And I was just yesterday remarking to a friend how I have observed that English accents around the world have been gradually fading away. Don’t believe me? Have a look at QE II’s early speeches and compare her accent to what it was later in life.
Not only that, but English is, by default, the universal language. No matter where you go in the world, you will see signs, aircraft, products and shops with English in their names.
There are several reasons for this, IMO. For one, it has long been a rule that all air traffic controllers must be able to communicate in English. You will also note that virtually all airlines around the world have English on their planes, if not also having the name of the airline in English. And I see English business names that I am familiar with everywhere. Have a Coke, anybody?
Next reason would be the overwhelming influence of Windows for computers. No matter what language a web page is in, there are English control tabs somewhere on the page. And the URL, of course.
As to what has happened to accents, I believe it has to do with the broadcast industry. The most sough-after accent for Television is the “Flat Canadian” accent (not from the Maritimes, they’re the only ones who say “aboot.”) This is due to it being the most widely understood. Hollywood has also done much to contribute to this trend.
Lucky me, I’m a Western Canadian, so it is my native speech. My step-daughter went to England years ago and was billeted with a family in Manchester. Took her more than a week to grasp what they were saying, yet they understood her perfectly from day one.
I grew up in New Hampshire, as did both of my parents. However, I seemed to lack the NH accent gene. I remember one time, when I was about 4, my mother told me that she was going to a store called Zyla’s. When someone asked where she was, I said, “Zyler’s”, thinking that’s what it was, but she was saying it with her accent. I’ve never “pahked the cah in Hahvahd Yahd” unless I did it on purpose.
I grew up in Alabama. I visited a friend in New York city. His sister kept asking me questions. Finally she said, “I’m just asking you questions to hear you talk.” I said “That’s OK, I’m enjoying listening to you too.” She was surprised :^)…
I was in Cancun talking to a woman, who asked where I was from. I said the Northwest, and she said, “Oh, that’s where you get that accent.” I was flabbergasted. She sounded just like us. Shaking my head at that one.
I grew up in California and figured I didn’t have an accent, because, after all, everyone around me sounded the same! Years later out in the real world I finally caught on that the way I talked was a bit different than many others, mainly that I used very soft consonants and spoke more quickly (possibly from the influence of Spanish?). My mother was from New York and tried very hard to hide any accent, so she spoke very deliberately and clearly. She often told us that our California speech was the most “pure” English, but I suspect she felt that way only because it wasn’t a Brooklyn accent. My wife is from Utah and we read somewhere that the “Utah accent” is the “BBC standard of American English”. She won’t let me forget that, even though some of her pronunciations can sound a bit odd to me!
blunebottle 4 days ago
And I was just yesterday remarking to a friend how I have observed that English accents around the world have been gradually fading away. Don’t believe me? Have a look at QE II’s early speeches and compare her accent to what it was later in life.
Not only that, but English is, by default, the universal language. No matter where you go in the world, you will see signs, aircraft, products and shops with English in their names.
There are several reasons for this, IMO. For one, it has long been a rule that all air traffic controllers must be able to communicate in English. You will also note that virtually all airlines around the world have English on their planes, if not also having the name of the airline in English. And I see English business names that I am familiar with everywhere. Have a Coke, anybody?
Next reason would be the overwhelming influence of Windows for computers. No matter what language a web page is in, there are English control tabs somewhere on the page. And the URL, of course.
As to what has happened to accents, I believe it has to do with the broadcast industry. The most sough-after accent for Television is the “Flat Canadian” accent (not from the Maritimes, they’re the only ones who say “aboot.”) This is due to it being the most widely understood. Hollywood has also done much to contribute to this trend.
Lucky me, I’m a Western Canadian, so it is my native speech. My step-daughter went to England years ago and was billeted with a family in Manchester. Took her more than a week to grasp what they were saying, yet they understood her perfectly from day one.
Wren Fahel 4 days ago
I grew up in New Hampshire, as did both of my parents. However, I seemed to lack the NH accent gene. I remember one time, when I was about 4, my mother told me that she was going to a store called Zyla’s. When someone asked where she was, I said, “Zyler’s”, thinking that’s what it was, but she was saying it with her accent. I’ve never “pahked the cah in Hahvahd Yahd” unless I did it on purpose.
kaystari Premium Member 4 days ago
I thought this was a Mainer accent, you hear it up north from heahr.
Jonathan K. and the Elusive Dream Girl 4 days ago
Easier to read:
Https://Www.gocomics.Com/preteena/2003/02/23
.
The correct one for today:
Https://Www.gocomics.Com/preteena/2002/06/30
FireAnt_Hater 4 days ago
I grew up in Alabama. I visited a friend in New York city. His sister kept asking me questions. Finally she said, “I’m just asking you questions to hear you talk.” I said “That’s OK, I’m enjoying listening to you too.” She was surprised :^)…
snowedin, now known as Missy's mom 4 days ago
I was in Cancun talking to a woman, who asked where I was from. I said the Northwest, and she said, “Oh, that’s where you get that accent.” I was flabbergasted. She sounded just like us. Shaking my head at that one.
WF11 3 days ago
I grew up in California and figured I didn’t have an accent, because, after all, everyone around me sounded the same! Years later out in the real world I finally caught on that the way I talked was a bit different than many others, mainly that I used very soft consonants and spoke more quickly (possibly from the influence of Spanish?). My mother was from New York and tried very hard to hide any accent, so she spoke very deliberately and clearly. She often told us that our California speech was the most “pure” English, but I suspect she felt that way only because it wasn’t a Brooklyn accent. My wife is from Utah and we read somewhere that the “Utah accent” is the “BBC standard of American English”. She won’t let me forget that, even though some of her pronunciations can sound a bit odd to me!
awgiedawgie Premium Member 3 days ago
Teena, just tell them “Excuse you! We were born here!”