There's a moment in the well-known 1965 debate between William F. Buckley and American writer James Baldwin held at Cambridge where Buckley tosses an ad hominem at Baldwin, accusing him of adopting a "British accent" for the purposes of the debate (ostensibly to ingratiate himself with the audience), when in fact it was Baldwin's way of commenting on Buckley's own affected accent, which in the case of Buckley was one acquired through his bluebloodish background.
I love the American deep south accent, but then I'm English so maybe that has a lot to do with it. And double negatives? In Back to the Future the lead singer of the band uses a triple negative when he says to the audience "Don't nobody go nowhere."
It does illuminate the reason that Americans are wont to refer to "the British accent" (singular), something which irritates Brits to no end. British media does the same thing as American media as regards using a flattened, voice-coached accent, so export media only ever has that plummy accent one hears in Harry Potter, representative of no one. In the spirit of the thread, the following: The fact that the very Brits who go ballistic over Americans saying "the British accent", quite often make the exact same observation about "the American accent" as though it too were a singular phenomenon, not taking into account that our media is likely doing the same thing as their media, thus giving rise to a skewed view in all directions.
I need more evolution in my terms beyond the archaic 'valley girl' of the West coast 1983 [?]. How does one deride the East coast 'weee weee weee,' for example - say if I was a bigot shit? [because I love our voices, y''all.]. And I would like to talk like Errol Flynn, if possible..
I will agree with @Earp on the Southern drawl/lilt thing. This one might just be me, but in a weird way the Canadian accent sounds a tad bit funny to me. Might also have to include Minnesotan accent in with that lot. It is just kinda funny to listen to them speak with that odd speech pattern that has a dry tone about it, along with the eh's and donch-ya know's. I still haven't gotten use to the fact that lacking an accent of any kind is still considered an accent. But what can I say, it doesen't sound all that exciting unless you happen to be from anywhere else except that US. And finally I love accents from all over the place. Possibly due to the fact that it is a pleasant assault on the ears, versus the same old thing I hear on a regular basis.
I think this was a temporal phenomenon. I haven't heard this cringeworthy mode of speech since its aforementioned heyday in the 80's. Find someone from Sidney or Perth to voice-coach you in American flat-midwestern. That's you sorted.
I wanted to mention the white woman from the Bahamas - that's a 'funny' one - I can't explain it without some crass Marleyism/and reference to Cartier/finishing school.
Thanks Dad x. I wanted some 'short-cuts'/offensive terms/Mid-westerner abusing a Manhattan banker/publisher... ...words
I'll see your plummy Harry Potter accent, and raise you a "Ron Weasley", a "Hagrid" and a "Bellatrix Lestrange" ETA - oh, and a Neville Longbottom
Oops. Sorry. I meant to nip off the bit about derision. My response was in regards to your admiration of Errol Flynn.
I’ve had people think I was from Vermont or Louisiana due to the way I sound. I had a British friend listen to my voice and he concluded I sound Southern due to how I emphasize the “r”s. Mind, some of the words I use ARE Southern slang, I just don’t do the double negatives.
They recently unearthed an archive of POW voices from WW1. Most striking was the use of 'Fether' for father - all across the place.
Talking with my British friends over a year has injected bits of their slang in my vocabulary. EDIT: Hope that’s ok, @matwoolf .
People who insist on being willing, even eager, participants in their own flim-flamming, like the dupes currently ensnared in tbe coconut water and oil nonsense.
The way all modern comedy is based around 'awkward' moments. It can be a mildly amusing situation to observe when spontaneous and natural, but when every damn sketch revolves around it, it's annoying and just shows itself up as lazy writing pandering to a trend.
After reading it three times and looking up what "flim-flamming" is, I suspects it's about yet another health fad. Probably coconut related... is it?
My new job 'Hello, please, ve have lost Apple Phone on beach?' 'Where'd y'ave it last, love?' says Tony from Bradford. 'Please, please, ve have lost I-phone six...' 'We'll have lookabouts and I'll give ye ring if we find it...' 'Our property is discard in sea area...please.' [Mat strides to scene] 'MADAM, please do not worry about Tony, he is indigenous and native of this region, you see. Have you lost your telephone? 'Yes, yes, thank you so much, mister chief, please I give you number in Hamburg.' 'Of course, madam. ...Tony, Tony...go empty the dog shit bins with @Moose...' 'Yes sir.'
How do you mean makes you cringe? What is her real accent? sorry I have heard of it and seen bits and pieces but I am not aware of her.
It makes me feel uncomfortable hearing the actress speak in her own regional accent, cos it doesn't match her at all, I don't think. But then again, if I'd not known her for playing Lady Mary Crawley first, this may not even be a thing I'd think about.
Which is what! You made me watch 'Downton Abbey...' ff ... update metra-palitan home counties/south/grammar school upd 2 born in Romford, Estuary-speaker