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Scandinavians seem very adept at getting rid of their accents and speak English with a neutral accent. Other than that, I think it's more of a person to person thing, not so much a difference among countries.
Their accent sounds more 'neutral' than native English speakers, if there's such a thing.
I had a foreman at work that was from Sweden. He learned English from the Mexicans working along the southern border of Arizona. He had the most wonderful accent of anyone I've ever heard.
English with a Mexican/Swedish twist.
The French accent in English is terrible. For instance they say , insteasd of "I think that...", "Aye zink zatte. Pretty horrible.
But I know some snobs love it , they find it (for whatever unfathomable reason) "sexy" !
I find it irritating. I find it irritating when Scandanavians on Youtube put on an American accent.
If I immigrated to America I wouldn't put on the accent there neither would English people.. Don't understand this phenomenon. Just speak with your native accent....
I know someone who puts on Northern Irish, English and American accents.. I have made my opinions on that to her clear and she isn't pleased. But the truth hurts sometimes.
I probably speak more or less with my native accent (it's very difficult if one doesn't has a "special ear" to judge one's own accent), but at least I try to avoid the most annoying spelling mistakes (like the one exposed above!)
Some (not all) Germans and Dutch speak English with only the slightest accent. It is still there and identifiable, but very slight. On the whole their English is very good.
Of course, the closer a person's native language is to English, the easier it will be for them to pronounce English. Many Asians have a terrible time because the sound system in their language is so different. And of course, the age they came to an English-speaking country and their own ear for sounds plays a major part.
Native Chinese speakers, for instance, tend to leave the endings off English words and to speak in a very rapid, staccato manner. I have a Malaysian Chinese friend who has lived in the US for 15 years, and I still have to listen very carefully to understand what she is saying and sometimes I just don't get it at all.
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