Understanding Accents

Around three years ago, I made a video discussing how difficult it was to understand the accent of Aberdonians, but have since discovered that there are far worse accents in Scotland. The land of Quines and Loons have a far better accent than the ones I speak about now.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• accents
• aberdeen
• glasgow
• edinburgh
• english
• posh
• morningside
• hillhead

[phekwig]

I think it's more of a UK phenomenon... I don't know of anyone in Canada who deliberately tries to change one's accent for any reason.

[TamHickey67]

@phekwig I find it very strange that people feel the need to alter their characteristic accents. Maybe they think that by doing so it will enhance their status in some way? It's very odd.

[GreatGig1]

Maybe people change their accents just by being around an accent so it's more of an assimilation? Or, they just think it's cool to speak in an accent that they like to hear?? Or...for some "status" gain?? Just a few thoughts...:-)

[TamHickey67]

@GreatGig1 Caylyn, I would agree with the idea that status might be a part of it, but it just sounds so ridiculous and contrived that they would be better off using their own accent rather than sounding like fakes.

thanks for the thoughts! : )

[Perroquet51]

I'm not sure I know anyone who has changed his accent to that of another country, but I certainly know people who attended private schools where their "accent" was altered to sound more cultured. This was more common during my parent's time and before, than it is today.

It's good to see you, Tam. I've been missing you and Kim, A LOT!

[TamHickey67]

@Perroquet51 You're right about the private school system where elocution lessons are used to rid people of ANY accent they may have and this still goes on to this day over here. To me, this robs people of a part of their identity which is rather sad, but so many people buy into it.

Reminds me of the old woman from Edinburgh who thought sex was where potatoes were kept lol.

Great seeing you too Marc, Kim sends her best also.

[denzilafc]

yir hoose need a good scrub

[60999716]

okay, im confused, im from glasgow west end, and i dont know anyone who tries to speak with an english accent! infact tbh i dont know anyone who likes the english (no offence to them, but scottish people just dont like em) i think it's just the rich people that maybe try to sound a bit more posh, but i dont see anyone actually wanting to sound, let alone BE english!

and personally i think the aberdonians accent is the hardest to understand by far :P

[TamHickey67]

@andymooseman Andy, absolutely nothing wrong with being English, my wife's English and I love a lot of what England has to offer in terms of its people, the countryside and its history.

I know what you mean about people trying to sound more posh than they really are, but to me it just sounds so fake. My main point, I suppose was that people should be who and what they really are, and not some parody of themselves.

[andymooseman]

What's wrong with being English? ;)

Many English people try to sound "posher" than they are. I have no idea why though.