Can anybody describe the difference between spoken english in US /UK

1. 38

   sumitpariharposted 12 years ago

   I just wanted to know that what ascent is prefered,or best suited.

   replyreport
   1. 66

      NateSeanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think most people prefer the accent you are currently speaking with.
      
      Most of my UK friends get annoyed when people try to imitate their accent. Not sure if this is what you're going for.

      replyreport
      1. 38

         sumitpariharposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         yes , my question was related with the spoken english.

         replyreport
   2. 60

      recommend1posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There is no best accent - even at the source of the modern English language the accent is still just one accent of English.  If you are Indian you should have an Indian English accent, Australian  should be Oz English and so on . .   the only important thing is your pronunciation.
      
      Be your natural accent and be proud of it.

      replyreport
      1. 59

         SiddSinghposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         This.

         replyreport
   3. 66

      superwagsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think you should just write in whatever you've been taught; which if you're Indian and english educated, is likely to be British English. I don't think there's too much to worry about.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         recommend1posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         What accent is your writing in ?

         replyreport
   4. 59

      TLMinutposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Preferred or best suited for what? If you live in the UK, you'll probably be learning and using that. If you live in the US...who knows? There are so many accents here that it doesn't really matter. If you're talking about answering phones from India for your work, it depends on who your customers generally are.

      replyreport
2. 85

   KCC Big Countryposted 12 years ago

   We have one of each in my household and it's a constant source of entertainment for us both.  I'm from Texas and he's from the UK.  We'll soon be married 4 years.  He enjoys my accent and I enjoy his.

   replyreport
   1. 75

      Eaglekiwiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      KCC that sounds like us.
      
      Hubby speaks with an American accent ,and me Kiwi ( or sometimes an American friend will say I sound British or maybe Australian)
      
      
      The funniest thing though is occassionally if hubby is grumpy he wll snap at me to speak American (usually Im bein a smartypants)...but that just cracks me up even more
      
      
      Accents are neat I think.

      replyreport
3. 61

   thirdmilleniumposted 12 years ago

   It is almost impossible to perfectly imitate another accent other than your own. Your slip will show more than you had bargained for and you will only end up embarrassing yourself and the listener.
   
   It is best to stick with your natural accent but avoid Indianisms that always seem to show up when Indians speak.  Do this and you are fine

   replyreport
4. 87

   Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

   accents aren't as important or preferred when communicating.
   
   paying attention to visual clues, gestures, and frequency(speed) of speaking are more important factors.
   never make fun of another accent..it's an opportunity to learn something

   replyreport
5. 81

   Mark Ewbieposted 12 years ago

   One is correct and the other is American.

   replyreport
   1. 75

      Eaglekiwiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       
      
      Well bless yer heart honey!
      
      Somewhere in between is purrrrrfect

      replyreport
      1. 81

         Mark Ewbieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I was of course making a jocular comment or as you might say "blowing smoke up your ass".

         replyreport
         1. 75

            Eaglekiwiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            well I havent said that yet
            
            But never say never I say. Too funny

            replyreport
   2. 61

      thirdmilleniumposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Intelligently funny

      replyreport
   3. 96

      wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Mark!  All those posts I've read (and sometimes replied to) and I never realized that you were from the wrong side of the tracks.  Bloody!  I will have to reconsider my respect for you now!

      replyreport
      1. 81

         Mark Ewbieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Ah bother.  I had tried to cover it.  Internet safety and all that.  I was hoping to be an international man (or woman) of mystery but that's all gone to pot now as they say in..........

         replyreport
         1. 96

            wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Well, for the time being I will assume you are female and French (all french girls are cute).  Or Irish.  Or Swedish.  Anything but one of those bloody British!  Just because they have a big clock they think they are important and better   but they can't even talk right.
            
            BUT - I will be watching you!

            replyreport
            1. 81

               Mark Ewbieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Lol to that.
               
               Monsieur.
               
               x

               replyreport
               1. 96

                  wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  

                  replyreport
            2. 87

               IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               HEY!! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM???
               
               I'm not British anyway, I'm Scottish

               replyreport
               1. 96

                  wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  No problem - my wife is Scottish as well - I like Scots even if the men wear dresses.
                  
                  All in fun, Izzy, all in fun.

                  replyreport
                  1. 87

                     IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Yeah? Your wife is Scottish? wow I didn't know that! WTG!!

                     replyreport
                     1. 96

                        wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        Well, of Scotch descent, anyway.  She's rather proud of it, while I'm just another mongrel and have no idea where my ancient roots are.  British, maybe .  There used to be a scottish festival where we lived and we had a lot of fun there each year.

                        replyreport
                        1. 87

                           IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           Tsk! "scotch" is a whisky. She may be of Scottish descent. I am Scottish, not Scotch. Ach...don't ask me the difference, it's all just words!!
                           I'd be interested in knowing about the festival all the same. If it wasn't the start of the Glasgow fair fortnight (2nd week in July) it had to be Hogmanay! Or is there another?

                           replyreport
                           1. 96

                              wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              So I married a whiskey?  Does this mean she will age particularly well?
                              
                              No, no, no.  The festival was somewhere in the Eastern US.  Around Washington D.C. I think (about 30 years ago!).  Her father was very interested and found out about it - we all went several times.
                              
                              To do something like the Glasgow event would be absolute heaven for her and is something I would love to do as well.  I enjoy participating in and learning about other cultures (Always go to the Basque festival in Idaho) and to do it in the homeland would be really neat.

                              replyreport
                              1. 87

                                 IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                 Now there's another wee bit of learning for all us, whisky as in 'Scotch whisky' does not have an 'e' in the spelling. But it does in the US.
                                 Still no idea what festival was being celebrated, but then all true Scots will celebrate any day because we can
                                 The Spanish do it too, 'why was there a fireworks display tonight?' Reply, 'because it's a Monday'. Or Tuesday, or Wednesday...etc

                                 replyreport
                                 1. 96

                                    wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                    I get a real kick out of the differences in terminology and spelling all the time.  The first time I saw "learnt" on here I wasn't sure if the writer was just illiterate or careless, but saw it so many times I finally looked it up.  For sure, I never "learned" that word!  Now I see "earnt" occasionally, too, and never noticed your "whisky" (spell checker says all 3 are wrong).  You guys are going to ruin my spelling awards!
                                    
                                    Never been to the "loo", either, and certainly never "snogged" (got that one from Harry Potter).  I find it fun, but sometimes it can be a head scratcher, too!

                                    replyreport
                                    1. 85

                                       Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                       Those got to me too at first - learnt; amongst....
                                       
                                       Another difference that I notice is that we Americans tend to use singular verbs with the name of a country or a business, and the Brits (not sure about Kiwis and Ozzies) use the plural.  (Trying to think of examples, but none of them sound particularly helpful....)

                                       report
6. 85

   Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

   In North Carolina they used to have Highland Games every year, somewhere in the mountains, I think, but I forget which town or city.  They probably still do, but I haven't checked into it in a while.

   replyreport
7. 86

   camloposted 12 years ago

   I left the UK for Germany 24 years ago. When I speak English nowadays, nobody can tell where I'm from. When I speak German, everybody can tell I'm British. Wish it were the other way around.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      TLMinutposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Sad how that works, isn't it?
      Still, the way you wrote it made me laugh!

      replyreport
   2. 85

      Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That reminds me of my mom.  She lived most of her life in Mississippi until we moved to Virginia.  She lived there for 40 years, but everyone there still thought she sounded "different" even after the 40 years (those two are distinctively different Southern accents).  Now she has moved back to MS, and there everyone thinks she sounds like she's from Virginia!

      replyreport
8. 87

   Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

   I remember a Great Britain man asking me is they wanted them to "knock me up " in the morning!
   that almost caused a fist to the face..
   
   here's a little fun quiz on British terms...
   
   http://www.sporcle.com/games/theox/BritishWords

   replyreport