwest accent influenced by the Spanish common to the region? There's lots of different American accents.
I second this. Obviously, Americans speak with an accent. But I take issue with the concept of a "general American accent." I'm guessing even Australians would attest to variations in their accent (although I'll admit that I probably couldn't pick up on them).
Actually, I think British and American English sound totally different. I've been studying American English since I was 7, and the first time I went to England (age 17), I couldn't understand a word they were saying LOL
I think those two countries have about the biggest difference. But before I knew Spanish very well, a Puerto Rican, Mexican, and a Panamanian(I say that because I know people from those backgrounds who speak Spanish around me) could all sound the same to me, so I'd figured to someone who doesn't know English very well, the difference between the accents might be hard to tell at first. I'm beginning to completely tell the difference now with Spanish accents.
The general American accent is the one in movies. In real life there is more than one.
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West. You can argue the finer points but those are the basics.
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. British or Australian is more 'throaty' and a different part of the larynx is used. How would you compare it to other accents, and are you glad you speak with it? What do you think about people in other places like Australia adopting Americanisms?
