What's your country's version of "British"? (Special note for RevOxley)

[Djamila]

In English, I think most of us will agree - whatever our personal preferences - that the generic, London variety of British English is the most highly regarded accent in the English language.

But, which is it in America? Which is it in other countries?

I realize there won't be a finite answer, but everyone share your opinions!


Yugoslav languages, though, do have a finite answer. The most refined form our language is spoken in several locations in every country. In Croatia, Zagreb claims the title. Zagreb's accent is probably the most highly regarded overall. In Bosnia, a surprise - rural areas in the northwest have the most highly regarded accent. In Serbia, northern cities in Vojvodina like Subotica claim that prize.

Here is an example from a Christian singer. You'll notice instantly how... prim and proper... the language sounds, compared to everything else I've shared, even if you don't speak it.

(Special note for Rev: The chorus of this song is Zao mi je, Zao ti je (I'm sorry, you're sorry), so you'll get to hear how your Avatar sounds - hahaha):

http://media.putfile.com/Zao-mi-je-zao-ti-je

A Muslim example would be (Only the guy, not the girl):

http://media.putfile.com/Tvoj

(Sorry about the quality of the Muslim example, as I said - for Muslims, this accent appears in rural areas... lol... so the songs are tacky dance songs)​

 

[ChrisP]

Are you serious? Londoners sound like... wow I really hate word filters.

If you want to hear a frickin' awesome English accent, find someone from the south of Ireland.

 

[Djamila]

Are you serious? Londoners sound like... wow I really hate word filters.

If you want to hear a frickin' awesome English accent, find someone from the south of Ireland.

Ooh... differences among Britons too! I didn't think of that. Share any examples, if you have.

 

[Booko]

If you want to hear a frickin' awesome English accent, find someone from the south of Ireland.

Like my daughter's Irish dance teacher.

If you want to hear a barely intelligible "English" accent, try Yorkshire. Geez, I spend Boxing Day with a friend's family and could hardly make sense of their Yorkshire aunt, even though I'm really used to dealing with accents of various sorts.

 

[Tigress]

The United Kingdom for us, of course. Their queen is our queen.

 

[ChrisP]

Like my daughter's Irish dance teacher.

If you want to hear a barely intelligible "English" accent, try Yorkshire. Geez, I spend Boxing Day with a friend's family and could hardly make sense of their Yorkshire aunt, even though I'm really used to dealing with accents of various sorts.

Yorkshire? Besides most Yorkshirleyians I've met being total pricks, I've always thought their accent rather plain.

Out of the US states... I probably like the Texan or Georgian accents the best.

 

[ChrisP]

Ooh... differences among Britons too! I didn't think of that. Share any examples, if you have.

In rural england, nearly every VILLAGE has it's own accent.

 

[Valjean]

I like the "thespian" accent, myself; the speech once favored by actors for serious theatrical works. Not quite British, not quite American. A sort of blend.

Think of the guy who plays Captain Picard in Star Trek.

 

[Booko]

Yorkshire? Besides most Yorkshirleyians I've met being total pricks, I've always thought their accent rather plain.

Well, Michael's old auntie was rather nice, but I've not met too many other people in Yorkshire. We weren't there for long -- we were off for Wales instead.

Out of the US states... I probably like the Texan or Georgian accents the best.

Georgian accents? Which one?

North Georgia sounds a lot different than the rest of the state. Coastal areas are different from cenral, but not outrageously so, and Atlanta has a very soft accent, at least among those who are actually from Atlanta these days. Prez Jimmah Cahtah has a central Georgian accent, not unlike what I'd hear in Macon.

I can't stand that stupid Star Trek:TNG episode where there's this Atlantan dude that gets unfrozen. His accent is pure Mountain, not heard in Atlanta, and too strong for anywhere in Georgia. If they wanted something really representative of Atlanta musicians, they'd probably have unfrozen some hip hop artist, not some cornpone white hillbilly who plays bad country music. I've never seen anyone like that play the Buckhead clubs. He'd be laughed out of town. /rant

 

[BFD_Zayl]

mm, i've always like the sound of the people from Whales

 

[Booko]

I like the "thespian" accent, myself; the speech once favored by actors for serious theatrical works. Not quite British, not quite American. A sort of blend.

Think of the guy who plays Captain Picard in Star Trek.

And Ian McKellan....for some reason I think of those actors as having Shakespearian British accents...well, you can tell where they got their stage training, eh?

 

[Booko]

mm, i've always like the sound of the people from Whales

Yeah, but it sounds so much different underwater than it does above. :run:

I've never been too fond of Zomerzet accents, myself.

 

[Sunstone]

In America, the most widely accepted accent is from Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. Meriam Websters dictionary uses it as the basis of their pronounciation guide.

 

[Tigress]

Think of the guy who plays Captain Picard in Star Trek.

Patrick Stewart.

I like his accent too.

And Ian McKellan....for some reason I think of those actors as having Shakespearian British accents...well, you can tell where they got their stage training, eh?

Indeed.

 

[BFD_Zayl]

In America, the most widely accepted accent is from Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. Meriam Websters dictionary uses it as the basis of their pronounciation guide.

lol, you should hear the mid-michigan accent...its bland in every way, the only thing is the way we say "O" it has alittle more emphisis...other then that it just seems alittle boring, northern michigan resembles french canadian, southern accent resembles...uhh....mid-michigan accent...

 

[Booko]

Oh, btw, Djamila, there are tendencies in British accents that are still reflected in the U.S. today, and it's based on where in Britain the early settlers ended up.

For example, in New England you hear them stick random "r"s on things, like "idear" instead of "idea" -- just like they do in Plymouth and that area, where those settlers came from. And they leave off "r"s where they should be. Like a friend of mine from Mass always makes fun of "park the car in the yard" which would be pronounced "paakh the caaah in the yahhhd."

The differences in many patterns here come from our early settlers, even when it comes to something like Civil War battle tactics. The South, settled primarily by Scots Irish, tended to do send their leaders, who were more charismatic, up front in the battle, as the Celts have always done. The North, settled primarily by Brits, had their generals in the back managing things, as the common military practice was there. Northern generals were better managers, but not charismatic leaders as Southern generals were.

Much of our Southern accent here can be traced back to African speaking habits. Small wonder, when white children were so often raised by black nannies.

 

[BFD_Zayl]

Patrick Stewart.

I like his accent too.



Indeed.

he also voiced Uriel Septim in oblivion, and did a good job too...but whenever Uriel talk im thinking "trek trek trek trek...."

 

[Tigress]

Every Canadian province has its own slight accent, or way of speaking. In the West, you hear a bit more 'Southern drawl,' while in the East, it's a mix of many, not the least of which is French. Here in Southern Ontario, we're heavily influenced by the Northern United States--a very bland English. However, we still accept the English of the United Kingdom as 'proper' English. Our dictionaries and whatnot greatly reflect this.

he also voiced Uriel Septim in oblivion, and did a good job too...but whenever Uriel talk im thinking "trek trek trek trek...."

Me too. I often just refer to him as Captain Picard, as opposed to Patrick Stewart.

 

[Booko]

lol, you should hear the mid-michigan accent...its bland in every way, the only thing is the way we say "O" it has alittle more emphisis...other then that it just seems alittle boring, northern michigan resembles french canadian, southern accent resembles...uhh....mid-michigan accent...

Michiganders often have a nasal tone as well. That's how you tell us from Canadians.

We usually have really hard As too. Like: Haaamond Indiaaaana.

And it's pretty common to hear the Canadian "owh" as in "house" and "about"

 

[Booko]

Here in Southern Ontario, we're heavily influenced by the Northern United States--a very bland English. However, we still accept the English of the United Kingdom as 'proper' English. Our dictionaries and whatnot greatly reflect this.

Yup, Michigan accents are much like Southern Ontario, but most of us spell like Americans, except for oddballs like me.

Oh, and we use a terminal comma in series, and you don't.

apples, oranges, and pears

vs.

apples, oranges and pears

I get yelled at all the time for "missing a comma" because I do it the British way. <sigh> I have to make myself type it if I'm writing professionally for someone in this country.