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gaijinalways 09-01-07, 10:14 I'll dig up some threads for you when I have time. Some of the US slang is newer, primarily because American English changes a lot more than British English (we like to create words more often, something Prince Charles once criticized). The main dialects are fewer (5-6), but as I stated earlier, there are many sub-dialects in the US, including towns, villages, and state areas, they're just less recognized internationally as most visitors . The Lonely Planet books, much as they are mutually liked and derided, are hardly the last word on linguistic differences. As to guessing, here you go, I need to go to the packy. He's a bit of a wibble. He's a wad! He's from downeast? Buy it from a scalper. The true differences between regions of cities in Britain date back to the days before the formation of modern Englisg language, so that you have more words from Scandinavian origin in Northern England, more words from Scots and Gaelic in Scotland, etc I'm sure that's true, with British English being an older language. But what differentiates most Britain and the US is the pronuciation of words (not just a few, but all, in Britain's case). Go to Liverpool or Glasgow and you will understand what I mean... Read my earlier comments (and thanks for the link to the book, I think I'll buy it, though they mention valley girl talk, as an example, which again, supports my point about regional dialects). Boru1916 12-01-07, 22:57 People are referring to American & British, but what about Irish accents in the English tongue? Irish are often looked over because of being associated incorrectly with the British. It would be like saying all Malaysians are like the Japanese. (not true!!!) By the way, I as an Irishman love the Far Eastern accent of English from a female. Sounds very provocative and innocent sounding at the same time. gaijinalways 18-01-07, 07:53 Good point Boru, Irish and Scottish speakers are often overlooked and certainly they sound different than British speakers. We sometimes lump N. American speakers together as well, but a lot of Canadians don't like it (whether they are Anglo or Franco speakers). But then, ay, what can you do, ay (and I always thought 'a' was just one letter in the Roman alphabet)? Maciamo, I noticed you haven't come back with your quiz 'guesses'. mightyboo 20-01-07, 09:15 Good point Boru, Irish and Scottish speakers are often overlooked and certainly they sound different than British speakers. We sometimes lump N. American speakers together as well, but a lot of Canadians don't like it (whether they are Anglo or Franco speakers). But then, ay, what can you do, ay (and I always thought 'a' was just one letter in the Roman alphabet)? Maciamo, I noticed you haven't come back with your quiz 'guesses'. The Scottish are british to, that's why maciamo is saying there are more british accents then american because you have the accents of the Welsh, English, Scottish and (debatable) northern Irish..and where do people get this notion from that Britian = England? i see alot of people get it rong! gaijinalways 20-01-07, 09:28 Many Scots take exception to being called British. And Irish in Ireland are not part of Britain (UK). Maciamo 20-01-07, 11:01 Many Scots take exception to being called British. And Irish in Ireland are not part of Britain (UK). That doesn't change the fact that Scotland is part of the island called Great Britain, and so are British, whether they like it or not. In fact, even if the UK were to split into 4 countries within the EU, the English, Welsh and Scots would still be British, in the same way that the Portuguese and Spaniards are Iberians, or that the Danes, Swedes and Norwegians are Scandinavians. mightyboo 20-01-07, 22:14 Many Scots take exception to being called British. And Irish in Ireland are not part of Britain (UK). I'm Scottish and i'm proud of my British heritage. Alot of scots are Scottish first british second just like alot of English and Welsh. [off topic]I've seen in american text books about the American revolution where they refer to the Great Britain as just England. Is this just a case of American ignorance or is it like this in other countries? gaijinalways 21-01-07, 18:09 Would depend on the etxt, but it is certainly an error (England =UK). Maciamo, I never said they're not, I just told you what the ones I spoke to said. To quote your 'bible', the Lonely Planet also said it's an insult to most Scots to be called British. I'm Scottish and i'm proud of my British heritage. Alot of scots are Scottish first british second just like alot of English and Welsh. Have to take your word for it, but my experiences tell me a different story. |
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why did my accent change? Exidez 15-06-04, 02:28 im on exhcnage in japan now and the only people i really get in contact with are Americans. I am Australian by the way. Anyway I have been with them for 6 months now and everytime i ring home in Australia everyone gives me crap about my American accent. Why did my accent change from Australian to American? Why didnt the Americans accent change to Australia? Im going to get teased so much when i go back to Australia.. Duo 15-06-04, 02:33 It's just the influence of the people around you. Sub-conciously you might be adopting their sounds. After a couple of weeks in Canada I began to say ehh, go figure!! Frank D. White 15-06-04, 02:34 tend to loose any accent they have when they travel. I don't know how common it is to pick up another kind of accent though? I had a real strong New England accent, which I lost after leaving Maine for a while. I bet after you get back home you go back to your ol self! Frank :? Exidez 15-06-04, 02:37 yeah i probably will get it back when i return... everyone finds it amusing though. how long will it take to change back to Australian accent when i return i wonder?? Maciamo 15-06-04, 03:19 Personally, my accent changes almost with everybody I am talking to. With Japanese I have to adapt my pronuciation and vocabulary to their level of understanding. But it's also fairly natural for me to adopt a country's accent when talking exclusively to people from this country, except if I want to emphasize my difference (in which case, I'll speak something close to British RP). Brooker 15-06-04, 06:25 American here. After spending a lot of time in Japan hanging out mostly with Auzzies, Brits, and Kiwis, I started using a lot of new words, but my accent didn't change much. At my school I was the only American, so I would often get teased for using Americanisms or not understanding words they used.... nekosasori 15-06-04, 11:50 Anyway, I've had an American accent ever since I can remember (standard, not Southern or Bostonian or anything specific) although I'm Canadian. Since I came here, like Brooker I've just adopted some phrases (mobile instead of cell phone, footpath instead of sidewalk, etc.) but my accent hasn't changed. I think if I liked Irish culture I'd be subconsciously adopting more of an Irish accent, but not even my Dubliner husband has an Irish accent (he doesn't have a strong accent of any sort despite growing up Irish and listening to the BBC), so I don't think I'll ever sound anything but American. Anyway Exidez, if you're an Aussie taking on American tones, isn't that obviously because you're only talking to Americans? And isn't most English taught in Japan the American flavour (orthographically as well as accent-wise)? Brooker 15-06-04, 12:16 Neko wrote.... isn't most English taught in Japan the American flavour I would say no. Very few of the other English teachers I worked with were American. It seems the English that most students get exposed to is "British English". And they hear so many different accents from the teachers that they can't really tell the difference between them. The teachers would often have debates about which English was correct, which I thought was kind of silly because they're all correct really. They're all different versions of the same language, and all valid. kirei_na_me 15-06-04, 13:50 I think they're taught 'British English' in Japan. They use British pronunciation, anyway. At least, the ones I know use British pronunciation and I've been told by them that they were taught 'British English'. Who knows? I think they've probably got a mixture going on over there. Anyway, I'm from the South. I grew up in North Carolina, and I have a pretty strong southern accent. For years, I tried to overcome it. I used to tape myself so that I could hear what I needed to say differently, tape it again, and see if I improved. Even now, I will subconsciously change my accent depending on who I'm around. I guess I have a chameleon accent! :p If I'm around anyone that isn't from the South, I will try to sound not so southern, but if I'm around my family, forget it! Here come the long i's!  chiquiliquis 15-06-04, 15:07 ...I think they've probably got a mixture going on over there... I am American! And I teach American English!--of the Pacific Northwest variety, cause I don't know any others Anyways... I can vouch for the "mixture" bit. Although, Yamanashi is sister "states" with Iowa (or something like that)... and there are a ridiculous number of Iowans out here. In fact, I am yet to meet any teachers who were not from Iowa. But I'm in a remote area, and I only know two teachers besides myself anyhow. :? But, yeah... the more I factor in the plurality of Englishes here, the more guilty I feel about my occasional "pronunciation" lessons. Still, I am banking on there being some pronunciation that is just plain wrong. :souka: Maciamo 15-06-04, 15:25 ... like Brooker I've just adopted some phrases (mobile instead of cell phone, footpath instead of sidewalk, etc.) So Irish people say footpath instead of pavement then ? And isn't most English taught in Japan the American flavour (orthographically as well as accent-wise)? Not at all. I'd say it only depend on the teacher, and there are quite a lot of Aussies and Brits because of the working holiday visa (which Americans cannot get). When the teachers are Japanese, it's about half-half. Duo 15-06-04, 17:18 @ Nekosari. Personally, to me, the Canadian accent is the same of American English. I didn't notice any differences exept the usage of the idiom ehh. Myself I have an American accent, or so people tell me. m477 16-06-04, 00:27 @ Nekosari. Personally, to me, the Canadian accent is the same of American English. I didn't notice any differences exept the usage of the idiom ehh. Myself I have an American accent, or so people tell me.The Canadian accent fairly subtle most of the time, but it is very obvious when they say words like 'about' or 'sorry'. Mandylion 16-06-04, 01:04 I think they're taught 'British English' in Japan. They use British pronunciation, anyway. At least, the ones I know use British pronunciation and I've been told by them that they were taught 'British English'. Who knows? I think they've probably got a mixture going on over there. You are right, it is a mix. I can't speak for conversation schools like NOVA, but the two big textbooks for middle and high schools are in American English. The official school plans handed down by MEXT are for American English. All the tapes and audio that come with the texts are in American English. You hear from older people (in their 50's and so) that they learned British English, but kids today are tested and evaluated on American English, even if a "British English" born and raised instructor. This has caused something of a small row in the JET community as so many teachers come from non-American English countries. It is not rare, but not unheard of, that a JET might be asked to change his or her accent to an American pattern by less informed contracting organizations. Maciamo 16-06-04, 01:53 I can't speak for conversation schools like NOVA, but the two big textbooks for middle and high schools are in American English. The official school plans handed down by MEXT are for American English. All the tapes and audio that come with the texts are in American English. You hear from older people (in their 50's and so) that they learned British English, but kids today are tested and evaluated on American English, even if a "British English" born and raised instructor. Well, I think it really depends on the school or region, because about half of my students said they had learnt BrE, and the othe rhalf AmE, with some people having learnt both, at different times (junior high, high school, college...). Even Japanese words from English are a mix. That is why they say a car's bonnet (BrE => AmE = hood) and trunk (AmE => BrE = boot), or they use both the words sweets (BrE) and candy (AmE), or biscuit (BrE) and cookie (AmE). lexico 05-01-05, 16:20 yeah i probably will get it back when i return... everyone finds it amusing though. how long will it take to change back to Australian accent when i return i wonder??I wonder, too. When you do get back, do let us know when you do. :-) BrennaCeDria 05-01-05, 16:27 The Canadian accent fairly subtle most of the time, but it is very obvious when they say words like 'about' or 'sorry'. Don't you mean, "aboot?" :p Canadian is noticably different from American, for me, just like Boston or New York or Texas is noticable. As for my accent, it's getting more "southern" by the day, although I know if I traveled I'd pick up the accent of wherever I went, especially if Britian because all it takes is watching movies sometimes to send me back to my original (British) accent. (I grew up on a US Air Force Base in England.) |
