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I have a North London accent but with a twang, ( God knows where that came from, Norfolk or Ireland), I used to say mate ( still do, if I meet builders in my job!). I am sure most builders go home and listen to classical music and speak with a posh accent. But I have been told twice, in America, are you Australian? when queing at SeaWorld. Quite flattered. I think Australians have a London, English West Country ( u will soon see POLDARK and understand why), poss southern Irish lilt.
Interesting you say this. I used to work at SeaWorld and I had a co-worker from western England and I thought he was Australian. He said "mate" as well.
Looks like "we've" decided that it all depends upon what part of Canada they come from.
All I know is that where I live, we get people from Quebec mostly. You can tell by their license plates, lol, and the way they talk. Last summer in Maine we had a nice Canadian couple staying at the next campsite. When they talked it was with the typical ABOOT and Eh? type of accent that seems to be indicative of Quebec. Where does it come from? I don't know. French?
Actually stuff like ''eh'' and ''abbot'' is way more common outside Quebec than in the province. Most people in Quebec don't say ''eh'' at the end of sentences. They'd ''hein'' which has the same function (also the same function as the American ''huh'') but it sounds different.
And this is how most people in Quebec would pronounce ''about'': ''en-vi-ron''.
Actually stuff like ''eh'' and ''abbot'' is way more common outside Quebec than in the province. Most people in Quebec don't say ''eh'' at the end of sentences. They'd ''hein'' which has the same function (also the same function as the American ''huh'') but it sounds different.
And this is how most people in Quebec would pronounce ''about'': ''en-vi-ron''.
I never understood the "eh" thing being tied just to Canadians. Plenty of Americans use that at the end of statements as well, especially questions.
Location: Northern Ireland and temporarily England
7,668 posts, read 5,263,329 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by England Dan
I have a North London accent but with a twang, ( God knows where that came from, Norfolk or Ireland), I used to say mate ( still do, if I meet builders in my job!). I am sure most builders go home and listen to classical music and speak with a posh accent. But I have been told twice, in America, are you Australian? when queing at SeaWorld. Quite flattered. I think Australians have a London, English West Country ( u will soon see POLDARK and understand why), poss southern Irish lilt.
That word "mate" is the bain of my existence. I cringe inside everytime I hear it, especially when it is in an intense arguement.
Here, mate means friend. And yes although no one will admit the Australian accent is very close to the English accent. Everytime I do the English accent it comes out Aussie lol
Location: Northern Ireland and temporarily England
7,668 posts, read 5,263,329 times
Reputation: 1392
Quote:
Originally Posted by BarringtonNI
I can detect a Canadian accent if its reasonably broad, but i know a Canadian and probably picked it up for him. Im also a big Trailer Park Boys fan and im now pretty sure i could pick out a Nova Scotian accent pretty well.
Also on the subject of TPB as a Brit it was slightly surprising and refreshing to hear a North American accented voices saying British English words like 'bloody' & also 'arse' instead of 'ass' & 'zed' instead of 'zee'.
I had to laugh aswell when I seen things like Smarties in their stores.
In Britain when two workmen meet each other in a property that is say being renovated, either a builder, decorator or surveyor, the word mate is uttered. I too cringe now at mate as I have outgrown it, but its a disarmer between equals, which I think would go back to the British/Irish maritime history of mate-ship, also linked with not grassing each other up. I bet most builders I meet wouldn`t guess I have a liking for Vaughan-Williams and a glass of fine wine at the weekend! I do have three accents, I reckon.
In Britain when two workmen meet each other in a property that is say being renovated, either a builder, decorator or surveyor, the word mate is uttered. I too cringe now at mate as I have outgrown it, but its a disarmer between equals, which I think would go back to the British/Irish maritime history of mate-ship, also linked with not grassing each other up. I bet most builders I meet wouldn`t guess I have a liking for Vaughan-Williams and a glass of fine wine at the weekend! I do have three accents, I reckon.
It's better than " dude ". Or Bro.
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