Accents

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09-08-2009, 12:03 PM
argonauta

Accents

which [english] accent do you think is the coolest?

I like the irish and scottish accents the best.
I used to like the italian/new york accent, but it sound awful now

I think the australian and also us southern accent are the most awful.

Of course, I speak with an accent (english being my second language) and I hate it, but for some reason girls in the US seem to like it a lot :D

Anyway, how about you?
09-08-2009, 12:09 PM
silverx2

i like slight accents. just a little bit here and there to make it different then the everyday.

new york accents are my least favorite, right up with there Wisconsin and Canadian.
09-08-2009, 02:14 PM
mave_the_rave

Quote:

Originally Posted by argonauta

which [english] accent do you think is the coolest?

I like the irish and scottish accents the best.
I used to like the italian/new york accent, but it sound awful now

I think the australian and also us southern accent are the most awful.

Of course, I speak with an accent (english being my second language) and I hate it, but for some reason girls in the US seem to like it a lot :D

Anyway, how about you?

Hi argonauta,

I tend to agree with you, some southern Ireland acents are quite cool
whilst others like Limerick and Cork can be difficult to understand.

Deep south US drawl is awful.

But what is an accent. I am from south London but don't really have
a sauf lundon accent init...

When foreign students are taught English, are they taught the Queen's English. ?? Hice for house...

When I was learning Turkish, I asked my teacher, did I say that right ??

It depends where in Turkey you are.. In the middle of Tukey they probally
would not understand you..

I quite like the Liverpool accent. I spent 2 weeks there 20 years ago on a
training course. The people were fantastic. Really friendly.

So perhaps if you really like the people, you will like how they speak.
09-08-2009, 02:28 PM
gerbick

I have a southern drawl mixed in with a northern pitch and some caribbean thrown in for good measure... matters on my day, you never know which one you'll get more of.

As far as accents go, slight British accents (Essex wins to me) - but not cockney, it's horrid - or south african women speaking English... they make me go nuts.
09-08-2009, 02:39 PM
mave_the_rave

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerbick

I have a southern drawl mixed in with a northern pitch and some caribbean thrown in for good measure... matters on my day, you never know which one you'll get more of.

As far as accents go, slight British accents (Essex wins to me) - but not cockney, it's horrid - or south african women speaking English... they make me go nuts.

Like I said if you like the people, you tend to like the accent.

I suppose US southern accent gets a bad press, being associated with
the deep south racist KKK. 'you know what I mean boy?'

Like all south Londoners are bent motor sales geesers....

The worst thing with me is when am the company of any group.
I unintentionally start talking in their accent...

It just happens...
09-08-2009, 03:10 PM
gerbick

I'm about as affiliated with the KKK as... Clayton Bigsby.
09-08-2009, 04:03 PM
jAQUAN

^bwahaha

I don't know the proper location descriptions but I'm a sucker for a euro accent when spoken by an intelligent female and well enunciated.
09-08-2009, 09:09 PM
argonauta

french girls have the best accent.

And gerbs doesn't have an accent... he's not a real person...he's an internet meme
09-08-2009, 10:04 PM
david petley

which Australian accent don't you like? We have a few, like most places.

Does Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) have an annoying accent? ...did Heath Ledger?
...does Nicole Kidman? toni collette, or Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts or Anthony LaPaglia (Without a trace)?

davidp (can you hear my accent from my typing?)
09-08-2009, 10:45 PM
argonauta

Quote:

Originally Posted by david petley

which Australian accent don't you like? We have a few, like most places.

noooooooooooo? really? that must be like, the only like country like where that happens...it's like crazzzzzy....really? more than one accent? wow, and here I thought I was generalizing.

Quote:

Does Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) have an annoying accent? ...did Heath Ledger?
...does Nicole Kidman? toni collette, or Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts or Anthony LaPaglia (Without a trace)?

are you really that dense?

Quote:

davidp (can you hear my accent from my typing?)

you have to either ask the question before you sign your reply, or put a P.D. sign, otherwise it looks like you have a really long and weird last name...you must be austrian or something.
09-08-2009, 11:00 PM
Jujumon

all asian-glish are terrible. trust me, i know.
09-08-2009, 11:04 PM
david petley

Quote:

Originally Posted by argonauta

noooooooooooo? really?

no coming the raw prawn with you is there.

Quote:

are you really that dense?

no, I don't think so. How about you, do you think I'm dense?

...I rarely post bollocks threads.
david
09-09-2009, 01:42 AM
hanratty21

Quote:

Originally Posted by david petley

which Australian accent don't you like?

Crocodile Dundee - F that guy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by david petley

Does Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) have an annoying accent? ...did Heath Ledger?
...does Nicole Kidman? toni collette...

All those accents are ok, but Toni Collette is just an ugly pig. I wouldn't even bring that broad to a sh*t fight.
09-09-2009, 02:58 AM
david petley

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanratty21

Crocodile Dundee - F that guy.

:) notice I didn't mention him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanratty21

All those accents are ok, but Toni Collette is just an ugly pig. I wouldn't even bring that broad to a sh*t fight.

...thanks for sharing. I was kinda thinking about accents ...but don't hold back, tell us what you think. No room for shyness here.

david
09-09-2009, 03:18 AM
Frets

I hate my accent the most unfortunately I've been unable to lose it.

In regards to women, nothing wins me over faster then a real Georgia Peach. In regards to the rest of the south Carolinas, Virginia are fine but definately not Alabamy Tennesee or Missouri. Jersey accents always make me cringe.

I like Scottish accents but can barely tolerate most irish accents. In regards to England I'm amazed at the wide variety within such a small area.

Hey Gerbs

Quote:

or south african women speaking English... they make me go nuts.

Anyone in particular?
09-09-2009, 03:51 AM
gerbick

Go there. You'll have plenty to pick from.
09-09-2009, 11:12 AM
argonauta

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanratty21

All those accents are ok, but Toni Collette is just an ugly pig. I wouldn't even bring that broad to a sh*t fight.

on the other hand Naomi Watts is just damn pretty.
09-09-2009, 01:42 PM
silverx2

changing the subject slightly, Here in the US different areas say certain things differently.

Like here where i live we call Soda, soda.. but other parts of massachusetts say Pop.

Or like a water fountain can be a bubbler.

the one i hate the most is standing in line(good) and standing on line(bad)

there is no line drawn on the ground, you're standing in a line.
09-09-2009, 02:21 PM
a_modified_dog

Quote:

on the other hand Naomi Watts is just damn pretty

that's because she's English :)

Born in Shoreham, England and raised in Australia

ps .. i never stand in a line, i stand in a queue :D
09-09-2009, 02:38 PM
silverx2

even queue makes more sense to me then standing on line.
09-09-2009, 03:54 PM
hanratty21

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverx2

the one i hate the most is standing in line(good) and standing on line(bad)

there is no line drawn on the ground, you're standing in a line.

I had this argument (and believe I posted here) a few years back with my girlfriend. We got to a point where we contacted someone from Merriam Webster to get an official answer. I'll have to find the email, but it was deemed that either is appropriate, but geographically focused. Areas of the Northeast (including Boston and NY) have adopted the on line usage regardless of whether a line is painted or not. On line, not on-the-line.
09-09-2009, 07:44 PM
WannaBe_80z

IN it's ****ing IN. You're IN a line.

or if over seas in a queue
09-09-2009, 08:33 PM
hanratty21

on line vs. in line

Found it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by original question to Merriam Webster

>Hi - I have a grammar question. My girlfriend and I are always having
>an argument about which term is correct to describe a line of people
>waiting for something (movie tickets...checkout counter, etc.)
>
>If you are waiting, are you waiting on line, or waiting in line?

Quote:

Originally Posted by response from MW

Dear Mr. Hanratty:

As explained in the following article from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, the use of "on line"
instead of "in line" seems to have originated in New York City, but now appears to be spreading. (When I was growing up on eastern Long Island in the late 1960's through early 1980's, "on line" was already quite well entrenched there, so I would imagine that it has probably extended itself even farther by now.)

So who's right? As dissatisfying as my answer may seem, I'm afraid that you both are. The simple fact is that no two English speakers use the language in exactly the same way, so there are always going to be regional--and individual--variations in pronunciation, meaning, usage, etc. Some English speakers differentiate between the first vowel sound in "Mary," "marry," and "merry"; others do not. Some speakers call a sweet, carbonated beverage a "soda," while others call it a "pop" or a "tonic." None of these variations is more valid than the others; they're simply used by different people living in different places. My advice, then, is to bury the hatchet over this one--or at least avoid lines for the immediately foreseeable future!

I hope these comments are helpful.

Sincerely,

Karen Wilkinson
Associate Editor
Merriam-Webster, Inc.
09-09-2009, 08:56 PM
jAQUAN

I'm on line right now, but there's no one else here.
09-10-2009, 01:53 AM
david petley

imo ...If they are queuing for a bus they might stand 'in line' or 'in a line', but unless there is a line painted on the ground, they don't stand on line.

dp
09-10-2009, 02:17 AM
hanratty21

Well, as they say, opinions are like a-holes...everyone's got one and they all smell like sh*t. That is also why I went to a reputable source for the proper answer.

Incidentally, wouldn't the term 'stand on line' when referring to standing on top of a painted line be poor grammar as well? It would be similar to saying 'I stand on floor' or 'I stand on desk.' Unless you are Borat, I think not.
09-10-2009, 02:22 AM
david petley

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanratty21

Incidentally, wouldn't the term 'stand on line' when referring to standing on top of a painted line be poor grammar as well? It would be similar to saying 'I stand on floor' or 'I stand on desk.' Unless you are Borat, I think not.

...I suppose so, but I guess opinions are like arseholes...as you say.

dp
09-10-2009, 04:32 AM
mave_the_rave

I have always lived in London (England)

Back in the 50's eveyone formed an orderly queue.

For the bus
For a loaf of bread at the bakers, then for yor meat at the butchers
then again for your veg. at the greengrocers...

You spent hours in line queueing

These days there are no queues for buses.. just a great mob.

Although were I live in East Dulwich people still queue at our very fine butchers.

This has nothing to do with 'Accents' ... Although in a queue, you are bound
to hear a few....
09-10-2009, 09:31 AM
silverx2

Quote:

Originally Posted by david petley

...I suppose so, but I guess opinions are like arseholes...as you say.

dp

the only time standing on line is appropriate is when your standing on a starting line.
09-10-2009, 09:36 AM
scudsucker

I'm a Zimbabwean, and visited London at a time when there was a tube strike.

The crazy, pushy mobs at the bus stop on Oxford St. had to be controlled by police.. when, less than 500m further down the road there was a bus stop (with near empty buses stopping) with no-one waiting? A short walk guaranteed me a place.

I used to think the civilised Brits invented queueing - clearly the art is lost.

As for accents: Irish, Scots, NZ, and deep south USA (but only female voices) rock - but then I listen to a lot of obscure country music.

Not so sure about Gerbick's opinion of S.A. women's accents, I live in Cape Town. There are several culture-specific accents even within the city.. none of which are very appealing.
09-10-2009, 09:48 AM
moath86

Borat's accent is the new Megan fox.
it pwns any other accent anyday!
GREAT SUCCESS!
09-10-2009, 04:39 PM
Frets

I wait in line.
09-10-2009, 05:37 PM
hanratty21

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverx2

the only time standing on line is appropriate is when your standing on a starting line.

You'd then have a foot fault or false start as you need to be behind that particular line, so...no.
09-15-2009, 02:11 PM
WatchCrow

I think I like the Australion accent the best.

I live in Scotland, but I don't really have much an accent myself, most people I know don't. I don't go around saying 'aye' or 'nae' or anything.
09-15-2009, 05:28 PM
david petley

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatchCrow

I think I like the Australion accent the best.

I live in Scotland, but I don't really have much an accent myself, most people I know don't. I don't go around saying 'aye' or 'nae' or anything.

och ay on Australion accents laddie, but y've nae heard Kath & Kim I'd wager.

davidp